AFRICAN DRAMA
Joe De Graft: Sons and Daughters
Discuss the conflict between the two youngest children and their father in the play.
Explanation
in the play, James Ofosu is the father of four children and the youngest are Aaron and Maanan. As a rich transport owner with 'no more education than elementary level', his desire is to give all his children 'a professional education.'
James is fortunate to realize his dreams with the first two children -- he sends George. the eldest, overseas and he qualifies as a medical doctor, while Kofi is yet to return home as a qualified Chartered Accountant. James is convinced that these professions are more lucrative than teaching, since the community is prepared to pay for the services they offer. He believes that anybody who wants to get on in life must learn that money is what matters, that money is power. James, therefore, wishes his two youngest children to study Engineering and Law respectively.
He even goes to the extent of asking his friend, Lawyer Bonu, to secure admissions for them abroad. Contrary to the wishes of their father, Aaron and Maanan want to study painting and dancing respectively. They want to achieve their heart's desire, to pursue courses they would like most so that they can develop themselves. This rejection of their father's choice of profession for them results in a conflict with him. James does not consider painting as work because it will not make his son rich. He also does not approve of his daughter 'dancing half naked on a bloody stage.'
James laments the fact that he has been 'an indulgent father' and decides to seek further help from his friend Lawyer Bonu. Lawyer Bonu gets admission for Aaron at Manchester University and offers Maanan a job in his office until he gets admission for her abroad. Maanan and Aaron strongly reject their father's arrangement. However, subsequent events lead James to reconcile with his children and accept their choice of professions. Awere, Aaron's friend succeeds in his painting career and sells one of his paintings for £220. Another event is the discovery of Lawyer Bonu's sexual advances to Maanan in his own home.
The conflict is resolved when James realizes that even a lawyer can be mean and disappointing and that painting after all, does prove to be lucrative and rewarding. Finally, James announces the resolution of the conflict thus" 'I've given in to Maanan, I'm prepared even now to give in to Aaron.' Awere further adds these conciliatory words: `And now may we each be given the strength to achieve our hearts' desire in our work.'