Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CHARACTERS
REMI – the main character.
OMANGE – his friend
THONI – his inherited wife
NYOBI – his mother
JANE – his girlfriend
PASTOR – the leader of the church
LEADER – the leader of elders
1ST ELDER
2ND ELDER
1ST NEIGHBOUR
2ND NEIGHBOUR
WOMAN
ACTS SUMMARY
ACT ONE - THE COUNTRY
Ø Scene I – In the Hut
Thoni and Nyobi are in a hut when Nyobi notices that Thoni has been crying. She (Nyobi) complains
since Remi does not reply the letters she sends to him. She advises Thoni to find another husband but she
refuses. Thoni believes that Remi hates her. She wonders why men do not rest in her hands. Then Nyobi
gets an idea of asking the pastor to go the city to look for Remi since he was once a God-fearing child.
The elder comes to ask Nyobi to give them a mother’s blessing to their traditional medicine that will
make Remi come back. Being a Christian she hesitates a bit but later overwhelmed by a mother’s desire
to see her son back, she betrays her heart, giving the required blessings.
Ø Scene II – A meeting ground. In the Open
The elders of the tribe meet to discuss the return of Remi. They discuss how the situation is worse to them
even after independence. Poor social services, taxation are just a few. They believe that Remi’s mind was
spoilt by the evil eyes of their neighbours. Then they turn to the mountain to say a prayer. Then the leader
cautions that when Remi comes back he must not fall under the influence of his mother nor the pastor.
Ø Scene III –The Same.
The pastor meets Nyobi and she confesses that she has betrayed her faith. The pastor believes Remi was
polluted when at the university by engaging in politics. Then Nyobi asks the pastor to go and look for
Remi in the city. The pastor agrees.
ACT TWO –THE CITY
Ø Scene I – In Remi’s room
Remi is with his white girlfriend in his room. In their conversation Jane discovers that there is something
that has been disturbing Remi for so long. Jane requests Remi to tell her about his background and she
suggests that Remi should take her to his parents but Remi puts it aside and suggests that they go to the
night club instead.
Ø Scene II – the same room
Remi is visited by his friend Omange and the two discuss a lot about the political situation in the country.
They discuss the dangers of tribalism, religious factions, and racism. Remi narrates his background to
Omange; how he loved Thoni who got married to his brother and how his brother died. He shows that
according to their custom his father asked him to inherit Thoni and that is the reasons why he ran to the
city. Omange advises him to go back home.
The elders come to persuade Remi to go and save them. They explain to him the troubles they get just
because of his absence. They leave the room dropping a bundle of medicine at the door way. The pastor
comes to see Remi for the same reason. Eventually Remi promises that he will go back home. The pastor
goes and leaves the bible behind.
Ø Scene III – the same room (a few days later)
Jane visits Remi again and Remi is determined to go home. She insists to go with Remi but he refuses.
She believes may be it is due to their differences in races that Remi is denying her so she promises to be
faithful to him and his people. She insists that Remi should tell her about his history. Lastly Remi tells her
that he is married. She is disappointed and the two come into a conflict. Finally Jane runs out.
ACT THREE – THE RETURN OF THE HERMIT
Ø Scene I –Nyobi and Thoni in the hut
Nyobi and Thoni discuss the return of Remi and Thoni is happy. The pastor joins them and insists it is the
work of Christ. The 1st neighbour rushes into the hut announcing the meeting of so many people who have
come to meet Remi. The pastor narrates how Remi addressed the meeting with a roar. How he came with
a man from another tribe and said he is his brother and theirs. How he blamed the elders for preaching
tribalism etc. Remi attacks the pastor for dividing people and his mother for making him marry Thoni. On
hearing this Thoni disappears.
CHARACTERIZATION
REMI
Ø He is the son of Ngome and Nyobi.
Ø He is educated. We are told that he is the only one in his Marua tribe who has had a chance to go to
the university.
Ø He is a betrayer. He betrays Jane by refusing to marry her as he promised. He also betrays his tribe for
not using his education to help them solve their social problems instead he runs away to the city to enjoy
the city pleasures leaving his people in a bad situation.
Ø He has a changing behavior. At first we are told he is God-fearing, but when he later goes to the
university he abandons religion and becomes an active politician. Also at first he is shy with girls but later
he becomes bold with ladies. Jane confirms this when she says “you! Shy with girls! And you almost ate
me the very day you met me in the club!” pg20
Ø He is an active member of Africanist Party which is in power. He has a strong convincing power. He
convinces his people to join the party and they obey him.
Ø He is a revolutionist but uses wrong approaches. He is against tribalism, racism, and religion factions
but wants to bring changes overnight without giving the villagers enough time to adjust. This makes his
strategies to prove a failure.
Ø He is arrogant because of his education. Because of his education he despises the elders including his
own mother. He addresses them without respect and by attacking rather than educating, something that
makes him fail to reach his goals. He says “there is no time for soft hearts” pg 53 in pg 48 he
says “everything will give way to my leadership”
Ø He is a victim of outdated customs. He is forced to inherit the widow of his late brother without his
consent. He believes the lady does not love him so he runs away.
Ø He is remorseful (regretful). He seems genuinely remorseful for what he had done to Thoni. He
says “I came back to break Tribe and custom, instead I’ve broken you and me.” Pg 58
OMANGE
Ø He is Remi’s friend from Njobe tribe.
Ø He is very wise and aware of the effects of tribalism, racialism, and religion factions after
independence.
Ø He is a good advisor. He advises Remi on different matters including going back to his wife and giving
her a chance to express her love to him.
Ø He is after changes and believes that education is necessary for changes.
THONI
Ø She is a very obedient village girl who gets married to Remi’s brother.
Ø She is a widow. She lives alone after her husband’s death. She is inherited by Remi according to the
custom but he runs ways leaving her alone.
Ø She has true love. Thoni is portrayed as a person with true love to Remi. Despite the fact that Remi
runs away from her, she is determined to wait even for 20 years. She does not want to take the third
husband as Nyobi advises her.
Ø She is patient and optimistic. Despite the terrible loneliness she is experiencing she still hopes that one
day Remi will come back to her and is determined to wait for him.
Ø She suffers from intrapersonal conflict. This happens since her husband is dead and now she faces
loneliness. Then her next husband Remi has disappeared. Something that she might translate that he does
not love her. Expressing her situation she says “why do men not rest in my hands? Death took away my
first husband. Now the next, his brother has left me. The hut’s gloom and loneliness has started eating
into me.” pg 4.
Ø She uses a wrong approach to solve her problem. When Remi comes back and degrades her in public
she decides to commit suicide. This is one of her weakness.
NYOBI
Ø She is the wife of Ngome and Remi’s mother.
Ø She is a sympathetic and caring mother. She takes care of Thoni like her own biological child. She
wishes to see Thoni having happiness and she is deeply hurt when she sees the loneliness that Thoni is
experiencing.
Ø She is a good advisor. She advises Thoni to take a husband who will restore her happiness. She also
advises Remi to be careful by the way he deals with villagers. She says to him “My son, don’t be dazzled
by the blaze which will burn for the night and tomorrow it is out.” Pg 48
Ø She suffers intrapersonal conflict. She suffers an intrapersonal conflict after the death of her son,
followed by her husband and the later disappearance of Remi.
Ø She is a Christian. She is a very devoted Christian but at some times because of a mother’s desire to
see her lost son, she blesses the traditional medicine that may help to bring Remi back. She admits this by
telling he pastor; “And I, overwhelmed by a mother’s desire to see her son back, betrayed my heart,
giving the required blessings” pg 14
Ø She is disappointed by Remi’s changes. She becomes disappointed by the way Remi who was once
God-fearing has changed. She even wonders how Remi talks to her in a rude way. “You talk to me so?
You talk to me so? Pg 48
PASTOR
Ø He is a strong Christian who mentors Remi to be the future leader of the Church. He even goes to the
city to find Remi for the same reason.
Ø He is against traditional beliefs although he also takes part in advising Remi to inherit Thoni.
Ø He is blamed for causing disunity in the society.
Ø He too is optimistic. He believes that Remi who was once a God-fearing child will change and lead the
church after he has retired.
JANE.
Ø She’s Remi’s girl friend in the city working in the office as a typist.
Ø She is anti-racism. She believes that colour differences should not create barriers between people. She
tells Remi “What matters is not race, creed, or custom, but whether individuals can meet and understand
one another” pg 36
Ø She is betrayed by Remi. Jane is betrayed by Remi when the time comes for Remi to go back home he
refuses to go with her.
Ø Finally she runs away leaving Remi alone.
FIGURES OF SPEECH
Ø Reiteration.
“Files, files, files all day long” pg 21
“Depends, depends, depends on the kind of kind of what!” pg 23
“Oh promises, promises. I should have known what promises mean to you” pg 39
Ø Onomatopoeia
“Cha cha cha” pg 22 (imitating the sound of music)
“Ha, ha, ha,-!” Pg 8 (sound of laughter)
Ø Simile
“A trade union without the right to strike is like a lion without claws and teeth”. Pg 23
“He became lost to us like a seed which falling on the wayside lacked nourishment of the rich earth,...”
pg 16
“To be like an unwanted maize plant” pg 50
“Falling into bits like a cloth long hung in the sun” pg 3
Ø Metaphor
“My wound is a woman” pg 25
“She is a seedling whose eventual fruit will be a blessing to us all” pg 16
Ø Personification
“Your silence touches my heart” pg 29
“Our tribe wails under the new government.” Pg 29
“The tribe waits for you” pg 30
“The world will not wait for you” pg 3
“The bite of the cold wind” pg 38
“The best woman the village has ever borne” pg 54
“It’s all darkness, swallowing you wholly” pg 50
“And now I must go for darkness calls.” Pg 52
Ø Exaggeration.
“Remi your son and ours is the only educated man in all the land, exceeding in knowledge all the people,
black and white put together” pg 7
“Couldn’t they read my heat?” Pg 26
“The only educated man in the country” pg11
Ø Parallelism.
“To be laughed at, to be flouted, to be driven out, and by him, my husband.” Pg 50
“Goodbye mother, goodbye father, goodbye my village.” Pg 52
Ø Allusion.
“Remi refused to go to Nineveh, he fled to the city of idolatry” pg 17 (reference to the Jonah saga in the
Bible”
“He became lost to us like a seed which falling on the wayside lacked nourishment of the rich earth, He
dried up.” pg 16 (reference to the Parable of the sower in the bible)
Ø Euphemism.
“Though your husband was called and also your first son...” pg 16 (to express that they died.)
“You shy with girls! And you almost ate me the very day you met me in the club!” pg 20 (referring to the
act of making love)
Ø Oxymoron.
“These eyes have seen rain come and go.”
“Have seen sunrise and sunset.”
“Birth and death alternating” pg 3
Ø Saying.
“A man’s public life is given meaning only by the stability of his private life.” Pg 32
‘A woman’s joy is scolding her children” pg 3
“A woman without a child is not a woman” pg 3
CONFLICTS.
This refers to the misunderstanding or collision of ideas, viewpoints or opinions within a person, between
or among groups of people in the society. Or it is a situation in which there are opposing ideas, opinions,
feelings or wishes. Like other plays, in this play there are several conflicts as analyzed below;
(a) INTRAPERSONAL CONFLICT.
Due to some circumstances, there are different intrapersonal conflicts among the following people.
Ø Thoni. She suffers intrapersonal conflict since her husband is dead and now she faces loneliness. Then
her next husband Remi has disappeared something that she might translate that he does not love her.
Expressing her situation she says “why do men not rest in my hands? Death took away my first husband.
Now the next, his brother has left me. The hut’s gloom and loneliness has started eating into me.” pg 4.
Ø Nyobi; she suffers intrapersonal conflict first, due to the sudden death of her son, followed by her
husband and the later disappearance of Remi. She expresses this by saying “My heart is still heavy with
grief…, my first son, so big and strong was taken from me just like that,…, our tears had hardly dried
before my man follows, and now Remi, …”pg 6
Second, it is with the way Thoni lives in loneliness, thinking of Remi. She advises her to get another
husband but Thoni refuses to move from one husband to another like a common whore.
Ø Remi; he suffers intrapersonal conflict because of the circumstances taking place in the country and
his tribe in particular. That is why he runs awayto find peace in the city but the problems follow him
there. The whole country is suffering from tribalism, racialism, and religious factions. All Remi is doing,
is to not only expose the cantankerous effects of tribalism, racialism and religious factions but also to root
them out with both hands.
(b)INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT.
These are conflicts or misunderstanding between two people.
ü There is a conflict between Remi and Jane. This occurs when Remi wants to go back home and refuses
to take Jane with him. It grows bigger when Remi tells her that he is already married and Jane becomes
angry since Remi has wasted her time lying to her that he would marry her. She says to Remi “do you
honestly believe that race matters, that the colour of my skin or yours should form a barrier between
people?” Pg 36
ü There is a conflict/misunderstanding between Remi and Omange. Remi wants the government in the
new independent country to be strict. E.g. People have no right to oppose the government; workers have
no right to strike for higher wages. Omange opposes this idea by saying that trade union must have the
right to strike and demand for their rights. For him “a trade union without the right to strike is like a lion
without claws and teeth” pg23
ü There is also a contradiction on the question of marrying Thoni. Remi believes that she does not love
him or else she wouldn’t have married his brother. Omange tells him to give her a chance to express her
love to him since one cannot read someone’s heart or feelings merely by appearance.
(c) FAMILY CONFLICT
There is a family conflict between Remi and his mother. This occurs when Remi runs away and leaves
Thoni in loneliness and on coming back he attacks his mother in public. Remi says “And you mother. I
turn to you. What did you do to me? You harped on my weakness and made me marry a woman whose
love and loyalty will ever lie with those in the grave”. NYOBI replies “you talk to me so? You talk to me
so?” pg 48
(d)CULTURAL CONFLICT.
There is an obvious conflict between traditionalists who follow traditional ways of life and Christians.
When discussing the coming of Remi, the elders want Remi to be on their side, and lead them as a tribe to
victory and want him to stay away from his mother and the pastor. On the other hand the pastor wants
Remi to be the future leader of the church. He sees politics as something bad and urges that he should stay
away from the tribal influence. This causes segregation and disunity among the people.
(e) POLITICAL CONFLICT.
There is a conflict between the new government and the citizens. The conflict arises from the fact that
they fought for independence thinking that things will change when they get independence. But to the
common people life is still hard as they have no land, taxation is a burden to them while the ministers and
their Permanent secretaries fatten on bribes and inflated salaries. Independence has not reduced the
amount of racial tension. Omange says “since independence tribalism and tribal loyalties seem to have
increased. And even the leaders who were the supporters of the Africanist Party are the very ones who
are encouraging these feelings” pg 23. Also the government has enacted a legislation against strikes.
That is why even Marua people want Remi to represent them in the government so that they can also
enjoy the national cake.
(f) SOCIAL CONFLICT.
There is a conflict between Remi and his society. This results from the approach in which Remi addresses
the people without respect. He attacks them for perpetuating tribalism, religious differences and shackles
of custom. He says “I will no longer be led by a woman, priest or tribe. I will crush tribalism, beneath my
feet, and all the shackles of custom.” Pg 49. They all wonder how he could be so rude to them. The pastor
narrates how he addresses the people with anger that some elders go away in guilt and shame. Pg 47
DISUNITY
Ø This implies a lack of agreement between people. Disunity has become a major barrier to the struggle
for change in the country. This problem is caused by tribalism, racialism and religious factions. This has
become a real obstacle in fighting for their rights. Remi is used by the playwright as his mouthpiece to
condemn racialism, tribalism and religious factions in this society. To show that he hates this division and
wants to inculcate the spirit of nationalism he says: “we must help ourselves…. Turn hearts and minds to
create a nation, then will tribe and race disappear. And man shall live free..” pg 48. Then he advises the
pastor. “Even you, Pastor. You and other Christians must not live isolated. We must join hands..” pg 48
Ø To show his hatred for tribalism he comes with a friend from another tribe (Njobe tribe) and introduces
him as their brother. He tells the people to build more schools as education is the key to success.
TRIBALISM
Ø This society seems to be affected by tribalism to a large extent. The elders especially are more
affected. They do not view things as a nation but as a tribe. That is one reason why Remi decides to act
against them. They want him to be in the government to represent their tribe interest. For example the
leader says; “not one of our skin and blood is in the new government” pg 30.
Ø Moreover when they go to persuade Remi to come back to the village, this is all they have got to tell
him “We want a tribal political party” another adds; “A Prime Minister from the tribe”. Pg 31. This is
one of the dangerous enemies to nation building which must be discarded if we want to create a spirit of
nationalism.
CORRUPTION
Ø Though it does not appear throughout Remi points it out in his conversation with Jane. He shows that
the government officials enjoy good life just because they take corruption (bribe) while workers like
teachers starve. In page 21 when Jane suggests that he should go back home and become a teacher he
says “And starve – while ministers and their permanent secretaries fatten on bribes and inflated
salaries”
CLASSES.
Just like most societies, in this country also there are classes. There are classes based on economic status
and those based on faith (religious differences).
Ø The rich and the poor.
There is the class of the rich people comprising the leaders, settlers and other company owners who enjoy
the national resources by paying themselves high salaries and engaging in corruption. On the other hand
is the class of the poor citizens who are exploited through, forced community work, low wages, taxation,
land alienation and have generally poor living conditions and inadequate social services like schools,
hospitals and the like.
Ø Christians and traditionalists
Another class division in this society is between the Christians being represented by the pastor, Nyobi,
and other converts, and the non-Christians (traditionalists) being represented by elders. The playwright
shows that the division is so severe and intense to the extent that the Christians isolate themselves from
other people. Their division is even seen in the way they want to influence Remi when he comes back.
Christians do not want him to fall under the influence of elders while elders also do not want him to fall
under the influence of Christians.
So generally we learn that class division is not healthy in any society that wants to get sustainable
development since they become their own enemies instead of becoming the authors of their own destiny.
BETRAYAL
There are also cases of betrayal in this play.
ü First, Remi betrays Jane by refusing to marry her as he promised. Remi promises Jane to marry her
when the time is ripe and the two spend time together as lovers. When the time comes for Remi to go
back home he tells Jane that he is already married and cannot go with her. She complains; “Just now you
are betraying the ideals you used to mirror before my eyes” pg 36
ü Second, Remi also betrays his tribe for not using his education to help them solve their social problems
instead he runs away to the city to enjoy the city pleasures leaving his people in a bad situation.
ü Third, the government has betrayed the citizens. During the struggle for independence the people were
asked to join the nationalistic movements and they agreed, later on their situation remains unchanged
after independence. For example they complain, “Look at our country since independence. Where is the
land? Where is the food? Where are the schools for our children? pg 11
This is to say the promises for which they fought have been betrayed.
ü Forth, Nyobi betrays her Christian faith by blessing traditional medicine. When the elders tell her that
they want to bring Remi back but they want a mother’s blessings to attend them on that difficult journey,
she says “with all my heart, go in peace, and success attend you” having discovered her fault she
regrets “I know Christo hates our medicine. Suppose God punishes me so that Remi does not come
back?” Finally they mock her by saying “Her son is dearer to her than her Christianity” pg 12+
MESSAGES
ü Running away from problems is not a way of solving them.
ü We do not solve problems by committing suicide.
ü Outdated customs like widow inheritance and superstitious beliefs bring more problems to the society
so they should be discarded.
ü Bringing about changes is not an overnight process. It needs time, determination, focus and patience.
ü Tribalism, racialism, disunity and religious conflicts are obstacles to development.
ü Betrayal is not good as it causes unnecessary conflicts.
ü We should use our education positively to bring about changes.
ü Classes should be discouraged as they bring disunity in the society.
RELEVANCE
The play is relevant in a number of ways:
1. There are people who run away from problems as a way of avoiding them but finally they find
themselves haunted by the same problems.
2. There are people who commit suicide as a way of solving their problems.
3. Betrayal is common among African countries particularly Tanzania. The leaders do not fulfil their
promises to the citizens.
4. Widow inheritance is still a common custom among many Tanzanian tribes like the Kuryans of
Lake Zone.
5. There are people who still believe in superstition and witch craft as a way of solving their social
problems.
6. Racism and tribalism are still common phenomena in some African countries like South Africa,
Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, etc.
7. The newly post-independent governments in Africa have not solved the people problems yet. Only
those in power are enjoying life while the common people are suffering.