JMK 315 – JMK 315 – SELECTED WORKS OF SELECTED WORKS OF

MODERN AFRICAN MODERN AFRICAN LITERATURELITERATURE

1950s – Anti-Colonial 1950s – Anti-Colonial StrugglesStruggles

►A decade of tremendous anti-A decade of tremendous anti-imperialist revolutionary imperialist revolutionary upheavalsupheavals

►Writings are assertive – the writer Writings are assertive – the writer & his work becomes part of the & his work becomes part of the Africa RevolutionAfrica Revolution

COLONIALCOLONIAL

Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart

(Chinua Achebe)(1958)(Chinua Achebe)(1958)

1960s -- Independence1960s -- Independence

►Independence did not bring about Independence did not bring about changes changes

►Power lies in a selected group of Power lies in a selected group of middle-class with self-interestmiddle-class with self-interest

►Independence brought no relief Independence brought no relief from poverty and political from poverty and political repressionrepression

POST INDEPENDENCE POST INDEPENDENCE WORKSWORKS

Themes –Themes –

characterized by a sense of characterized by a sense of despair, disillusionment over the despair, disillusionment over the moral decay and corruption of the moral decay and corruption of the new Statesnew States

(A. K. Armah: (A. K. Armah: The Beautyful Ones The Beautyful Ones AreAre Not Yet BornNot Yet Born))

Independence/Post Independence/Post independenceindependence

►A Grain of WheatA Grain of Wheat

(Ngugi wa Thiong’o) (1967)(Ngugi wa Thiong’o) (1967)►The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet BornThe Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born

(A. K. Armah) (1968)(A. K. Armah) (1968)►The Swamp DwellersThe Swamp Dwellers (1964) (1964)

The Lion and The JewelThe Lion and The Jewel (1963) (1963)

(Wole Soyinka)(Wole Soyinka)

THE BEAUTYFUL THE BEAUTYFUL ONES ARE NOT ONES ARE NOT

YET BORN – YET BORN – [A.K. ARMAH][A.K. ARMAH]

►Armah’s first major work, Armah’s first major work, published in 1968.published in 1968.

►Set in his hometown of Set in his hometown of Takoradi, Ghana.Takoradi, Ghana.

►Deals with postcolonial life in Deals with postcolonial life in Ghana.Ghana.

►Shows the decolonization of Shows the decolonization of African Literature – novelists are African Literature – novelists are becoming less preoccupied with becoming less preoccupied with cultural and sociological matterscultural and sociological matters

►More concerned about exposing More concerned about exposing the corruption and the corruption and incompetence which are so incompetence which are so widespread in African political widespread in African political and governmental circles.and governmental circles.

SynopsisSynopsis

The story of a railway clerk who The story of a railway clerk who is under pressure from his is under pressure from his

society and family to conform society and family to conform to the ethics of the post-to the ethics of the post-

colonial society.colonial society.

This leads to his alienation from This leads to his alienation from life.life.

A crisis comes when the regime is A crisis comes when the regime is overthrown in a coup and overthrown in a coup and

Koomson, a corrupted character Koomson, a corrupted character comes to his home to seek help.comes to his home to seek help.

‘‘The man’ helps to smuggle The man’ helps to smuggle Koomson out through the latrine Koomson out through the latrine

hole.hole.

After getting him safely away on After getting him safely away on the fishing boat, he swims the fishing boat, he swims

ashore and returns home to a ashore and returns home to a country run by a new country run by a new

government and the round of government and the round of corruption begins again.corruption begins again.

Structure of the NovelStructure of the Novel

The novel can be divided into The novel can be divided into 3 parts:3 parts:

Section 1Section 1 – Chapter 1 - 4 – Chapter 1 - 4Introduces us to the daily routine Introduces us to the daily routine

of the man, and to the of the man, and to the pressures he faces from family pressures he faces from family

and friends.and friends.

Centers around daily round of Centers around daily round of routine, boring, meaningless routine, boring, meaningless activity which is the ‘work’ of activity which is the ‘work’ of the new, urban, clerical class.the new, urban, clerical class.

In the offices around him, men In the offices around him, men devise elaborate systems for devise elaborate systems for manufacturing unnecessary manufacturing unnecessary work. For example, they file work. For example, they file multiple copies of documents.multiple copies of documents.

Towards the end of this section, Towards the end of this section, we are introduced to we are introduced to Koomson.Koomson.

Section 2Section 2 – Chapter 5 - 12 – Chapter 5 - 12

►The man leaves his home and The man leaves his home and heads to the teacher’s house heads to the teacher’s house after an argument with his after an argument with his wife.wife.

►We meet ‘the teacher’ for the We meet ‘the teacher’ for the first time in chapter 5.first time in chapter 5.

Section 3Section 3 – Chapter 13 - 14 – Chapter 13 - 14

►The visit of Koomson – terrified The visit of Koomson – terrified and broken, smelly and and broken, smelly and corrupted.corrupted.

►The military arrives to arrest The military arrives to arrest Koomson. The only way to Koomson. The only way to escape is through the latrine escape is through the latrine hole.hole.

ThemesThemes

Reveals the condition of Ghana Reveals the condition of Ghana where independence has where independence has

propelled a new set of masters, propelled a new set of masters, black this time into power. black this time into power. These new masters have These new masters have

acquired the same status as the acquired the same status as the white man, and behaved with white man, and behaved with

the same arrogance towards the the same arrogance towards the ordinary people.ordinary people.

Presents a shocking picture of Presents a shocking picture of the greed for positions, and the the greed for positions, and the

extent of corruption in the extent of corruption in the Ghana society after Ghana society after

independence.independence.

A MORAL FABLE [SYMBOLIC]A MORAL FABLE [SYMBOLIC]

►Language – unusually vigorous Language – unusually vigorous and realistic.and realistic.

►Images used are disgusting Images used are disgusting and nauseating.and nauseating.

►Shows the strength of Armah’s Shows the strength of Armah’s moral convictions.moral convictions.

Symbolic Nature of the Symbolic Nature of the CharactersCharacters

►The characters are important The characters are important not for what they are in not for what they are in themselves, but for what they themselves, but for what they represent.represent.

►The characters are indicated by The characters are indicated by generalized names.generalized names.

►The characters are not The characters are not powerfully presented – merely powerfully presented – merely symbolical figures who do not symbolical figures who do not transcend their roles as mere transcend their roles as mere symbols.symbols.

Issue of NamesIssue of Names►There is a symbolic value to There is a symbolic value to names. Names serve as keys names. Names serve as keys to the cultural and social to the cultural and social identity of characters.identity of characters.

►By limiting the names used in By limiting the names used in his novel, Armah is portraying his novel, Armah is portraying the loss of true African the loss of true African consciousness and identity.consciousness and identity.

►As the man moves through the As the man moves through the governmental residential area governmental residential area on the hills, he finds that there on the hills, he finds that there is is

“… “… enough names of black men enough names of black men with white soul and names with white soul and names trying mightily to be white … (p trying mightily to be white … (p 147)147)

CharactersCharacters

‘‘The Man’The Man’

►The main character – ‘ – ‘the the manman’, also at times referred to ’, also at times referred to as ‘the watcher’, ‘the giver’ as ‘the watcher’, ‘the giver’ and ‘the silent one’.and ‘the silent one’.

►His family members are called His family members are called ‘the loved ones’.‘the loved ones’.

►The man’s lack of a name is a The man’s lack of a name is a symptom of his near-total lack symptom of his near-total lack of any image himself as a of any image himself as a being with some control over being with some control over his life and the world around his life and the world around him.him.

►He faces an identity crisis. He He faces an identity crisis. He is a sleep-walker, a walking is a sleep-walker, a walking dead, a ghost, one “whose dead, a ghost, one “whose desire has nowhere to go” (p desire has nowhere to go” (p 41)41)

►An insignificant clerk working in An insignificant clerk working in the nation’s railway officethe nation’s railway office

►Finding it hard to make ends Finding it hard to make ends meet.meet.

►Representative of the ordinary Representative of the ordinary citizen in post-colonial Ghana.citizen in post-colonial Ghana.

►‘‘The man’ is despised by his wife The man’ is despised by his wife and his mother-in-law as a lazy and his mother-in-law as a lazy and stupid person who does not and stupid person who does not bring home enough to feed his bring home enough to feed his family.family.

►The man’s predicament as a The man’s predicament as a poorly paid worker living in the poorly paid worker living in the slums is depressing and slums is depressing and desperate – representative of a desperate – representative of a product of the nation’s economic product of the nation’s economic trouble.trouble.

►In his abject situation, he In his abject situation, he symbolizes the wretchedness of symbolizes the wretchedness of the ordinary Ghanian in the the ordinary Ghanian in the post-colonial era.post-colonial era.

►The whole novel consists The whole novel consists largely of the man’s reflections largely of the man’s reflections and the reflections are on one and the reflections are on one thing and one thing alone – thing and one thing alone – corruption and the rottenness corruption and the rottenness that goes with it. that goes with it.

►‘‘The man’ is constantly plagued The man’ is constantly plagued with doubts of his stand not to with doubts of his stand not to accept bribes – he wonders if he accept bribes – he wonders if he is a coward or a fool. ‘Very often is a coward or a fool. ‘Very often these days he was burdened these days he was burdened with the hopeless impotent with the hopeless impotent feeling that he was not just one feeling that he was not just one of these, but a helpless of these, but a helpless combination of the two.’ [p 59]combination of the two.’ [p 59]

‘‘THE TEACHERTHE TEACHER’’

►‘‘The teacherThe teacher’ – another important ’ – another important character – his role in the novel is character – his role in the novel is central.central.

►As the name suggests – he is the As the name suggests – he is the educator and the mentor of the educator and the mentor of the societysociety

►Should be respected and honoured Should be respected and honoured but in the Ghanian society, this but in the Ghanian society, this guru is marginalized and ignored.guru is marginalized and ignored.

►Society shuns the ethic of Society shuns the ethic of reflection that ‘the teacher’ reflection that ‘the teacher’ seeks to introduce and prefer seeks to introduce and prefer the ‘fineries’ and the luxuries the ‘fineries’ and the luxuries of the West.of the West.

►‘‘The teacher is the upright The teacher is the upright man who has resisted man who has resisted temptation towards corruption.temptation towards corruption.

►When we first met him, he is When we first met him, he is absolutely naked – his absolutely naked – his nakedness symbolizes his nakedness symbolizes his absolute purity – he has nothing absolute purity – he has nothing to hide.to hide.

►He is not ashamed of his He is not ashamed of his nakedness.nakedness.

►Hi nakedness can be seen as a Hi nakedness can be seen as a symbol of his purity but …symbol of his purity but …

… … we are also able to see the we are also able to see the extremism of his stance.extremism of his stance.

He refuses to accept the He refuses to accept the relationship between maggots relationship between maggots and excrement, between dung and excrement, between dung and the blossom. and the blossom.

He is far removed from reality.He is far removed from reality.

►Isolated and lonely because he Isolated and lonely because he sees with absolute clarity the sees with absolute clarity the corrupt society around him.corrupt society around him.

►A realist who knows that in the A realist who knows that in the Ghanian society, anyone who Ghanian society, anyone who wants to be happy and give his wants to be happy and give his loved ones things they desire loved ones things they desire will sooner or later have to will sooner or later have to compromise themselves. compromise themselves.

►‘‘The teacher’ knows that the The teacher’ knows that the land wants a man ‘not honest land wants a man ‘not honest and living, but completely like and living, but completely like its dead self’.its dead self’.

►The only way to rise above it The only way to rise above it all is to run away from the all is to run away from the situation.situation.

►‘‘The teacher’ has obtained The teacher’ has obtained ‘freedom’ from society’s ‘freedom’ from society’s expectation, but he has to pay expectation, but he has to pay a price – he has condemned a price – he has condemned himself to a life of loneliness.himself to a life of loneliness.

►Despite the freedom, he is not Despite the freedom, he is not really ‘free’ – he still longs to really ‘free’ – he still longs to meet his loved ones, to meet his loved ones, to interact, he longs for human interact, he longs for human contact. In spite of his outer contact. In spite of his outer calm, he is a man of pain.calm, he is a man of pain.

►The tragedy of his situation The tragedy of his situation and of the whole of Ghana is and of the whole of Ghana is summed up in the teacher’s summed up in the teacher’s discovery that there is no discovery that there is no salvation anywhere.salvation anywhere.

►Armah’s message through the Armah’s message through the character of ‘the teacher’ – to character of ‘the teacher’ – to be honest and upright is to be be honest and upright is to be totally alone and lonely.totally alone and lonely.

KoomsonKoomson

►Symbolizes man’s desire for Symbolizes man’s desire for materialismmaterialism

►Represents the message of Represents the message of hopelessness and negative hopelessness and negative influences of colonialism.influences of colonialism.

►When we first meet Koomson When we first meet Koomson in Section 1, Armah gives us a in Section 1, Armah gives us a lot of details of his suit. The lot of details of his suit. The suit is more prominent than suit is more prominent than the one who wears it.the one who wears it.

►It symbolizes that Koomson’s It symbolizes that Koomson’s identity is blurred by the suit identity is blurred by the suit which symbolizes the white which symbolizes the white man.man.

►Koomson’s identity is defined Koomson’s identity is defined solely by the objects with solely by the objects with which he surrounds himself.which he surrounds himself.

(Contrast this with ‘the teacher’ (Contrast this with ‘the teacher’ who is naked.) who is naked.)

Estella [Koomson’s wife]Estella [Koomson’s wife]

►Represents the ordinary Represents the ordinary African who has acquired African who has acquired wealth and status as a result of wealth and status as a result of colonialism and is now eager colonialism and is now eager to despise her roots to to despise her roots to embrace the white man’s embrace the white man’s culture.culture.

►Snobbish and conceited.Snobbish and conceited.►In the same category as In the same category as

Estella, Armah also portrays Estella, Armah also portrays some grotesque attempts of some grotesque attempts of this new class of Africans to this new class of Africans to behave like Englishmen, behave like Englishmen, converting their African names converting their African names into English-sounding names.into English-sounding names.

►Armah shows the black Armah shows the black golfers show their gratitude golfers show their gratitude and thrill of being admitted and thrill of being admitted into the golf club by imitating into the golf club by imitating English mannerisms, English English mannerisms, English accents.accents.

► Armah’s sharp satire is Armah’s sharp satire is also directed against civil also directed against civil servants:servants:

a.a. Some stretch 30 mins work Some stretch 30 mins work over a whole day.over a whole day.

b.b. Bribery is openly accepted Bribery is openly accepted and is the norm.and is the norm.

c. c. Ministers are irresponsible – Ministers are irresponsible – their main preoccupations are their main preoccupations are night clubs, parties and girls.night clubs, parties and girls.

The opulence of the elected The opulence of the elected ministers and politicians are ministers and politicians are contrasted with vivid contrasted with vivid description of the squalor of description of the squalor of the ordinary people’s living the ordinary people’s living conditionsconditions

Writer’s TechniqueWriter’s Technique

““Freedom as Nightmare: Armah’s Freedom as Nightmare: Armah’s The The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet BornBeautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born” ”

(Shatto Arthur Gakwandi)(Shatto Arthur Gakwandi)““So overwhelming is the sense of decay So overwhelming is the sense of decay

which is created in the novel that the which is created in the novel that the death-cycle of life becomes the death-cycle of life becomes the reflecting medium in which everything reflecting medium in which everything is observed. We are presented with a is observed. We are presented with a world in which the sewage pipes of world in which the sewage pipes of history have exploded and everything is history have exploded and everything is polluted. polluted.

The senses of the reader are vigorously The senses of the reader are vigorously assaulted to the point of being assaulted to the point of being numbed by the persistent imagery of numbed by the persistent imagery of decay, putrefaction, and death. We decay, putrefaction, and death. We meet a child, its nose overflowing meet a child, its nose overflowing with mucus and its mother sucking it with mucus and its mother sucking it with her mouth; we meet a young with her mouth; we meet a young woman, her body disfigured by woman, her body disfigured by “creases of a prematuredly tired “creases of a prematuredly tired skin”. We are not sure whether she is skin”. We are not sure whether she is a horse of human, dead or alive.a horse of human, dead or alive.

►Streets are littered with rubbish Streets are littered with rubbish that overflows from dustbins onto that overflows from dustbins onto the pavements, banisters on the pavements, banisters on buildings stbuildings st

►Stairs are coated with vast Stairs are coated with vast accumulations of dirt, and lavatory accumulations of dirt, and lavatory walls are streaked with organic walls are streaked with organic brown matter … brown matter …

Everyone is described as sweating, Everyone is described as sweating, coughing, spitting. The stench of coughing, spitting. The stench of putrefying matter becomes one putrefying matter becomes one with the stench of despair in the with the stench of despair in the men who are walking about. The men who are walking about. The sounds, smells, the sights and the sounds, smells, the sights and the thoughts of the people all mingle thoughts of the people all mingle into a single rhythm of decay and into a single rhythm of decay and death” (p 102).death” (p 102).

GHANA SYMBOLICALLY GHANA SYMBOLICALLY PRESENTEDPRESENTED

►Description – most of the Description – most of the inhabitants walk like dead men inhabitants walk like dead men in a land which is morally and in a land which is morally and spiritually dead.spiritually dead.

►Armah sees Ghana as a land Armah sees Ghana as a land who is morally and spiritually who is morally and spiritually dead.dead.

►In Armah’s opinion, the whole In Armah’s opinion, the whole of Ghana – buildings and of Ghana – buildings and people stink of corruption.people stink of corruption.

►Armah expresses his disgust Armah expresses his disgust for corruption by exploiting the for corruption by exploiting the potential of a central symbol – potential of a central symbol – filth, putrefaction, excreta.filth, putrefaction, excreta.

►Throughout the novel, the Throughout the novel, the reader’s senses are assaulted reader’s senses are assaulted by the feel of someone’s by the feel of someone’s phlegm, the odour of excreta phlegm, the odour of excreta and vomit.and vomit.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

►Beginning of the novel – the Beginning of the novel – the powerful scene in the bus –powerful scene in the bus –

►The passengers are like walking The passengers are like walking corpses or sleepwalkers.corpses or sleepwalkers.

►‘‘The man’ enters the bus and The man’ enters the bus and gives the conductor a note. gives the conductor a note.

►The conductor is corrupted and The conductor is corrupted and does not give the correct change.does not give the correct change.

►The conductor is gloating over the The conductor is gloating over the contents of his collecting bag. He contents of his collecting bag. He pays careful attention to the pays careful attention to the different forms of currency. He not different forms of currency. He not only examines the different only examines the different colours of the various currencies, colours of the various currencies, but feels their texture and sniffs but feels their texture and sniffs them affectionately.them affectionately.

►Immediately, corruption and Immediately, corruption and foul smells are described:foul smells are described:

‘…‘…a vague but persistent odour a vague but persistent odour force itself on him… Fascinated, force itself on him… Fascinated, he breathed it slowly into his he breathed it slowly into his lungs … a very old smell, very lungs … a very old smell, very strong, and so very rotten…’strong, and so very rotten…’

‘‘marvelous rottenness’ [p 4] marvelous rottenness’ [p 4]

►What happens in the bus is What happens in the bus is representative of what representative of what happens in the country as a happens in the country as a whole.whole.

►The bus, like the country, is in The bus, like the country, is in a state of decay.a state of decay.

►The passengers represent the The passengers represent the ordinary citizens.ordinary citizens.

►Every physical detail and gesture Every physical detail and gesture has a symbolic value. As the man has a symbolic value. As the man moves through the town toward moves through the town toward his offices through the littered his offices through the littered streets, our attention is focused streets, our attention is focused on the overflowing dustbins on the overflowing dustbins surrounded by piles of rubbish.surrounded by piles of rubbish.

►The driver and the conductor The driver and the conductor represent authority, conniving represent authority, conniving to cheat the citizens.to cheat the citizens.

►The power of this novel The power of this novel derives from the way Armah derives from the way Armah exploits the central symbol of exploits the central symbol of filth to articulate his revulsion filth to articulate his revulsion against corruption.against corruption.

►Armah is completely frank in Armah is completely frank in describing bodily functions, describing bodily functions, insists on the realistic details insists on the realistic details of urine, faeces, saliva, of urine, faeces, saliva, phlegm, sweat to shock us phlegm, sweat to shock us into realizing the into realizing the repulsiveness of corruption. repulsiveness of corruption.

►Within a few pages, Armah has Within a few pages, Armah has established a social and physical world established a social and physical world which is encased in dirt and threatened which is encased in dirt and threatened by death. The bus moves with “an by death. The bus moves with “an endless spastic shudder, as if its pieces endless spastic shudder, as if its pieces were held together by too much rust were held together by too much rust ever to fall completely apart”. People ever to fall completely apart”. People are coughing and spitting out mucus are coughing and spitting out mucus and the bank notes have a rotten smell. and the bank notes have a rotten smell.

MetaphorsMetaphors

Powerful Images and Powerful Images and AnalogiesAnalogies – –

suggesting the power of suggesting the power of corruption and the difficulty to corruption and the difficulty to

avoid being involved:avoid being involved:

1.The Railway Admin Block1.The Railway Admin Block‘‘Apart from the wood itself there Apart from the wood itself there

were, of course, people themselves, were, of course, people themselves, just so many hands and fingers just so many hands and fingers bringing help to the wood in its bringing help to the wood in its course towards putrefaction. Left-course towards putrefaction. Left-hand fingers in their careless hand fingers in their careless journey from a hasty anus sliding all journey from a hasty anus sliding all the way up the banister as their the way up the banister as their owners made a return trip from the owners made a return trip from the lavatory downstairs to the offices lavatory downstairs to the offices above.above.

Right-hand fingers still dripping Right-hand fingers still dripping with the after-piss and the stale with the after-piss and the stale sweat from fat crotches. The sweat from fat crotches. The calloused palms of messengers calloused palms of messengers after many had blown their after many had blown their clogged noses reaching for a clogged noses reaching for a convenient place to leave the convenient place to leave the well-rubbed moisture.’ [p 15]well-rubbed moisture.’ [p 15]

►Corruption is accepted as Corruption is accepted as inevitable or necessary.inevitable or necessary.

►The man’s wife is convinced The man’s wife is convinced that he should accept bribes that he should accept bribes to supplement his meager to supplement his meager salary. She uses this analogy:salary. She uses this analogy:

►‘‘Those who wanted to get far Those who wanted to get far had to earn to drive fast … had to earn to drive fast … Komson had learned to drive.’Komson had learned to drive.’

2. The rot on the banister of the 2. The rot on the banister of the Railway Admin Block where Railway Admin Block where the man works – the banister the man works – the banister was continually polished to was continually polished to get rid of the rot, but in the get rid of the rot, but in the end was always the rot and end was always the rot and filth that won – ‘victorious filth that won – ‘victorious filth’.filth’.

3. The 3. The chichidodo – chichidodo – the bird the bird which ‘hates excrement’ with which ‘hates excrement’ with its soul’, but it feeds on its soul’, but it feeds on maggots which grows best maggots which grows best inside the toilet – demonstrates inside the toilet – demonstrates the people’s conviction that the the people’s conviction that the more one tries to avoid more one tries to avoid corruption, the more surely one corruption, the more surely one gets involved in it.gets involved in it.

4. The proverb of the healthy green 4. The proverb of the healthy green fruit – it is only healthy for a brief fruit – it is only healthy for a brief time. When it decays, the only life time. When it decays, the only life that emerges form it comes from that emerges form it comes from the seeds feeding on their own the seeds feeding on their own rotten fruit. [This proverbs shows rotten fruit. [This proverbs shows that most men see the descent that most men see the descent into corruption as natural and also into corruption as natural and also beneficial. They regard all who beneficial. They regard all who resist as selfish and unnatural, resist as selfish and unnatural, the ‘monstrous fruit’.]the ‘monstrous fruit’.]

5. The stuffy and dirty atmosphere 5. The stuffy and dirty atmosphere in the Railway Admin Block – in the Railway Admin Block – compounded from the salt from compounded from the salt from the sea and the sweat from every the sea and the sweat from every office worker – [shows that office worker – [shows that everyone, even those who resist everyone, even those who resist are involved in this messy are involved in this messy corruption – there is no escaping corruption – there is no escaping it].it].

6. The toilet/latrine scenes – 6. The toilet/latrine scenes – near the toilet, an old man, near the toilet, an old man, conscious that he and conscious that he and everyone else is enveloped in everyone else is enveloped in corruption, sleeps with his corruption, sleeps with his mouth wide open, allowing mouth wide open, allowing particles of excreta to rush in. particles of excreta to rush in. ‘Why should he play the fool ‘Why should he play the fool and hold his breath?’and hold his breath?’

7. Koomson’s fatness and his 7. Koomson’s fatness and his bad odour and bad breath and bad odour and bad breath and smelly farts, esp. towards the smelly farts, esp. towards the end of the novel when he tried end of the novel when he tried to hide inside the man’s room to hide inside the man’s room – symbolical of his decay, – symbolical of his decay, corruption and spiritual corruption and spiritual rottenness.rottenness.

8. A friend of ‘the man’ who had 8. A friend of ‘the man’ who had taken on the name Rama taken on the name Rama Krishna – he was horrified by Krishna – he was horrified by the decay he sees around him, the decay he sees around him, so he had withdrawn into a life so he had withdrawn into a life solely spiritual, practising yoga solely spiritual, practising yoga and living on a vegetarian diet.and living on a vegetarian diet.

To avoid corruption he decided To avoid corruption he decided never to touch a woman and never to touch a woman and rejuvenate his brain by standing rejuvenate his brain by standing on his head.on his head.

In spite of his efforts, corruption In spite of his efforts, corruption and decay overtook him.and decay overtook him.

The message – decay is The message – decay is inevitable, there is no avoiding inevitable, there is no avoiding it.it.

9. The bus at the beginning and end 9. The bus at the beginning and end of of

the novel -the novel -

The condition is old and dirty, the The condition is old and dirty, the

bus represents Ghana, the driver bus represents Ghana, the driver and and

the corrupted conductor the corrupted conductor represent the decay of the represent the decay of the

government machinery.government machinery.

10. The dominant metaphor is 10. The dominant metaphor is EATING, which involves EATING, which involves EATING, DIGESTING, EATING, DIGESTING, EXCRETION which is linked to EXCRETION which is linked to the theme of corruption and the theme of corruption and bribery.bribery.

Dwells excessively on the Dwells excessively on the process by which the body process by which the body converts food into excreta, converts food into excreta, which reflects the obsession of which reflects the obsession of the society in consumption.the society in consumption.

Just as food must issue excreta, Just as food must issue excreta, so much consumption will so much consumption will issue bribery and corruption. issue bribery and corruption.

Conclusion Conclusion of the Novelof the Novel

►A coup occurs and Koomson A coup occurs and Koomson was wanted by the police. He was wanted by the police. He hid in the man’s house. The hid in the man’s house. The man’s wife came to realize man’s wife came to realize that it’s better to be honest that it’s better to be honest like ‘the man’ than to be like ‘the man’ than to be corrupted like Koomson.corrupted like Koomson.

►The man’s wife could not help The man’s wife could not help commenting on the foul smells commenting on the foul smells that Koomson omitted.that Koomson omitted.

►““The smell was something the man The smell was something the man had not at all expected. It was had not at all expected. It was overpowering, as if some corrosive overpowering, as if some corrosive gas, … had filled the room, irritating gas, … had filled the room, irritating not only the nostrils, but also insides of not only the nostrils, but also insides of eyes, ears, mouth, throat.” (189)eyes, ears, mouth, throat.” (189)

►Koomson’s insides gave a growl longer Koomson’s insides gave a growl longer than usual, an inner fart of personal, than usual, an inner fart of personal, corrupt thunder which in its fullness corrupt thunder which in its fullness sounded as if it had rolled down all the sounded as if it had rolled down all the way from the eating throat thundering way from the eating throat thundering through the belly and the guts …” through the belly and the guts …” (192).(192).

►The escape of Koomson through The escape of Koomson through the latrine hole evokes the image the latrine hole evokes the image of birth. The 2 men must force of birth. The 2 men must force their way through the latrine hole their way through the latrine hole to re-enter the world.to re-enter the world.

►Koomson’s escape from the latrine Koomson’s escape from the latrine hole – he had to go head first in hole – he had to go head first in order not to be stuck. order not to be stuck.

►‘‘The man’ who appeared weak The man’ who appeared weak and insignificant and passive and insignificant and passive and aimless throughout the and aimless throughout the novel, became the hero towards novel, became the hero towards the end, as he calmly leads the end, as he calmly leads Koomson towards escape, not Koomson towards escape, not fearing for his own life. fearing for his own life.

►The man has to return by The man has to return by swimming ashore. The sea is swimming ashore. The sea is described as a purifying bath.described as a purifying bath.

►When he comes onto the shore When he comes onto the shore after the cleansing swim in the after the cleansing swim in the ocean, he witness a policeman ocean, he witness a policeman extorting bribe from a bus extorting bribe from a bus driver. driver.

►The old regime may have been The old regime may have been overthrown, but the business of overthrown, but the business of corruption continues as usual.corruption continues as usual.

►At the end of the novel, the man At the end of the novel, the man goes home knowing that his own goes home knowing that his own circumstances are unlikely to circumstances are unlikely to change.change.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

1. What is the main 1. What is the main message/theme of message/theme of

The Beautyful Ones Are The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet BornNot Yet Born??

2. How did Armah drive 2. How did Armah drive home the home the

message? message?

A] metaphors A] metaphors

B] languageB] language

C] charactersC] characters

3. What is the similarity 3. What is the similarity between the beginning of between the beginning of the novel and the end of the novel and the end of the novel and what is the the novel and what is the significance of this significance of this similarity?similarity?

4. Do you think there is a 4. Do you think there is a happy ending? With the happy ending? With the coup, many corrupted men coup, many corrupted men like Koomson are like Koomson are eliminated. Do you think eliminated. Do you think the Ghanian society will be the Ghanian society will be better with the change of better with the change of government? Does Armah government? Does Armah offer us any hope?offer us any hope?

►The novel’s title – The novel’s title – The Beautyful The Beautyful OnesOnes are Not Yet Bornare Not Yet Born suggests a bleak future. suggests a bleak future.

►Though the corrupted Though the corrupted government is replaced by government is replaced by another government, the another government, the impression persists that impression persists that corruption and decay will corruption and decay will continue because the saviours of continue because the saviours of the society ‘ARE NOT YET BORN’.the society ‘ARE NOT YET BORN’.

Question Question

““Every detail in the novel is Every detail in the novel is important both for what it is – important both for what it is – a detail, a sociological fact – a detail, a sociological fact – and for what … it comes to and for what … it comes to symbolize …symbolize …

the cumulative effect of this the cumulative effect of this “network” of details and symbols “network” of details and symbols in in The Beautyful OnesThe Beautyful Ones Are Not Are Not Yet Born Yet Born is to present the reader is to present the reader with a harrowing and relentless with a harrowing and relentless vision of Ghana as a neocolony.” vision of Ghana as a neocolony.”

(Neil Lazarus)(Neil Lazarus)

Discuss the “vision of Ghana Discuss the “vision of Ghana as a neocolony” and the as a neocolony” and the

methods Armah employs to methods Armah employs to present this vision.present this vision.

Thank Thank youyou