Wam Literature

The Bible guides Bertolt Brecht in writing a spellbinding play which brings out new wisdom while declaring emphatically that the old can easily blend with the new.  Bertolt Brecht cleverly weaves a web around biblical stories and Christian tradition to espouse new wisdom in the play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle.  Bertolt Brecht cleverly weaves a web around biblical stories and Christian tradition to espouse new wisdom in the play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle.  Born of a Protestant mother- who encouraged him to read- and a Catholic father, Bertolt was at home with the Bible and the traditions of the Catholic Church which he dispensed so freely and provocatively in the play. The play seems to represent the Bible in a very obvious way that the parallels between it and the Bible disappear into something so new and obvious at the same time. On the Easter Sunday, when the governor is about to enjoy his lovely dinner, together with his friends- the...

THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a tale of two parables drawn from both the Chinese folklore and the Bible. In the parables, Bertolt cleverly espouses new wisdom alluding to the political concept of communism.  Written in form of a play, the Caucasian Chalk Circle cleverly surrounds the biblical Solomonic wisdom and the ancient Chinese lore in an attempt to introduce the concept of communism. In the play, Bertolt alludes to the Bible wisdom in which two mother's fight over the ownership of a child. The women had given birth to children at the same time. However, at night, one of the woman inadvertently killed her own child. Realising that her child had died. She replaced it with the one alive, oblivious of the mother. When the real mother woke, she identified the dead child as not her own and the two started a confrontation. Their fight attracted the attention of the neighbors who take the case to King Solomon. Finding it hard to determine who...

Raila too is a president and his party NASA also a ruling party, you can expect him to serve as head of state and official opposition at the same time.   THE OPPOSITION IN KENYA The opposition in Kenya plays an oversight role against the ruling party. Kenya can pride herself on having active opposition from independence. Although those who form the opposition, have always in one way joined the government in what could be seen an alliance and coalition of sorts, the country’s opposition has always remained active. However, there has been talk of the dwindling opposition. This can be attributed to the calm demeanour with which Raila Odinga- the face of the opposition- has been handling issues. The vigilance is no longer there. The press conferences have drastically reduced and the man has calmly disappeared from the public wielding evidence of murk in the government. There are no longer street protests against unpopular government policies and the general population which lo...

“A society’s image is dependent on its governance.” Using illustrations from Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the City, write an essay in support of this statement .  People are proud when their country’s political environment is mature and well co-ordinated. That’s why mature democracies like the USA boasts of sending emissaries abroad to spread Democracy. This is not the case in Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the City where Kafira is presented as a country whose political image is authoritarian with untold human suffering. Kafira society seems violent, patriarchal and unsafe. Filled with the so called ‘expatriates,’ the leadership is hell-bent to destroy the common people than help them achieve their personal goals. The society suppresses individual rights and liberties forcing university strikes and rebellion in order to right the wrong. However, when strikes are called upon, the leaders use excessive force killing the leaders of strike and detaining those perceived as deviant...

“True motherhood is not necessarily biological.” Write an essay illustrating this statement using Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. The epic Solomonic judgment of two mothers who were fighting over the motherhood of a live child determined a real mother as caring and selfless. In the same spirit, the play The Caucasian Chalk Circle, speaks of a mother who cares for a child that she was willing to let him go than tear him apart. Although true motherhood is biological, sometimes a true mother, as Eric Bentley says in the poem within the book’s preface, “is a bitch.” Natella Abashwili acts like a bitch when she does not consider holding the child while servants mill around her. She acts foreign to the child and even has the audacity to call one of the servants to follow her with the child when she makes her quick exit from the city. On the other hand, Grusha comes in handy and offers the protection only a mother can for Michael Abashwili yet she was not the mother. She...

“The outside of this cell may be inside of another.” With illustrations from the play Betrayal in the City, write an essay to discuss what Jere means by this statement. It is hard to tell whether one is free or in detention in countries where disregarding for human rights is prevalent. This is well illustrated in the play Betrayal in the City by Francis Imbuga. Prisons limit one’s freedoms like the freedom of movement and assembly. However, in Kafira, such freedoms are not extended to the common citizen. When Nina and Doga decide to perform the final burial rites for their son Adika, they are denied by government officials (Mulili and Jere.) Jere says that the ceremony had been canceled in the interest of peace. The presence of Askari’s in Kafira also creates an imagery of one being watched all the time. The people do not feel safe that is why Regina warns her boyfriend to be careful with what he says or does. Tumbo agrees with what Jusper says but observes that nothing can be ...

BETRAYAL IN THE CITY_ READERS QUESTIONS Explain how the kitchen cabinet is responsible for the government of kafira. Drawing your illustrations from Francis Imbugas play betrayal in the city. A kitchen cabinet is a group of advisors who closely monitor things and report them to the person in authority. In most cases, the Kitchen cabinet is made up of trusted men and women who besides the normal cabinet of the president, are the watchdogs and policy advisors to the sitting head of state. However, in Africa, the kitchen cabinet is made up of the closest associates of the reigning leader who are either, kinsmen or women or business partners. In essence, they use the power the head of state has to make a lot of money and steal from the public coffer. They enjoy the privileges of state hence trample upon the common mwanainchi because of state immunity. In so doing they lead to the reign of terror where people under questionable circumstances but there is no one to account for the...

“There are times when our actions are motivated by self-sacrifice.” Write an essay using specific illustrations from The Caucasian Chalk Circle to support this statement. Actions may sometimes be influenced by the will to serve others and not get anything in return. There occasions where those in power have risked life in order to serve the best interest of society. This, in particular, is the forte of whistleblowers in countries like Kenya. In the play The Caucasian Chalk Circle , this is shown by various characters. Grusha despite warnings from fellow workers decides to risk her life when the governor is killed and war breaks out to look after Michael who had been left behind. Her willingness to look after the child is driven by the compassion that is beyond reason. She feels she is not safe, yet she keeps on looking after the child. By morning, when no one comes for the child, she takes him with her. On her journey to the Northern Mountains, Grusha does not mind her little...

“Not all those you think are happy at your fortune actually are.” With a close reference to Steinbeck's The Pearl, write an essay on how selfishness is provoked by Kino’s pearl. It is hard to tell what the actual intentions of people are when you come into good fortunes. This is particularly hard where the good fortunes are publicly declared like winning a lottery or an award like the Nobel Peace Prize. John Steinbeck brings out this feeling hard in his book The Pearl . Kino lacks like every other person in the brush houses. He is unable to pay the greedy doctor the fee needed to treat his son Coyotito when the poor thing is bitten by a scorpion. However, the purse of Mother Nature opens and he finds the pearl described as the pearl of the world. Since no one had ever seen such a pearl, the villagers in the brush houses and the owners of the walled city are elated by Kino’s find. The villagers particularly envy and adore Kino. But Kino all over sudden feels unsafe. The wh...

'Some people abandon family members during difficult times for the sake of their own material thirst.’ With illustrations from The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht, Write an essay on the truth of this statement. Some people abandon their family during difficult times because of the quest to satisfy their material thirst. Most of the time, men are known to be dead bit dads because of constant obsession with young girls or running away from responsibilities. In The Caucasian Chalk Circle, we come across such characters. When the governor is assassinated, his wife Natella Abashwili concerns her cares about how her most expensive things should be carried. She defiantly commands one of the maids who was holding the baby to put him down and run for her (Natella’s) saffron coloured shoes. Although the governor’s wife showed concern for her son, it was not enough. Instead of holding the child while the servants looked for her precious adornments, she saw it fit to let Micha...

The story revolves around Akoko. The buck stops with women in the fight against oppressive testosterone. It is upon women to tap into their innermost strength to transform the world it what they imagined. Akoko, being on the losing end in a male-dominated family fought her way to earn her father’s love. She had to put her feet on the ground to make the world recognize her. Aloo, the family spokesman said that Akoko’s hard work had been incorporated into a saying that women sending their children on errands would mention her. She did not show any female shyness when she was introduced to her husband to be. With her head held high, Akoko stirred into Owuor Kembo a feeling that had not earned vocabulary among the Luo - love. Akoko did not subject the chief to monogamy. She was okay with him marrying as many women as her wealth could manage. It was the chief’s decision, despite growing outcry, to remain faithful to his wife. We are not told of any arm-twisting but sure as the sun ris...

Using illustrations from Betrayal in the City, Explain how Francis Imbuga has addressed the issue of bad governance.  The play Betrayal in the City talks about the failed leadership of Boss. It highlights the major problems faced by people in countries where the leaders are least concerned with the problems of the masses. The book exposes the present day democracy in Africa that reeks of Coups like in Burkina Faso and failed resolution of conflicts like in Kenya where a little matter like teachers’ pay throws the country’s education system in limbo. To begin with, in Kafira, there is no justice for the weak. The family of Nina and Doga lose a son over a shooting in town during university demonstration. The shooter is known to all, but instead of him being brought to justice, he is only laid off from his work. When Jusper claims to have killed Chagaga the law of the jungle rules and he is almost killed by an angry mob. Boss implants his cronies in the position of influenc...

Greed for worldly possessions can lead to uncontrollable madness. Using Kino, draw illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl . Greed is the insatiable need to possess what you have in such a colossal amount that is beyond enough and still yearn for more. In The Pearl, greed is protecting the little that one has against thieves, and the need to possess what has rightfully been earned by another. When Kino finds the pearl, he is optimistic about life and sees a better future for him and his family. But suddenly, he feels he is not safe, the pearl, though a promise of better tomorrow becomes all of a sudden a source of envy and evil. Kinos’ suspicion extends to the sudden change of heart of the doctor who hours ago had refused to see to his son. Though the doctor makes Coyotito ill and heals him, Kino has this gnawing feeling that the greedy doctor could be rooting for unconventional means to steal the pearl. That night while asleep, someone enters Kino’s house and tries to st...

  Runaway oppression and many other injustices are the order of the day in Kafira. Discuss this statement using illustrations from Francis Imbuga’s ‘ Betrayal in the City ’ Dictatorial governments tend to use force and intimidation to suppress resistance. Most often the force used tends to disregard the fundamental rights of the individual. More so, the oppressed do not get the required justice for courts become custodians of those in Power. In Betrayal in the city , Boss’ regime adopts a rather draconian approach in addressing resistance .  The University strike is an indicator of how oppression is used to suppress resistance. The leader of the strike ends up dead, with four bullets wounds in his chest. The violence meted on the striking students is meant to contain them; however, this usually works against the oppressor. Instead of the killings curtailing society, it strengthens the revolution and changes the tactics. Jusper, strengthened decides to uses his play as T...

Azdak, despite his Solomonic Wisdom, has some disgraceful traits. Write an essay in support of the statement basing your illustrations on Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle The elevation of Azdak to judge’s seat was somehow dramatic. The Ironshirts who had just met him considered his mannerism as uncouth and bold; “The judge was always a rascal! Now a rascal shall be a judge!” (pg74) As a judge, Azdak proved to be a rascal indeed, he blatantly and arrogantly dispensed with the book of statutes hence becoming the law. In his tenure as a judge, though dishonorable, he was considered to have brought in a “golden age of justice, however short. As a judge, Azdak would openly receive a bribe, “I accept” extending his hand to both the accused and the prosecution. To Azdak, bribery was official business- “Good now the formalities are disposed of,” he would say as he pocketed the spoils. (pg78) His arrogance and greed blinded him to the numerous witnesses available. But, bri...

The Caucasian Chalk Circle presents a paradoxical situation as it presents Azdak as filthy leader who is loved by the masses and despised by the rich. Azdak in the play Caucasian Chalk Circle is a disgraceful character. Despite this, he is believably one of the best characters because of his witticism and bravado at turning situations against those that he sees as profiteers of the law. Being a village scrivener, Azdak comes out as a learned incorrigible citizen who always goes against the norm to insult the custodians of the law like Shauwa. And as a judge, he takes the advantage of anarchy to rein terror on any corrupt wealthy individual who presents a case to him. The character of Azdak can be captured in individuals within a country like Kenya. Of late, the newspapers (in Kenya) have been awash with tales of corruption that the unwitting Kenyans are of the opinion that, for the first time in 20 years, the government is committed in curbing the widespread corruption. Grusi...

The timeless 1947 classic still mirrors the modern society in the social economic and political aspects of life. Def: Allegory is an expressive style that uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances; an extended metaphor (Sage dictionary) Allegory has been used by many writers to question the common truths that the majority believes in. Among the most common allegories is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in the book The Republic. The allegory explains the difficulties one experiences in an attempt to correct the already perceived and believed truths. In The Pearl , Steinbeck explores the story of colonialism and its effects on the society. According to their (colonialists) version of the story, the colonialists came to civilize the primitive society ‘Go get the doctor,’ ‘A wonderful thing, a memorable thing to want the doctor.’ (pg 23) However, instead of civilization, it was exploitation, ‘…..the best and the happiest pearl buyer was ...

WHEN THE MADNESS OF AN ENTIRE NATION DISTURBS A SOLITARY MIND, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT THE MAN IS MAD. DISCUSS THIS IN LINE WITH IMBUGA’S BETRAYAL IN THE CITY These words were said by JERE towards the end of Act Two in reference to incoherent jibber jabber of MOSESE in his sleep. JERE had watched the intellect MOSESE process his great expectations for Kafira only to see him, in utter amazement, utter words that did not make sense in his sleep. MOSESE in his dream portends another character away from the real character when active. He espouses a fearful man who is ready to lick BOSS’ shoes to get a lucrative government job like his friend NICODEMO. He relishes the luxury of betrayal and instant fame. We cannot refute the claim that, however, committed an individual is in fighting for the common good, there is always that small voice that tells him/her to relent and accept instant fame in the name of bootlicking. MOSESE’s other side, brought in the dream showcases this other...

A discussion  from the play Betrayal in the City by Francis Imbuga Francis Imbuga puts educated elites at the centre of struggle against Boss dictatorship. On the other hand, Imbuga represents illiterate Mulili as the oppressive force used by Boss to do his (Boss’) dirty bidding. According to the play Betrayal in the City, elites have a central role in striving for a better more proactive society with citizen participation. This is brought out in the efforts of struggle as presented by various characters in the play. Adika, Jusper’s brother is said to have been killed while leading a university protest. According to Doga “Only four bullets were fired that day. Adika had four bullet wounds in his chest.” (pg4) Doga also says, “We buried our hope the day Adika was gunned down.” (pg2) Adika, represented the hope, the dream both his parents and the country was looking for to salvage the country from boss’ clutches. In his struggle, he is gunned down in an attempt to silence el...