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I WILL MARRY WHEN I WANT
(1986)
(By Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi wa Mirii)
Synopsis of
the Play
I
Will Marry When I Want is
a Gikuyu play co-written by Ngũgĩ wa Mirii and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. First
produced in Kenya in 1977, the story depicts a farmer who is tricked into
risking his land due to social and religious pressures. The prominent themes
reflect a commentary on the hypocrisy and corruption of religion and capitalism,
and the politics explored in the play were controversial in post-colonial
Kenya. The production of the play is widely believed to be the root of Mirii
and Thiong’o’s arrests and detentions without charges that same year. The
writers were released in 1978, along with other detainees, once Daniel
Toroitich arap Moi succeeded tyrannical President Kenyatta after his death.
 |
| Ngugi wa Thiong’o |
The play depicts the protest of peasants in Kenya after
independence. It is the play that shows the plight (a difficulty and sad
situation) of the peasant family like Kiguunda’s family. Kiguunda has only one
and a half acre which he considers the basis of the family though the small
piece of land is situated in the marginal area. The play dramatise high rate of
exploitation as the foreigners use indigenous to exploit Kenyans as we see the
multinational companies from abroad engineer people like Ahab Kioi wa Konoru to
exploit fellow Africans. So the major attempt of this play is to dramatise high
exploitation of workers and peasants by both the foreign capitalist and
indigenous people who act as middlemen. The playwrights discuss the issues
connected to neo-colonialism and its effects to the developing countries.
Thus this play
is the criticism of the contemporary world where big companies from the
developed countries in collaboration with the indigenous are exploiting the
developing countries under the name of globalization so this play is generally
an attack of neo-colonialism.
STRUCTURE OF THE PLAY
The play is made up by of three acts, where by act one is not
divided into scenes, act two is divided into two scenes and act three has three
scenes.
All these acts and scenes contain events as summarized here
under:-
ACT 1
- At kingdom’s
family, they are having a poor life. He has a square, mud walled white – ochred, one roomed house for the whole family.
Gathon is using the floor as bed, where we see rags used as her bedding.
- Kiguunda and Wangeci are preparing for the visit (Kioi and his Wife Jezebel)
Kiguunda mending the broken chain .In the process he cause the title dead fall
on the floor He picked it and looked at it and proud of it but Wangeci never
praised it as it is so small and the land itself is unproductive.
- The play wright
show the concept of drunkenness in the country especial people who have been
dismissed from job.
- We see this
through the drunker who passes by Kiguundas house singing.
- He utters
sarcastic words and starts to urinate such that Wangeci gets annoyed and chases
him away.
- Another aspect in
this act is Harambee for the churches and attempts the Christians to convert
Wangeci.
- Kiguunda and
Wangeci are against new religion and hate the Harambee which asks contributions
for building churches from the poor.
- He says he doesn’t
see the necessary of building church while it is used once a week. So Kiguunda
chase away the group of singers.
- Conflict between
Gathon and her mother, mother complains that Gathoni is busy doing her hair
while she has a lot of domestic activities.
- Her mother tells
her to help her but Gathon become furious
- She starts to
complain of too much work and having not sent to school and the state of
poverty where she uses the floor as her bed and the rages as her bedding
- She starts
exchange bitter word with her mother and later her father shout at her in an
intimidating manner
- The parents start
discussing modern children that they have undergone moral decadence and they
have no respect at all
- Kiguunda and
Wangeci discuss the problem of Wages after running shortage of salt. Hence he
don’t have money to buy it
- They send Gathoni
to Gicaamba to big salt. Kiguunda says the price of different things have gone
so high while Wages have not risen
- Kiguunda
complaining that they take long time working in farms of the rich people like
Ikuua Wanditika and Kioi but they are paid low wages.
- Kiguunda says
Ikuua and Kioi are exploiters hence calling them bedbugs.
- In this act
we see the relationship between John Muhuuni and Gathoni;
- Wangeci says that
Gathoni is misbehaving because of the relationship between her and John Muhuuni
who keeps on hooting on the road in the presence of the parents. Gathoni goes
to meet her boyfriend on the road.
- Wangeci later
guess that perhaps the visiting of Kioi and Jezebel is to discuss about the
marriage of John Muhuuni and their daughter. This was not the case to Kiguunda
as he never thought of that.
- Gicaamba and
Njooki are introduced in the play. They discuss the relationship between John
Muhuuni and Gathoni
- Njooki caution
them to tell Gathoni to cut relationship between her and John Muhuuni giving
the reason that rich marry to the rich and poor to the poor so there won’t be
any marriage as Gathoni and John do not belong to one class.
- They also discuss
about the Wages and the way they are exploited in the factories and forms and
they blame their fellow Africans like Ikuua and Kioi who work for the interest
of the whites in Europe and America.
- We see the arrival
of the expected guest plus two other people who make four guests in total ie
Kioi, Jazebel, Samwel Ndugire and Helen who are well dressed. They start
preaching and convince Kiguunda and Wangeci to be christain and go to the
church to have their wedding blessed.
- Kiguunda get
annoyed and chases them away. Wangeci blame him that he has done it in a
hurried manner. She says he should have waited till they finish the full
purpose of shier visitation.
- At the end of this
act, Gathon comes in with new clothes and new shoes.
- Kiguunda and
Wangeci are unhappy because they never bought their daughter those things so
they become furious.
- Gathoni tells them
that she has been requested by John to accompany him to Mombasa for a week.
- Kiguunda was
completely annoyed but Gathoni never care about that she left them and go with
John
- Wangeci calms her
husband telling him to stop being dejected as she still have her illusion that
the instance of Kioi to go to the church would probably mean to pave the way to
the marriage of their daughter and John
ACT 2
SCENE I
Kiguunda brief Gicaamba and Njooki about Kios family that
they want Gathoni and John Mhuuni to marry that's why they want him and Wangeci
to be Christian so that the Marriage can be accepted.
- Gicaamba and Njooki do no accept
- Gicaamba tells them that they must avoid
promises as promise doesnot mean delivery.Njooki stress by saying rich families
never marry from poor families,Njooki still says that true love between the two does not base on
wealth or property.
- Gicaamba support her and shows his dejection
against hypocrisy as people now a days just go church for fashion.
- Gicaamba shows hypocrisy and he says not only
in marriage but also in churches. As he says when the rich dies they pray for
him but when the poor man die they don’t care about him/her and they don’t even
pray for the burial ceremonies. That’s why Gicaamba add a proverb that “A rich
man’s fart does not stick” means that if someone is rich or a leader
people do not consider his/her weakness.
- Gicaamba is against Christian marriage
claiming that even the tradition wedding has blessings.
- Gicaamba says the new religion brought
by the whites intend to soften the Africans so as to get an easy way to
penetrate and exhaust Africans by establishing what they want citing the way African religious leaders to
the detention. Camps like Manyani, Mageta, Hola etc to facilitate the process
of weakening the freedom fighter.
- Trying to persuade people to betray
others by their secret but some refused like Wanjeri.
- Finally after a long discussion he
discourage the blessing of marriage between Kiguunda and Wangeci in church and
allowing the marriage between Gathoni and Wangeci to take place.
- Wangeci seem to be enoyed as she want
her marriage to be blessed in church so as to facilitate the marriage between
her daughter John Muhuuni as she has the illusion that her daughter will
have better life.
- As a result she convice her husband to
go to Kioi’s place to tell them that they accept his plan.Kiguundi accept and
go to see Kioi the other day.
SCENE II
- At Kioi home, where we see the difference
between Kioi's home & that of Kiguunda Kio’s home is well furnished TV, sofa
set, plastic flowers on the table, presence of electric light, radiogram etc. On the wall words written
CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THIS HOUSE, THE UNSEEN GUEST AT EVERY MEAL, THE SILENT
LISTENER TO EVERY CONVERSATION.
This shows that they are Christians. In
the house there are Jezebel, Kioi, Ndugire, Hellen, Ikuua and a Waiter.
- Ikuua want to leave the place but before be
leaves. They discuss about the insecticide factory that their friends from
abroad want to build. They say the factory should not build at the area where
important people live but to the poor people like Kiguunda.
- Ikuua say
the land to build factory should be bought from poor people as they sell their
land because of laziness.
- He says
once the land is bought Kioi should not write his name rather he should write
either of his wife or his son John Muhuuni.
- These
people seofem to use their wealth in marrying many wives. For instance Ikuua wa
Nditika is a polygamist as he has two wives and he has the intention of
having the third one.
- After the
departure Ikuua, Kioi tells Ndugire that he has sent his son to Malindi
to check the plot he has bought near watamu bay where he wants to erect a hotel bise
of tourism the says the hotels are very profitable as there are many tourists
from different countries like America, France and German.
- Kioi blaming
the workers that they usually demand increases salaries giving reason of paying
school fees or having sick people in hospitals.
- We see in
this scene the rich are criticising the churches of the poor just because they
are run by illiterate people.
- The
arrival of Kiguunda and Wangeci at Kioi’s place
- Wangeci is
humiliated by the waiter who draws away a tray as she tries to pick up a cup of
tea. This shows that at Kioi’s family food is prepared by considering the
number of people (This is western culture)
- Also
Kiguunda and Wangeci are given water from the drum while some of it is in the
huge jar on the table. This is another humiliation.
- Kiguunda
express what brought them there, he says they are read their marriage to be
blessed in the church, Kioi's are so impressed to hear that.
- Kiguunda
introduces the issue of economic crises hence he can not afford the expenses
Kioi advises him to take the loan promising him to secure the loan. Kiguunda
agrees with the idea hence promises to bring the title – dead next day.
ACT 3
SCENE I
- New
outlook at Kiguunda’s place. New plates caps, basins, new dining table with
chairs, suitcase etc. On the wall we see words like that of Kioi’s home
- Kiguunda
and Wangeci are very happy with the changes and they are determined to go to
the church for the blessings of their marriage
- We see
Wangeci and Kiguunda are rehearsing for the wedding ceremony, Singing Christian
songs.
- During their
rehearsal Gathoni arrives weaping claiming that she has jilted by John Muhuuni
after impregnated her.
- She tells
her parents that she has conceived because John tells her that she cannot marry
a girl before being pregnant as he afraid to marry a barren.
- Kiguunda
tells Gathoni that, it is what she wanted because she does not consider his
advice.
- Wangeci
suggests that they should go to see Kioi for the matter and advise him to let
children marry first before blessing their marriage.
SCENE II
- At Kioi’s
place, where we see Ikuua and Kioi are alone in the room busy counting money.
- They also
discuss the establishment of the factory. Ikuua suggests that they should buy
the land to the poor people and if Kiguunda will accept that it will be good.
- Kioi shows
nepotism as he says/ suggests that John Muhuuni should be the director of the
factory
- As he says
that their sons should practice responsibility “charity begins at home” Kioi’s
said.
- After the
departure of Ikuua, Kiguunda and Wangeci arrive at Kioi’s place.
- They tell
Ahab Kioi wa Kinoru to postpone their marriage blessing instead they should let
children (Gathon and John)to marry first as John has impregnated Gathoni.
- Kioi
become angry and reject the idea and he says that his son cannot do that as he
has been brought up in a Christian way.
- Kioi chases
away Kiguunda clamming that he is telling him nonsense. Kiguunda threaten Kioi
that he will take the matter before the law but Kioi says it will not help
- Kiguunda
take out his sword threaten to kill Kioi if he cannot sign the agreement. Kioi
saved by his wife who comes with the gun and orders Kiguunda to drop his
sword Kiguunda dropped his sword but when he wants to take it
Jazebel fires the bullet in air where Kiguunda fall down.
- It is in
this point where we see that Gathoni did not marry John and it is in this point
we prove what Njooki was saying that rich people never marry from poor and poor
people never marry from the rich.
- It is in
this point we see the concept of disillusion of Kiguunda and Wangeci as their
illusion did not come true.
SCENE III
- At
Kiguunda place. After two weeks Kiguunda is away and his home is like as it was
the beginning of the play as all the new things he bought were not
there expect the picture of Nebuchadnezzar and the words which was written on
the wall.
- Wangeci is
dejected and Njook is near her trying to comfort her. Gicaamba is shaking his
head showing disbelief of what has happened.
In this
scene we see how women and girl are being treated.
- Gathoni
has been chased away from home by her father something which makes Wangeci
uncomfortable. As she says that her daught has gone to be a barmaid which she
associate it with being prostitute. Gicaamba advises her not to call a children
prostitute as this negative repercussion has been caused by the parents who
neglect woman in giving them education. He says women have been neglected even
before colonialism by tradition and customs
- Gicaamba
complain that people have completely forgotten the rule played by women from family
level to the national level.
- He says
women in Kenya fought for independence but many of them died in the forest
still they are neglected.
- Njooki
says being a housemaid is not a good job hence he consider Gathoni that she is
jobless. She also says housemaid is being used by their bosses as their wife
when their real wife is away.
- Kiguunda
was dismissed from the job after exchanging bad words with Kioi. His and has
been sold by the bank to Kioi, Ikuua and whites as he fail to pay back the loan
because he engage himself into drinking too much. He sold his furnishes but he
never paid back the loan.
- Kiguunda
conflict with his wife as the wife is against the habit of drinking. Wangeci
attack Kiguunda because of his habit as a result Kiguunda fight with his wife
and they are separated by Gicaamba and Njooki.
- Gicaamba
advises them to stop fighting as fighting cannot eliminate their problem (this
shows that Gicaamba is a wise man) . Instead they should sit and think together
the way they can use to solve their problems and think critically who are
their real enemies and how to fight against these enemies like exploitation,
Poverty, oppression etc.
- Gicaamba
insist unity as the only way they can use to eliminate poverty.
He also
discourages the habit of drinks so much as they can not solve their problem in
that way.
FORM
(i) Symbolism
The title I WILL MARRY WHEN I WANT has been used symbolically to
represent the way people especially girls need freedom in different
perspectives of life.
For instance the issue of Gathoni's marriage where by the mother
force her to get a husband but Gathoni tells her that she will marry when she
wants.
Gathoni
“Sorry!
I shall marry when I want
Nobody will force me into it” Page 16
- It also symbolize too much
freedom that girls want to have which result into negative repercussion.
- It also shows the way people are traditional due to ignorance hence they want things to happen as they want.
Bedbugs
This refers to the class of exploiters like Koi IKua and the
foreigners who use the poor people while paying them very low wages.
Gun & Sword
This symbolizes the struggle between the superior against inferior
are the rich Vs the poor. The sword shows the weakness of the poor while the
gun shows the strength of the rich.
Wedding
- It shows the justification of love between the two
- It also shows the satisfaction and blessings given by the society to the
couples
In the play we see the concept of second marriage between Kiguunda
& Wangeci at first they refused.This shows that people have freedom in
making decision.
The acceptance of the second wedding shows the weakness of the
tradition weddings that they are not blessed and traditional customs and norms
are not accepted
This symbolizes the acceptance of Neo-colonialism in African
societies.
- Trumpet
This symbolize unit as it is
used to call the oppressed,exploited,humiliated etc so as to unit and struggle
against evils.Page 115
(ii) Hyperbole
“….. your face shone like the clear moon at night
Your eyes like the stars in heaven
Your breasts were full and pointed like the tip of the sharpest
thorn ……………..” pg 22
“……….. when I see her I am unable to walk ……….” Pg23
(iii) Simile
Those are used to emphasize the idea or concept
As Gicaamba says, “……. Poverty is like poison in a body “pg 42.
Also Wangeci says wedding cake which is as white as a snow or as white as a
wedding dress pg 96
“We the workers are like that monkey” pg 33
(iv) Metaphor
Gicaamba says
“……….The owners of these companies are real scorpions” pg 33. In
this metaphor Gicaamba show how the owners of the Company save or saving for
their interest and not to help the poor
“…………... Religion is the alcohol of the soul!”
“………….. Religion is the poison of the mind!”pg 61
(v) Personification
Kiguunda says
“………….. that silenced the entire forest making even the tree to
listen ………..” pg 23 in real sense trees can not listen
Wangeci tells Gicaamba that, Kiguunda had become married to
chibuku Liquor! Pg 106
(vi) Vulgarism
This is the use of words which have no good teste or without use
of empharnism as Kiguunda tells her daughter:-
“A man brags about his penis however small" pg 51
The playwright use this to show uneducated people are poor in
selecting words during communication
(vii) Euphemism
To use a word to reduce harshness of a particular word.
Wangeci tells Kiguunda:-
“………. Gathoni being a child,
Does she realize that man have prickly needles! pg 20-21
Here the playwright uses Euphemism i.e. prickly needles to avoid
mentioning the genital part
(viii) Code switching or barbarism
I.e. shifting from one language to another. The aim of this is to
emphasize the point. As Kiggunda tells Gathoni
“………….. If ever I see or hear that again ………!
Utakiona cha Mtema Kuni
“………. To enable us to educate boys and girls?
Go away
Na uchunge mdomo wako" pg 17
(ix) Sayings
These are given intentionally to worn or educate someone
- “ A man
brags his own penis however tiny” pg 4
Means that a person should proud his own property however small
- "Many hands make work high" pg 12
This proverb calls for unit hence people should unity to fight against
Malpractices
- “An aging
hero has no admires” pg 13
Wangeci tells Kiguunda. This means that there is a tendence of neglecting
people (hero) who fought for something. For instance those who fought for
independence
- “Utakiona
cha Mtema Kuni” pg 17
This is a Swahili proverb given to worn or threaten someone
This was uttered by Kiguunda to intimidate his daughters
- “The given
does not know when the granary is empty” pg 18
Kiguunda says this to his wife to emphasize the way he is financially.
He says
he has given all the money to her hence he doesn't have more money
- “ A flower
is robbed of the colours by the fruit it bears!” pg 29
Wangeci tells Kiguunda. As Kiguunda seem to show the dissatisfaction of the
fellow Africans as there is nothing new since they have attain independence.
This means that it is your son, relative or
fellow people who can help you and not the distance people.
- “If you
want to rob a monkey of a baby it is holding you must first through it a
handful of peanuts” pg 33
- “ A parent
is never nauseated by the mucus from his child’s nose” pg 52
“A
she goat suckles its young however deformed
- “Promises
do not mean delivery”
Clouds may be in the sky but it does not mean it will rain pg 53
Gicaamba tells Kiguunda & Wangeci
- “Charity
begins at home” pg 100
(x) Songs and dances
This play has many songs where by the playwright use various songs
for mobilizing people to fight against neo- colonialism. As we see the song in
page 4,5,7,8,11,13,22,28,38-39,41-42,46-47,49,57,61,etc
Also these songs are used by the playwright for entertainment like
on page 11-13
(xi) Mimicry
This is the skill of someone being able to copy the voice or
movement of others. In this play we see this as the way of expressing negative attitude
towards something or the way of showing dejection
For instance Kiguunda shows his anger by mimicking the group of singers in pg 10
"The devil must be crushed,
crush him!
For darkness is falling......"
For instance Kiguunda shows his anger by mimicking the group of singers in pg 10
"The devil must be crushed,
crush him!
For darkness is falling......"
(xii) Satire
Some of the character has been used in a fun way but intend to
give a lesson to the society. For instance in pg. 4 where the drunker sing that
he will marry when he wants when all padres are alive. This makes people
laugh.Here the playwright want to show the weakness of the poor people that
despite of being poor they drink too much instead of working hard
- Also the drinkers is funny as he blames Kiguunda not as
Kiguunda does not want to go with him to drink
- Also at the end we see Kiguunda has
indulged into the drinking business after selling his properties that he bought
from the loan he took from the bank instead of paying back the loan. This lead to auction of his piece of land
CHARACTER CHARACTERIZATION
i.
Kigunda
·
The exploited
character
·
Bad tempered and
cruel to his family
·
He is Gathoni's
father and wangeci's husband
·
He is a farm
labourer who receives low wages
·
A drunkard
·
A man of
contradictions
·
He is illiterate
and not wise
· He is a funny
character who despises women despite his weaknesses he have.
ii.
Gicaamba
·
He is a factory
worker who works for long time and he is paid low wages.
·
He is kiguunda’s
neighbour and Njooki’s husband
·
He is a wise man
·
He is a
traditionalist hence against new religion
· He is a patriotist
and mobilizer as he calls for the people to unit as it is the only weapon for
success
·
He is constructive
man as he always give positive idea.
iii.
Wangeci:
·
She is Kiguunda’s
wife
·
A wise woman than
her husband
·
She force her
daughter to get married
·
She is also
illiterate
·
She hates the
tendency of drinking so much
·
She represents all
women experience humiliation from their husband by being bitten and isolated by
the system
iv.
Gathoni
·
She is not
educated but eager to be educated
·
Unmarried girl
· She does not want
to be force into marriage hence she wants freedom in her own affair.
·
She is the lover
of Muhumi who impregnates her
· She was gilted by
John Muhumi as she ended being chased away by her father
·
She later becomes
a barmaid
·
She suffers
humiliation of being called a whore or prostitute.
· She represents
young generation who want changes after being frustrated with life.
v.
Njooki
· She is Gicaamba’s
wife
· She is aware of
the existence of classes hence she believes that it is very difficult for the
rich to Marry from the poor people
· She also
represents women who are oppressed
· She is a wise
woman
vi.
Ahab Kioi wa
Kanoru
·
He is a wealth
person
·
He is John’s
father and Jezebel husband
·
He is Ikuua’s
business partner
·
An exploiter
· He is a black
capitalist as he works for the interest of the white(Hypocrite)
vii.
Ikuua wa (Nditika)
·
He is Kioi’s
business partner
·
He also represent
the class of black capitalist who exploit fellow Africans
·
He is a polygamist
viii.
Ndugire
·
He is saved and
encourages Kigunda and Wangeci to be saved
· He also represent
the class of exploiter who collaborate with the foreigners to exploit fellow
Africans
· Himself plus Kioi
and Ikuua use bible as an instrument to soften fellow Africans so that they can
do their evils. Without any protest.
·
He is up becoming
rich.
CONTENT
i) Exploitation
People like Kigunda and Gicaamba are selling labour power in the
plantations of few people like Kioi,Ikuua and the whites and they are paid low
wages. This is through the use indigenous like Ikuua and Kioi who act as the
middlemen, Landlords and church men. These exploiters link the multinational
companies and the Africans
- Gicaamba provide
his man power in the factory he don’t even have time to rest but he is paid
very little wages.
- Also Kiguunda
works in Kioi’s farm but also he is paid low wages.
- These people also
use church to exploit people as they demand Kiguunda and Wangeci to have their
marriage being blessed as we see that Christian marriage needs a lot of money
that’s why Kiguunda takes the loan from the bank to facilitate the ceremony.
- Also poor people
are exploited as they are demanded to contribute something for the buildingof
church, despite the fact that they are poor.
- Generally we find
that in this play churches are used to clear the way for the domination of Neo-
Colonialism.
ii) Land Alienation
- People like Kiguunda and
Gicaamba are alienated from their fertile land. The minority like Kioi and
Ikuua own large piece of land and the foreign companies are the only
people who own Large and fertile land.
- The land has been taken from
colonial error and even after independence the land has not yet given back
to the owner
- Poor people are marginalized
and are given piece of land to the areas which are not fertile. As we read
from the Kiguunda is having one and a half acre for the whole family.
- Also we see in the play that
rich people work hard to take even the small land that poor people have.
The foreigners wants to establish a project but they want to get a small
piece of land from Kiguunda i.e one and half acre.
iii) Awareness
· People like
Gicaamba are aware with the existence of exploitation that’s why Gicaamba
complains that they work for long duration but they are paid low wages. He says
they are paid the amount that cannot even sustain their essential needs.
· Gathoni also is
aware that education is very important that’s why she is complaining to her
mother for not having sent her to school. Also Gathoni is aware that she has
the freedom of selecting her partner, so she knows her right of making
decision.
· Also Wangeci is
aware on the impact of drinking excessively. That why she tells kingdom to
leave that habit, as she knows that they won’t get away (get rid) from the pity
of poverty. She knows that many people who used to drink too much they always
end up with nothing. This is due to the fact that excessively drinking lead to
irresponsibility.
· Not only that but
also , Gicaamba is aware on the danger of relying on promises that’s why he
advise Kiguunda and Wangeci not to rely on promises as promises does not mean
delivery . he tells Kiguunda and his wife that Gathoni and John may not marry
because of their class differences .
· Gicaamba is aware
on the best way of solving the existing problem. That’s why he says that they
need to come together and think deeply so as to identify their real enemy so
that they can select the best way to fight against him/her. So Gicaamba calls
for unity and patriotism. Hence he uses a song to mobilize his fellow Africans.
iv) Conflicts
· Conflict between
Gathoni and her parents. This is when Gathoni complain about their poor living
condition. She complains that she uses rags and the floor as her bed. Also she
complain of not being taken to school like her brother instead she is left at
home for domestic activities and for picking tea leaves so that she can get
money.
· Another conflict
is Gathoni Vs her father. This is when Gathoni is back from Mombasa as she tell
her parents that she is pregnant. Kiguunda become furious as he claims that
Gathoni never listened to his advice.
· Conflict between
Gathoni Vs John Muhuuni. This is when John cheats Gathoni to conceive so that
he can merry her claiming that he is afraiding of marrying a barren woman.
Gathoni accept that but after being pregnant and tries to tell John, he refuses
chase Gathoni away and accompany her with insult as he calls her a prostitute
· Conflict between
traditionalist Vs Christians. At the beginning we see Kinguunda , Wangeci,
Gicaamba and Njooki are against Christianity as Christianity is connected to
the whites and they believed that if they accept Christianity is like to accept
neo – colonialism. That why Kiguunda chases the group of singers away from his
home. He says he doesn't see the necessity of contributing for harambee to
build the church while it is used only once a week.
· Conflict between
Kioi’s family and Kiguunda’s family, The first conflict is when Kioi and
Ndungire family went to Kiguunda to preach him the word of God and convince her
to be Christian. In this case Kiguunda seen to have no interest hence he chases
them away.
· The second
conflict in this is when John Muhuuni impregnated Gathoni hence Kiguunda and
his wife decide to go to Kioi’s place to tell him about their idea to let the
children marry first this idea has completely denied by Kioi. This cause
Kiguunda to be exasperated hence he decides to pull out his sword to threaten
kioi so that he can accept the idea.
Intra- Personal Conflict:
Gathoni
- About the poor living condition
- Of not being taken to school
- After being jilted.
Wangeci
- About obstinate (stubborn) of her daughter
- Also after her daughter being jilted
- About excessive drinking behavior of her husband
Kiguunda
- Unhappy with low
wages which makes they live in poor living condition and obstinacy of her
daughter.
- Also unhappy with
the system who seem to favor rich people even if they are guilty. That why
Kiguunda uses his sword
v) Illusion
- Gathoni has the illusion that once she get a
husband she will have better life but until the end we find that nothing has
come as she expects.
- Also Wangeci has illusion that the
relationship between Gathoni and John Muhuuni will lead to their marriage. She
even believes that the visiting of kioi is to talk about the marriage of their
children but we see there is nothing like that. She also connect the idea of
Christianity as the paving way towards the marriage of their children that
means if they accept Christianity it will pave the way of marriage of the two.
- Another illusion that Wangeci has is when she
believes that Kioi will agree with the idea that they should let the children
marry first as John has impregnated Gathoni
vi) Education
- In the play we see
that girls are not given chance to education, they are left at home to do
domestic activities and to work in forms e.g Gathoni. Girls are not taken to
school because of culture influence and poverty of the family. In the play we
see that girls are not given equal chances as boys in education. Women are
considered as people who are not important in the society. This is gender
imbalance in the society.
- In the play we see
that education is so important as majority who are illiterate fail to opt for
the best way of solving problems in different life perspectives eg Kiguunda
vii) Neo – Colonialism
- Not only Germans, Japanese or Americans who
buy large area of Kenyan land for ereacting their factories and dominating
major means of production but also we see black imperialist enriching
themselves under the umbrella of neo- colonialism for instance Kioi who plan to
create tourists hotel in Mombasa but he does not want to be recognized hence he
uses the name of his son.
viii) Classes (social
stratification)
Ie the classes of poor represented by Kiguunda
and Gicaam Vs that classes of rich represented by Kioi and Ikuua who are in
antagonism. This is because the rich use the poor to enrich themselves. Other
themes include
ix) Poverty
x) Disappointment
xi) Position of women
xii) Love affairs and
xiii) Betrayal
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