BAYO ADEBOWALE: Lonely Days
3. How does Alani reject his ancestry in the novel?
4. Examine the advice of the three windows to Yaremi in the novel
Explanation
Question 3.
(1)Relation to theme: Cultural conformity is a major theme in the novel. Yaremi's refusal to conform underlies her woes. Alani is bent on cutting himself off from his roots and clinging to the city way of life.
(2) Character identification: Alani is the only son of Ajumobi and Yaremi. He lives in and adores the city. He has recently visited his mother in the village.
(3) Change in his physical appearance and dressing. (i) He has become almost lost to the city.(ii) His skin is burnt and bleached and the hair dyed curly and dangled. (iii) He has on a shining necklace and a pair of springy intimidating high-heel shoes... (iv) Uncle Deyo is disgusted and calls him a freak'.
(4) Attitude towards his mother: () He is aloof: he gives his mother some money and a few items from town. (ii) He promises her mother more money from time to time. (iii) He does not appreciate his mother's situation. (iv) He ignores her plight and her fight against the village elders.
(5) Attitude towards father's legacy: (i) He cares little about his father's legacy - he exhibits a carefree attitude towards the legacy left behind by Ajumobi- the farmland 'could be sublet... (ii)He is clearly not returning to the village to tend 'your father's farm'.
(6) His ultimate intentions: (i) He will remain in the city, only occasionally (ii) His skin is burnt and bleached and the hair returning to give mother money. (i) He intends to relocate his mother'. (iii) Once his mother relocated. Alani is likely to stop coming to Kufi. (iv) Alani is transplanted in the city - the centre of action was the city'. (v) He is thus lost to the village because of the attraction of city life.
Question 4
(1) Relation to theme: One major theme in the novel is marriage and continuity. Yaremi is expected to conform to the norm and remarry after Ajumobi has passed on. Radeke, are all senior widows.
(2) Character identification: (i) The three widows, Dedewe, Fayoyin and (ii) They have remarried ten years before and seem to be enjoying their present situation. (iii) Their visit a night before is to show solidarity. and comradeship with Yaremi and to counsel her to "pick your own cap.
(3) Expectations of the society: (i) A widow needs to remarry. (ii) A woman needs a man: 'No woman's life is complete without a man'. (iii) It is a sign of humility, meekness and submission to be under a man. (iv)This is the purpose of picking a cap
(4) Reconciliation with society: (i)widows should develop an open mind and forgive the ignorant ones who humiliate us when they remarry. (ii) They pardon those who cut their hair. (iii) They reconcile with those who force them to confess "sins we did not commit. (iv) The widows reconcile with those who force them to chant widow's song of lamentation.
(5) Cap-picking for a new husband: (i) Cap-picking is designed for widows to select new husbands. (ii) The former widows are satisfied with the new outcome and ' now we are savouring the aroma of a newfound happiness"., (iii) The three widows urge Yaremi to pick a cap courageously.
(6) Yaremi's attitude to the advice:(i) Yaremi rejects the advice. (ii) She denounces the cap-picking. (iii) Consequently, the wrath of elders is invoked on her. (ív) As the advice given to Yaremi by the three widows merely reinforces the traditional view, Yaremí's rejection points the way to a rethink of culture that is more static than dynamíc