Number 1
Serubawon is an important character in Once Upon an Elephant because many of the major events in the play are connected to his actions. He is presented as a cunning, ambitious and deceitful man whose personal weakness creates serious problems in the kingdom.
Firstly, Serubawon is a betrayer. He betrays the trust of Iya Agba by working against her instead of protecting her interest. His betrayal contributes to the development of the play because it creates the conflict that affects Iya Agba and other characters.
Secondly, he is morally corrupt. His relationship with Adebisi, one of King Akinjobi’s wives, shows that he lacks discipline and respect for the royal home. This act is important in the play because it leads to the birth of Ajanaku and creates a hidden truth that later causes tension.
Thirdly, Serubawon is deceitful. He hides his wrong actions and allows others to suffer for them. He does not openly accept responsibility for his affair with Adebisi. This deceit helps to develop the plot because the truth remains hidden for a long time and affects the lives of innocent people.
Also, Serubawon is wicked and selfish. He allows Iya Agba to be falsely accused and disgraced. Instead of defending the truth, he protects himself. This contributes to the play because Iya Agba’s suffering becomes one of the major causes of later events.
Serubawon is also ambitious. He wants power and influence in the kingdom, and this makes him act without considering the consequences. His ambition contributes to the development of the play because it helps to expose the greed and corruption among people close to power.
He is also a coward. Although he knows the truth about his past actions, he does not have the courage to confess. His cowardice allows injustice to continue. This increases the suspense in the play because the audience waits for the truth to be revealed.
Serubawon also contributes to the development of Ajanaku’s character. Since Ajanaku is connected to Serubawon’s immoral act, Serubawon’s past becomes important in understanding Ajanaku’s background. Ajanaku’s wickedness and violent behaviour can be linked to the corruption and hidden evil surrounding his birth.
Furthermore, Serubawon helps to develop the theme of betrayal in the play. Through him, the playwright shows how betrayal can destroy relationships and bring suffering to innocent people. His betrayal of Iya Agba creates pain, disgrace and separation.
He also helps to develop the theme of injustice. Because of Serubawon’s deceit, an innocent person suffers while the guilty person hides. This shows that when truth is covered, society becomes unfair and innocent people may be punished.
Finally, Serubawon contributes to the resolution of the play because the hidden truth about him helps to explain many of the problems in the kingdom. His character shows that evil actions may be hidden for some time, but they will eventually be exposed.
Serubawon is therefore a major character whose betrayal, deceit, selfishness and moral corruption move the plot forward and help to develop the major themes of the play.
Number 2
Irony is used in Once Upon an Elephant to expose the hidden truth behind characters and events. Through irony, the playwright shows that things are not always as they appear. The use of irony also helps to reveal betrayal, injustice, wickedness and the consequences of evil actions.
Firstly, there is dramatic irony in the play. The audience is made to understand some hidden facts before some characters fully know them. For example, Serubawon appears to be a respectable man, but his secret affair with Adebisi, one of King Akinjobi’s wives, shows that he is morally corrupt. The irony is that a man who should protect honour and truth is secretly guilty of dishonourable behaviour.
Another example of irony is seen in the false accusation against Iya Agba. Iya Agba suffers disgrace and rejection, even though she is not the real cause of the evil in the palace. The guilty person hides, while the innocent person suffers. This is ironic because justice is turned upside down.
The birth of Ajanaku is also ironic. Ajanaku is believed to be connected with royalty, but his background is surrounded by deceit and immorality. His birth, which should have been a thing of joy, becomes a source of future trouble. This helps to develop the conflict in the play.
There is also situational irony in Ajanaku’s character. As a leader, he is expected to protect the people and promote peace, but he becomes violent, oppressive and wicked. Instead of being a blessing to the kingdom, he becomes a source of fear and suffering. This is ironic because leadership is supposed to serve the people, not destroy them.
The suffering of Desola is another important irony in the play. Serubawon’s secret immoral act causes pain in the lives of others, and later, his own family also experiences suffering. This shows the irony of evil: the wrongdoer may think he has escaped punishment, but the consequences of his actions can return to hurt him.
The Ijedodo ritual also contains irony. A ritual that is supposed to bring peace, cleansing or stability becomes connected with violence and suffering. The rape of Desola by Ajanaku shows how a traditional practice can be abused by wicked people. This makes the situation painful and ironic.
There is also irony in Serubawon’s attempt to hide the truth. He thinks that by keeping quiet, he can protect himself and his reputation. However, his silence only allows more evil and confusion to grow. The truth he tries to hide later becomes important in explaining the problems in the kingdom.
The title Once Upon an Elephant is also ironic. An elephant usually suggests greatness, strength and authority. However, the play shows that greatness without truth and justice leads to destruction. The image of the elephant therefore reminds the audience that power can become dangerous when it is controlled by corrupt people.
Irony is also used to criticize society. People who appear honourable may be corrupt, while those who are condemned may be innocent. The playwright uses this to show that society should not judge by appearance alone, but should seek truth and justice.
The use of irony therefore makes the play more interesting and meaningful. It exposes hidden secrets, develops the plot, and teaches that evil actions have consequences. Through irony, the playwright condemns betrayal, corruption, injustice and abuse of power.
Number 3
The pursuit of material possession is a major issue in The Marriage of Anansewa. The play shows how greed and the desire for wealth influence human behaviour. Through Ananse, the playwright presents a society where people often value money and property above love, honesty and human dignity.
Ananse is the main character through whom the pursuit of material possession is clearly shown. He is poor and cannot afford many basic things, including the school fees of his daughter, Anansewa. Instead of working honestly to solve his problems, he decides to use Anansewa as a means of getting wealth from rich chiefs.
Ananse sends Anansewa’s pictures to four chiefs who are interested in marrying her. His aim is not mainly to find a good husband for his daughter, but to collect gifts and money from all the chiefs. This shows that material gain is more important to him than the happiness and feelings of Anansewa.
The chiefs also show the importance of material possession in the play. They are rich and powerful men who believe that their wealth can help them win Anansewa’s hand in marriage. They send gifts to Ananse because they want to impress him and show their ability to marry his daughter.
Ananse’s trick of pretending that Anansewa is dead also shows his greed for material possession. He uses the false death of his daughter to test which of the chiefs truly loves her and is ready to spend more. This is dishonest, but Ananse does it because he wants to gain more wealth and choose the richest suitor.
The play also shows how poverty can push people into greed and deception. Ananse’s poor condition makes him desperate for money. However, his poverty does not justify his deceitful actions. The playwright uses him to show how the desire for material comfort can make people lose their moral values.
Anansewa herself becomes like an object of trade in the hands of her father. Ananse does not fully consider her personal choice and emotional feelings. He treats her marriage as a business opportunity. This shows how material possession can reduce human beings to objects of exchange.
The gifts sent by the chiefs are important in the development of the play. These gifts encourage Ananse to continue his tricks. The more gifts he receives, the more he becomes interested in manipulating the chiefs. This shows that material possession drives the plot of the play.
The theme is also seen in the traditional marriage system presented in the play. Bride price, gifts and wealth are important in marriage arrangements. The play uses this to show how marriage can sometimes be influenced by money rather than genuine love.
However, the play does not completely condemn wealth. What it condemns is greed, dishonesty and the misuse of people for material gain. The problem is not that Ananse wants a better life, but that he uses lies and manipulation to get it.
The pursuit of material possession is therefore central to the play because it controls Ananse’s actions, influences the chiefs, affects Anansewa’s life and moves the plot forward. Through this theme, the playwright teaches that excessive love for wealth can lead to deceit, selfishness and moral corruption.
Number 4
Ananse is a dynamic character in The Marriage of Anansewa because he changes and develops as the play progresses. He does not remain the same from the beginning to the end of the play. His actions, plans and attitude show that he is clever, flexible and able to adjust himself to situations.
At the beginning of the play, Ananse is presented as a poor man who is struggling financially. He cannot even pay Anansewa’s school fees. This poor condition pushes him into thinking of how to get money through his daughter’s marriage.
Ananse is also shown as a trickster. He sends Anansewa’s photographs to four different chiefs, making each of them believe that he has a chance of marrying her. He does this in order to receive gifts and money from them. This shows his cunning nature.
As the play develops, Ananse becomes more creative in his tricks. When the chiefs begin to show interest in Anansewa, he carefully manages the situation so that he can benefit from all of them. He does not allow one chief to know that others are also involved.
Ananse also changes from being only a poor helpless father to a man who controls the direction of events in the play. Through his cleverness, he manipulates the chiefs and keeps the audience interested in what will happen next.
Another sign that Ananse is dynamic is his ability to think quickly. When his plan becomes complicated, he invents the idea that Anansewa is dead. This false death becomes a major turning point in the play because it helps him to test the seriousness of the chiefs.
Ananse is also dynamic because he learns how to use people’s emotions to achieve his aim. He knows that the chiefs will react differently to the news of Anansewa’s death. Through this trick, he discovers which chief truly values Anansewa and which one is only interested in outward beauty or pride.
Although Ananse is deceitful, he is not completely wicked. His actions show that he wants a better future for himself and his daughter. He uses wrong methods, but his intention is partly to secure a good marriage for Anansewa and improve their condition.
Ananse’s relationship with Anansewa also shows his changing character. At first, he seems to use her mainly as a means of getting wealth. However, he also shows concern for her future by finally ensuring that she marries a suitable chief.
Ananse is also dynamic in the way he combines traditional wisdom with modern methods. He uses photographs, letters and modern communication, but his actions are also rooted in traditional marriage customs. This makes him a character who can adjust to both old and new ways of life.
His dynamic nature helps to develop the plot of the play. Almost every major event in the play comes from his plans, tricks and decisions. Without Ananse’s changing strategies, the play would not have much movement or suspense.
Ananse is therefore a dynamic character because he grows from a poor and desperate father into a clever planner who controls events. His ability to change his plans, deceive the chiefs, test their love and finally arrange Anansewa’s marriage makes him one of the most important characters in the play.
Number 5
Eric Birling is the son of Mr Arthur Birling and Mrs Sybil Birling in An Inspector Calls. He is a young man in his early twenties, and he is presented as weak, immature, restless and morally careless at the beginning of the play. However, as the play develops, he becomes one of the characters who accepts responsibility for Eva Smith’s suffering.
Eric is first seen as an uncomfortable young man in his family. During the engagement dinner of Sheila and Gerald, he behaves awkwardly and sometimes makes careless remarks. This shows that he is not fully confident and that something is troubling him.
He is also presented as a drunkard. Eric drinks heavily, and this affects his behaviour and judgment. His drunkenness contributes to his relationship with Eva Smith because he meets her at the Palace Bar when he is under the influence of alcohol.
Eric is morally weak. He takes advantage of Eva Smith when she is poor and helpless. His relationship with her leads to her pregnancy. This shows that Eric, like other members of the Birling family, contributes to Eva’s tragedy.
Another aspect of Eric’s character is dishonesty. In order to support Eva, he steals money from his father’s office. Although he does this to help her, the act is wrong. His stealing also exposes the lack of discipline and moral weakness in the Birling family.
Eric is also shown as irresponsible at first. He does not openly face the result of his action until the Inspector forces the truth out. He gets Eva pregnant but does not have a proper plan for her future. This irresponsibility adds to Eva’s suffering.
However, Eric is not completely wicked. He shows some sympathy and concern for Eva. He gives her money and tries to help her after discovering that she is pregnant. Even though the money is stolen, his action shows that he has some feeling of responsibility.
Eric’s role in the play is very important because he exposes the hypocrisy of the Birling family. His parents pretend to be respectable, but Eric’s actions reveal that there are serious moral problems in the family. His conduct shows that wealth and social position do not always mean good character.
Eric also helps to develop the theme of social responsibility. After the Inspector’s questioning, Eric accepts that he has done wrong. Unlike his parents, he understands that the family cannot simply escape blame for Eva’s death.
He also represents the younger generation in the play. Together with Sheila, Eric is willing to learn from the Inspector’s message. He feels guilty and shows remorse, while Mr and Mrs Birling refuse to accept responsibility. This contrast shows that the younger generation has hope for moral change.
Eric’s conflict with his parents is also important. He condemns his mother for refusing to help Eva Smith when Eva went to her charity organization. This is painful because Mrs Birling unknowingly rejected the mother of her own grandchild. Through this, the playwright shows the danger of pride and lack of compassion.
Eric’s role also helps to increase tension in the play. The revelation that he is the father of Eva’s unborn child shocks the family. It turns the investigation from a general matter into a very personal family crisis.
Eric therefore plays an important role as both a guilty character and a symbol of possible change. He is weak, drunken and irresponsible, but he also shows remorse and accepts blame. Through Eric, Priestley criticizes moral carelessness, class exploitation and selfishness, while also showing that young people can learn the lesson of responsibility.
Number 6
Dramatic irony is an important technique in An Inspector Calls. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that some characters in the play do not know. J.B. Priestley uses dramatic irony to expose the ignorance, pride and false confidence of the Birling family.
At the beginning of the play, Mr Birling speaks confidently about the future. He says that there will be no war and that people should ignore those who talk about war. This is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the play is set in 1912, just before the First World War began in 1914. Mr Birling’s confidence therefore makes him look foolish and short-sighted.
Mr Birling also says that the Titanic is “unsinkable.” This is another example of dramatic irony because the audience knows that the Titanic sank in 1912. His statement shows that he trusts too much in progress, wealth and human achievement. Priestley uses this to show that Mr Birling’s judgment cannot be trusted.
Another use of dramatic irony is seen in Mr Birling’s advice to Gerald and Eric. He tells them that a man should mind his own business and look after himself. The audience knows that this selfish idea is exactly what the Inspector comes to condemn. This makes Mr Birling’s speech ironic because his own words reveal the moral weakness of his character.
There is also dramatic irony in Mrs Birling’s confidence. When the Inspector questions her, she proudly says that the father of Eva Smith’s child should be made responsible. She does not know that the father is her own son, Eric. The audience begins to suspect the truth before she realizes it. This makes her words ironic and painful.
Mrs Birling’s refusal to help Eva Smith is also ironic. She uses her position in the charity organization to reject Eva’s appeal, thinking she is punishing a shameless girl. However, she is unknowingly rejecting the mother of her own grandchild. This dramatic irony exposes her pride, cruelty and lack of sympathy for the poor.
Eric’s role also creates dramatic irony. For some time, the audience notices that Eric is nervous and uncomfortable. His strange behaviour suggests that he knows more about Eva Smith than he is willing to say. The other characters do not fully understand his guilt until the Inspector reveals his connection with Eva.
Gerald’s situation also contains dramatic irony. At first, Sheila sees him as a faithful and honourable fiancé. However, the audience later discovers that he had an affair with Daisy Renton, who is another name used by Eva Smith. This changes the audience’s view of Gerald and exposes the weakness in his relationship with Sheila.
There is also irony in the Birlings’ social respectability. They present themselves as important, successful and moral people. However, as the Inspector questions them, the audience sees that each of them has contributed to Eva Smith’s suffering. Their respectable appearance hides selfishness, pride and irresponsibility.
The Inspector himself is also connected with dramatic irony. The family members think they are simply answering questions about a dead girl, but the audience understands that the Inspector is teaching them a moral lesson. His investigation is not just about crime; it is about social responsibility.
At the end of the play, dramatic irony is used again when Mr and Mrs Birling feel relieved after discovering that the Inspector may not be a real police inspector. They think they have escaped shame. However, the audience knows that the moral lesson remains important whether the Inspector is real or not.
The final telephone call is also ironic. Just when the older Birlings think the matter is over, they receive news that a girl has actually died and that a real inspector is coming. This surprises the characters and leaves the audience with the message that truth and responsibility cannot be avoided.
Dramatic irony is therefore used throughout the play to criticize pride, selfishness and social ignorance. Through it, Priestley shows that people who think they are wise and respectable may actually be blind to the truth. The technique also makes the play more interesting, suspenseful and morally powerful.
Number 7
Alice More is the wife of Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons. She is an important character because she helps to reveal More’s private life, his family responsibilities and the pressure he faces because of his conscience.
Alice is presented as a practical and domestic woman. Unlike More, who is deeply concerned with law, conscience and religious truth, Alice is more concerned about the safety and comfort of her family. She worries about ordinary matters such as food, money, property and security.
She is also shown as a loving wife. Although she does not always understand More’s decisions, she cares deeply for him. Her anger and complaints come mainly from fear that More’s refusal to obey the king will destroy him and bring suffering to the family.
Alice is not highly educated like More. She does not fully understand the legal and religious arguments surrounding the king’s divorce and the Act of Supremacy. Because of this, she finds it difficult to understand why More should risk his life over silence and conscience.
She is also emotional and outspoken. Alice does not hide her feelings. When she is angry, afraid or confused, she speaks plainly. Her direct speech makes her different from More, who is calm, careful and controlled in his words.
Alice’s practical nature is seen when she urges More to consider his family. She believes that a man should protect his home and avoid unnecessary danger. To her, More’s silence and refusal to take the oath appear stubborn and dangerous.
Her role in the play is to create a contrast with More. More stands for conscience, spiritual truth and moral integrity, while Alice stands for family love, practical survival and ordinary human fear. This contrast helps the audience to understand the seriousness of More’s sacrifice.
Alice also helps to show More’s humanity. Without her, More might appear only as a great saint or public figure. Through his relationship with Alice, the audience sees him as a husband and father who has real family attachments and personal pain.
She also increases the emotional tension of the play. More’s decision to follow his conscience becomes more painful because Alice and the family suffer with him. Her fear and sorrow show that moral uprightness can bring hardship not only to the person involved but also to loved ones.
Alice also plays the role of a challenger. She questions More’s silence and challenges him to explain why he refuses to take the oath. Through her questions, the audience gets a clearer understanding of More’s belief that a man must not act against his conscience.
Although Alice quarrels with More, she is not disloyal. Her anger is not hatred. She remains his wife and continues to love him even when she cannot fully accept his decision. This shows that she is a faithful woman despite her limitations.
Her visit to More in prison is very important. At first, she is still bitter and confused, but later she begins to understand him better. This scene shows her emotional growth. She moves from anger and misunderstanding to sympathy and acceptance.
Alice’s final acceptance of More’s stand gives emotional strength to the play. When she embraces him and shows her love, the audience sees that family love has not been destroyed by More’s decision. Instead, it becomes deeper and more painful.
Alice also helps to develop the theme of conscience. Through her, the playwright shows that conscience is not easy to follow. More’s decision is tested not only by the king and his enemies, but also by the sorrow and pressure of his own family.
She also helps to develop the theme of sacrifice. More sacrifices comfort, position and finally his life, while Alice sacrifices the peace and security of her home. Her suffering shows the human cost of standing for truth.
Alice More is therefore a loving, practical, emotional and loyal wife. Her role in the play is to contrast with More, reveal his humanity, increase the emotional conflict and show the pain that comes with moral uprightness. Through her character, Robert Bolt makes More’s struggle more personal and touching.
Number 8
Moral uprightness is one of the major themes in Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons. The play presents Sir Thomas More as a man who refuses to go against his conscience even when he faces pressure, loss of position, imprisonment and death.
Moral uprightness means doing what is right according to truth, conscience and principle, even when it is difficult. In the play, More represents this quality because he remains faithful to his belief and refuses to support what he considers wrong.
The theme is first seen in More’s refusal to support King Henry VIII’s divorce from Queen Catherine. The king wants to marry Anne Boleyn, but More believes that the divorce is morally and religiously wrong. Although the king is powerful, More refuses to approve an action that goes against his conscience.
More’s moral uprightness is also seen in his silence. He does not openly attack the king, but he refuses to say what he does not believe. To him, silence is a legal and moral protection. He believes that a man should not be forced to speak against his conscience.
More also shows moral uprightness when he resigns as Lord Chancellor. He knows that keeping the position will require him to support the king’s wishes. Instead of keeping his power and comfort, he gives up the office. This shows that he values truth more than political position.
His refusal to take the oath is another important example. The oath requires him to accept the king as the supreme head of the Church in England. More cannot accept this because it goes against his religious belief. Even when others take the oath to save themselves, he refuses to do so.
More’s moral uprightness is contrasted with the weakness of other characters. Richard Rich, for example, is ready to sell his conscience for position and favour. He betrays More and gives false evidence against him. Through Rich, the playwright shows the danger of ambition without morality.
The Duke of Norfolk also contrasts with More. Norfolk is More’s friend, but he advises him to obey the king for safety. He represents those who follow authority even when they are not fully convinced. More, however, insists that friendship and fear must not make a man betray his conscience.
The Common Man also helps to develop the theme. He changes roles and follows whatever will benefit him. He represents ordinary people who choose safety, money and survival above moral courage. His behaviour contrasts with More’s firm principles.
More’s family also tests his moral uprightness. Alice More and Margaret love him and want him to stay alive. Their pain makes his decision more difficult. However, More still refuses to betray his conscience, showing that moral uprightness often demands painful sacrifice.
The theme is also seen in More’s respect for the law. He believes that law should protect both the innocent and the guilty. Even when he dislikes a person, he does not support unlawful punishment. This shows that his morality is not based on personal feeling, but on justice and principle.
More’s imprisonment shows the cost of moral uprightness. He loses his freedom and comfort because he refuses to support falsehood. Yet, even in prison, he remains calm and faithful to his belief. His suffering shows that standing for truth can bring hardship.
At the trial, More is falsely accused through Richard Rich’s lies. Even then, he does not compromise. He finally speaks clearly about his belief when the law can no longer protect him. This shows that he is ready to die rather than live by falsehood.
More’s death is the highest proof of his moral uprightness. He chooses death instead of dishonouring his conscience. His execution presents him as a man who values spiritual truth and personal integrity more than earthly power.
Through the theme of moral uprightness, Robert Bolt teaches that a person should remain faithful to truth and conscience. The play shows that power, fear, wealth and friendship can test a person’s morality, but a truly upright person will not betray what is right.
The theme is therefore central to A Man for All Seasons because Sir Thomas More’s entire struggle is based on his determination to remain morally upright. His life and death show that conscience is more valuable than position, comfort and even life itself.
Number 9
Gabriel Okara’s Once Upon a Time explores the hypocrisy that has taken over human relationships. The poem presents a society where people no longer behave sincerely. Instead, they pretend to love, smile, welcome and respect others while hiding their true feelings.
The poem contrasts the past with the present. In the past, people were sincere and natural in their relationship with one another. They laughed honestly, shook hands warmly and showed genuine feelings. However, in the present world, people have become artificial and hypocritical.
The speaker laments that people no longer laugh sincerely. They only “laugh with their teeth,” while their eyes remain cold and emotionless. This shows hypocrisy because their outward smile does not agree with their inner feelings. They pretend to be happy with others when they are not.
The act of greeting is also presented as hypocritical. People shake hands without true affection. Their handshake is only a social custom, not a sign of love or friendship. This shows that human contact has lost its warmth and truth.
The poem also shows hypocrisy in hospitality. People say polite things like asking others to feel at home, but they do not truly mean it. A person may be welcomed once or twice, but after repeated visits, the host becomes cold and unfriendly. This shows that many human expressions are false.
The speaker also admits that he has learnt the ways of the hypocritical society. He has learnt to wear many faces like dresses. This means he now behaves differently in different situations, depending on what will benefit him. His public behaviour is no longer a true reflection of his real self.
The different faces mentioned in the poem represent false appearances. The speaker talks of a home face, office face, street face and other faces. This shows that people now change their character according to place and situation. They no longer remain honest and natural.
The poem also presents hypocrisy as a product of modern life. Modern society teaches people to hide their true feelings and behave according to social expectations. People smile, greet and speak politely, not because they are sincere, but because they want to appear civilized.
The speaker’s regret shows that hypocrisy has destroyed his innocence. He remembers a time when he was simple and honest, but now he has become part of the false society. This makes the poem sad because the speaker knows that he has lost something valuable.
The child in the poem represents innocence, truth and sincerity. The speaker wants his child to teach him how to laugh and smile sincerely again. This shows that children are still free from the hypocrisy of adults. They express their feelings naturally without pretence.
The poem also criticizes adults for losing their humanity. Adults have become skilled in false smiles, false greetings and false friendship. Their behaviour is controlled by selfishness, fear and social pressure rather than genuine love.
The tone of the poem is regretful and nostalgic. The speaker is sad because the old sincere way of life has disappeared. He wishes to return to the past when people were honest in their dealings with one another.
The poem’s message is that hypocrisy destroys true human relationships. When people hide their real feelings and pretend to be what they are not, trust and love disappear from society.
Once Upon a Time therefore explores how hypocrisy has pervaded humanity by showing false laughter, false greetings, false hospitality and false appearances. Gabriel Okara uses the speaker’s regret to condemn pretence and to call for a return to sincerity, innocence and genuine human feeling.
Number 10
Niyi Osundare’s Not My Business is a satire because it criticizes the selfishness, fear and silence of people in a society where injustice is common. The poet uses the poem to mock those who refuse to speak against oppression because they feel that the suffering of others does not concern them.
Satire is a literary work that exposes and criticizes human foolishness, corruption or social evil, usually with the aim of correcting society. In Not My Business, Osundare satirizes a society where people keep quiet in the face of oppression until they also become victims.
The speaker in the poem represents selfish and careless people in society. He sees others being maltreated, arrested and destroyed, but he refuses to show concern. His attitude is that as long as he is safe and comfortable, the suffering of others is not his business.
The first victim is Akanni. He is beaten and taken away by agents of oppression. Instead of protesting or asking questions, the speaker remains silent. He continues with his normal life and eats his food. This shows the speaker’s selfishness and lack of human sympathy.
The second victim is Danladi. He is also violently taken away. Again, the speaker does nothing because he believes the matter does not affect him. This attitude is satirized because it shows how people allow injustice to grow by refusing to resist it.
Chinwe is another victim in the poem. Her job is taken away, and her life is affected by the system. Still, the speaker refuses to care. He sees all these things as other people’s problems. This shows the moral weakness of people who remain silent when others are suffering.
The repetition of the speaker’s attitude makes the satire stronger. Each time someone suffers, he says it is not his business. This repeated indifference exposes the foolishness of thinking that injustice will always affect only other people.
The poem also satirizes fear in society. Many people may know that oppression is wrong, but they refuse to speak because they are afraid of the government, soldiers or powerful people. Their silence gives more power to the oppressors.
Osundare also criticizes military dictatorship and abuse of power. The way people are beaten, taken away and punished without fair treatment shows a society ruled by fear and violence. The poet uses these events to condemn the brutality of those in power.
The speaker’s love for comfort is also mocked. He is more interested in eating his yam than helping victims of injustice. This shows how personal comfort can make people blind to the suffering of others.
The greatest satire comes at the end of the poem when the speaker himself becomes a victim. A jeep finally stops at his own door. This means that the oppression he ignored has now reached him. The situation becomes ironic because the problem he once called “not my business” has become his own business.
Through this ending, Osundare teaches that injustice ignored today can affect anyone tomorrow. When people refuse to defend others, they help to create a society where nobody is safe.
The poem is also a warning to society. It warns that silence in the face of evil is dangerous. People must not wait until oppression reaches their own homes before they speak against it.
The simple language of the poem makes the satire clear. Osundare does not use difficult words. He presents ordinary situations to show a serious social problem. This makes the message easy to understand.
Not My Business is therefore a satire because it exposes selfishness, cowardice, social indifference and abuse of power. Through the speaker’s careless attitude and his final punishment, Niyi Osundare shows that injustice becomes stronger when good people keep silent.
Number 11
In the first stanza of The Nun’s Priest’s Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer presents the poor widow as a humble, simple and hardworking woman. She lives a quiet life without wealth or luxury, but she is contented with the little she has.
The widow is described as poor and elderly. Chaucer says that she is somewhat advanced in age and lives in a narrow cottage. This shows that she does not belong to the rich or noble class. Her home is small and ordinary, which reflects her low social position.
She lives in a rural environment. Her cottage is beside a grove and stands in a valley. This setting presents her as a simple village woman who lives close to nature and depends on farming and domestic labour for survival.
The widow is also portrayed as patient. Since the death of her husband, she has lived a simple life patiently. This means she does not complain bitterly about her poor condition. She accepts her situation and continues to manage her life with endurance.
She is hardworking and self-reliant. Although she is poor, she supports herself and her two daughters through the little property and animals she has. She does not depend on luxury or idleness, but on careful management of what God has given her.
Her possessions are very few. She has three large sows, three cows and a sheep called Malle. These animals show that she survives through small-scale farming. Her wealth is not in gold or land, but in the little domestic animals that help her household.
Her house is also presented as poor and unattractive. Chaucer describes her room and hall as sooty. This suggests a rough and uncomfortable home, probably darkened by smoke from the fire. It emphasizes the poverty of her living condition.
The widow’s food is simple and plain. She eats small meals and does not enjoy expensive dishes or rich sauces. Her diet consists mainly of milk, brown bread, bacon and sometimes an egg or two. This shows that she lives a modest life without extravagance.
She is also portrayed as healthy because of her simple lifestyle. She does not suffer from sickness caused by overeating or excessive drinking. Her moderate diet, exercise and contentment keep her healthy.
Chaucer also shows that she is not a woman of luxury. She does not drink wine, either white or red. This means she avoids the pleasures common among richer people. Her life is controlled by necessity, discipline and moderation.
The widow is therefore presented as a symbol of humble rural life. She is poor, old, patient, hardworking, contented and moderate. Through her, Chaucer shows that a person can live peacefully and healthily without wealth, pride or luxury.
Number 12
Seamus Heaney’s Digging is a poem about family tradition, hard work, memory and the poet’s choice of writing as his own occupation. The poem gives a detailed account of the speaker’s thoughts as he compares his own work as a writer with the physical labour of his father and grandfather.
The poem begins with the speaker sitting with a pen in his hand. He compares the pen to a gun, showing that writing is powerful and important to him. The pen rests firmly between his finger and thumb, suggesting that he is ready to use it as his own tool.
As the speaker sits inside, he hears a sound from outside. The sound is made by his father’s spade as it digs into the ground. This sound takes the speaker’s mind away from the present and brings back memories of his father’s work as a farmer.
The speaker looks down and sees his father digging among the flowerbeds. His father is bending low, working with the spade. This sight reminds the speaker of how his father used to dig potatoes many years before.
The poem then moves into the speaker’s memory. He remembers his father digging potato drills. His father would press the spade deep into the soil, scatter the new potatoes and work carefully. The speaker remembers how skillful and strong his father was in the farm.
The father is presented as a hardworking and experienced farmer. He knows how to handle the spade properly. His work is physical, useful and respected. The speaker admires his father’s skill and strength.
The speaker also remembers his grandfather, who was also a great digger. His grandfather worked on Toner’s bog, cutting turf. He was so good at his work that he could cut more turf than any other man. This shows that hard labour is a strong family tradition.
The memory of the grandfather is very vivid. The speaker remembers carrying milk to him in a bottle. The grandfather drinks the milk quickly and returns immediately to work. This shows his strength, seriousness and dedication to labour.
The grandfather’s digging is described with admiration. He digs deeply and carefully, going down for the good turf. This act of digging suggests not only physical labour but also patience, skill and commitment.
The poem uses images of sound, sight and touch to make the account clear. The sound of the spade, the smell of potato mould, the cold smell of turf and the wet earth all help the reader to feel the farming world of the speaker’s father and grandfather.
However, the speaker realizes that he is different from them. He says he has no spade to follow men like them. This means he will not continue the family tradition of farming and digging the soil. His own life has taken a different direction.
Instead of using a spade, the speaker uses a pen. The pen becomes his own tool. Just as his father and grandfather dug the earth, the speaker will dig into memory, history, experience and language through writing.
The title Digging is therefore symbolic. It does not only refer to digging the ground. It also refers to the poet’s act of digging into the past and into his family background through poetry.
The poem also shows respect for manual labour. Heaney does not reject his father’s and grandfather’s work. Rather, he honours them by remembering their skill and strength. Although he chooses writing, he still values the work of those before him.
At the end of the poem, the speaker returns to the image of the pen in his hand. He confidently declares that he will dig with it. This means he has accepted writing as his own form of work and identity.
Digging is therefore a poem about memory, family heritage and personal choice. Seamus Heaney gives an account of his father’s and grandfather’s labour and then shows that his own duty is to continue the family spirit of hard work through poetry.