HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED? ANALYSIS-Leo Tolstoy

 'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?'  

Leo Tolstoy

Focus

·       The corrupting nature of greed

·       Lack of contentment

Key events

The passing dealer’s revelation (P 21)

Lack of sleep (P 22)

Desire to get the largest land (P 22)

The suffering (P 24)

Pahom’s death (P 25)

MORAL 

In his quest to acquire vast land, Pahom ends up losing his life. The moral of the story is greed is dangerous. Contentment is the key to happiness.

'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?' PLOT SUMMARY

Pahom is a farmer in countryside Russia. He has 123 acres of land/pasture. He has a big house and 5 family members. Although he has adequate land for livestock and farming, Pahom is not contented. He desires more land.

One day, a passing dealer stops by his farm to get some feeds for his horse. He tells him about the Bashkirs. He had bought 13, 000 acres of fertile land at 1, 000 roubles. This strongly attracts Pahom. He then buys presents at the market and embarks on a seven day journey to the place where the Bashkirs had pitched their tents. He greeted the people and their chief and handed them the gifts.

Pg (21) “Thank you so much. As for the reward of this presents, I will give you anything you ask for,” the leader tells him.

Pahom is attracted to the fertile land. The leader gives him an unusual price; 1, 000 roubles a day.

Pg (22) “As much as you can go round on your feet in a day is yours and the price is 1, 000 roubles a day”.

He asks him to return to the place he started before the sun sets or else everything will be in vain.

Pahom is excited. He cannot sleep. He lay awake thinking of the big pasture he could make and the big cottage he could build in his newly acquired land. He decides to start early the next day.

He dozes off just before dawn. The leader shows him the land and lays his fox-fur cap on the ground to mark the starting point.

“Start and return here before the sun sets” (P 22).

At sun rise Pahom starts walking towards the meadow. He takes off his outer coat and shoes when it becomes warm. He becomes sweaty and thirsty. The people in the hillock look like black ants. He digs a large hole, and turns left. It was noon. He takes bread and water for lunch. He is hot and sleepy but thinks to himself “An hour to suffer, a lifetime to live”. He is about to turn but sees a damp hollow and he thinks flax would do well there. This makes him not to turn. When he does, it's hot and hazy and the people in the hillock can barely be seen.

He is tempted and keeps saying it is too early. He goes over the place and remembers the words of the leader. He digs a hole and turns and walk straight forward, towards the hillock. His bare feet are cut and bruised. He feels the need to rest but does not.

He is afraid that he has bitten more than he can chew and may be too late. The sun is setting and he's a few metres from his goal. He is in serious physical pain and discomfort. He feels as if he could die of strain. The people on the hillock wave and urge him on.

He can see the fox-fur cap now. He almost gives up when it grows dark but the Bashkirs urge him on. He reaches his goal finally but collapses and dies. He had gained so much land. His servant digs a grave for him, six feet from his head to his heels. That's all he needs.

'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?' CHARACTERS

Pahom

Pahom is portrayed as greedy and materialistic. He is also selfish. Despite having 123 acres, a big house where he lived with 5 family members, he is still not satisfied/contented. He strongly desires more land.

Pahom suffers terribly trying to acquire the land but does not relent. He is thirsty, hot and sleepy. His feet are cut and bruised. He is in serious pain. His mouth is parched. His heart beats like a hammer and chest works like a blacksmith's bellows. His legs seem as if they do not belong to him.

Pahom suffers because of his greed and materialism. He dies and loses all his material property. Although he acquires an enormous tract of land, he only needs six feet where he's buried by his servant.

Pahom is generous. He offers the passing dealer some tea. He also buys some presents for the Bashkirs. Although, this may be to conceal his greedy human nature; since all he was thinking of was acquisition of land.

The passing dealer

He is honest and frank. He tells Pahom about the Bashkirs and their benevolence. He acquired 13, 000 acres for 1, 000 roubles. He produces a title deed to back up his claim.

      i.       

The Bashkirs and the leader.

Grateful-They thank Pahom for his generosity and benevolence. They offer him anything he wants. “As for the reward for these presents,  I will give you anything you ask for”. 

Generous-they offer Pahom fertile land as long as he can meet their demands.

'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?' ISSUES 

The story revolves around the corrupting nature of human greed. Pahom is discontented with the land he owns and wants more. Pahom is materialistic since he cares more about material possession e.g. land, pasture, livestock, and a big cottage than his own well being.

He suffers pain and agony in a bid to acquire a lot of land and eventually dies and loses everything.

KCSE EPISODIC APPROACH TO “HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?”

The moral value in ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ is contentment/the evil or potentially dangerous nature of greed.

In brief, materialism does not pay. The protagonist, Pahom, suffers when he loses his life as a result of his greed.

Learners must read the story intensively in order to acquire enough details needed for illustration while responding to KCSE essay questions on Memories We Lost.

KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS ON SHORT STORIES

1. The question must have a value statement and an outcome reward/ punishment. 

e.g. Write a composition on how materialism does not pay basing your illustrations on ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ by Leo Tolstoy.

The question requires the learner to show how Pahom suffers due to his greed/ materialism.

2. The embedded morals. The virtues of contentment and the vices of greed/ selfishness and materialism are highlighted.

MEMORIES WE LOST SAMPLE KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS 

Pahom's downfall is as a result of his insatiable obsession/desire. Write an essay to qualify this statement making reference to Leo Tolstoy’s ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ (20 marks)

Sometimes we suffer as a result of lack of contentment. Citing illustrations from Leo Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does Man Need?" write an essay in support of this statement.  (20 marks)

Write a composition to show how greed causes pain and loss basing your illustrations on Leo Tolstoy's How Much Land Does Man Need?

HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED ? KCSE ESSAY QUESTION

Pahom's downfall is as a result of his insatiable obsession for land. Write an essay to qualify this statement making reference to Leo Tolstoy’s ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ (20 marks)

Click here to see the full how much land does man need essay  

Next; Light Lesley Nneka Arimah

See analyses of all stories in Memories we Lost here.

NORA'S SECRETS IN A DOLL'S HOUSE

 

A DOLL’S HOUSE: SECRETS CAN RUIN RELATIONSHIP

In A Doll’s House, it is evident that keeping secrets can cause strains in relationships. A relationship that lacks sincerity and openness usually suffers adverse consequences. Nora lives in secrecy. The skeletons in the closet eventually cause an irreparable damage to her marriage and relationship with Torvald.

What is Nora’s secret in A Doll’s House and what are the repercussions?

The loan

Nora borrows 250 pounds from Krogstad (pg. 37, 77) to facilitate a trip to Italy that is recommended by the doctors after her husband Torvald Helmer falls dreadfully ill. When they got married, Torvald left his job. He wanted to earn more money. During the first year he works early and late and ends up overworking himself and falling dreadfully ill. (pg. 12)

The doctors advise her to take him to Italy for a rest. Torvald does not know what dangerous condition he is in and Nora has to keep it that way. His life is in danger.

Nora tries to wheedle him to raise money and take the trip but he is obstinate. Before resorting to borrow money, she tries all other means and only resorts ao borrow after all other means fail.

“Do you suppose I didn’t try first  to get what I wanted as if it were for myself? “(pg. 19)

She tries tears and entreaties (humble requests), asks him to kind and indulgent to her, says she would love to live abroad like other young brides and even hints that he might raise a loan. Torvald dismisses all these patronizingly as whims and caprice. Having run out of options, Nora is forced to devise a way out of the difficulty. (pg. 19)

Nora is forced to borrow money to facilitate the trip. Torvald thinks that she got the money from her father. (pg. 17)

“And since then have you never told your secret to your husband?”

Nora keeps this a secret from Torvald to protect his manly independence. Knowing he owed her anything would be painful and humiliating and would upset their mutual relations and ruin their beautiful home. (Pg. 20)

Keeping this secret takes a toll on Nora since she also has to secretly repay the debt without Torvald knowledge.

“I can tell you that this offer has caused me a lot of worry. It has been by no means easy for me to meet my engagements punctually” (pg. 20)

Nora tells Mrs. Linda about quarterly interest and payment in installments and how difficult it is to manage them.

She is also forced to save part of her house keeping money while trying to ensure the children and Torvald maintain a decent lifestyle. When Torvald gives her money, she spent frugally but Torvald does not notice. (pg. 21)

Why does Nora keep this secret from Torvald?

This is because “a wife cannot borrow without a husband’s consent.”(pg. 18)

Nora admits that it has been easy to repay the debt. She says “it is very difficult to keep an account of a business matter of that kind. Many a times I was at my wits end” (pg. 22)

She even quips that she imagines a rich old gentleman had fallen in love with her. That’s when she couldn’t think of any ways of processing the money. (pg 22)

Although Nora borrows the money to save her husband’s life for the sake of love (pg. 42)

It causes her a lot of distress as she has to conceal it from him while painstakingly trying to repay Krogstad.

 

The Forgery

Nora is a very secretive person. When she borrows money from Krogstad she commits fraud on the process but keeps it to herself.

When her husband was ill, she borrows 250 pounds from Krogstad because she did not know anyone else to go to. (pg. 37)

Krogstad promised to get her the money on the security of a bond. In the bond there were lines that consisted Nora’s father a surety for the money. He was supposed to sign those lines. He should have inserted the date on which he signed the paper (pg. 38)

Nora’s father dies on 29^th of September but his signature is dated 2^nd of October. The date 2^nd of October is written in Nora’s handwriting. (pg. 34)

Nora confesses that she committed a forgery. She does nor ask her father for his signature because he was so ill himself and she couldn’t bear troubling him with the news of her husband’s condition. She could also not give up the trip to save hu her husband’s life (pg. 40)

Nora is forced to commit fraud to spare her dying father anxiety and care and in order to save her husband life (pg. 44). She also says Krogstad puts so many difficulties in her way. (Pg. 40)

Nora has kept this a secret from her husband Torvald and Krogstad threatens to use it to compel her to convince Torvald to keep him at the bank.

“To think of his learning my secret which has been my joy and pride in such an ugly and clumsy way and it would put me in a horribly disagreeable (unpleasant) condition”

Nora is afraid that if Torvald learns of the secret it would ruin their relationship.

Although she does it with good intentions, Krogstad tells her that “the law cares nothing about motives” (pg. 41)

Nora commits the same offense as Krogstad. It made him lost his reputation. He threatens to blackmail her.

“But let me tell you this if I lose my position a second time, you shall lose yours with me” (pg. 49)

In a bid to keep concealing her secret, Nora tells her children not to tell Torvald (Papa) about Krogstad (the stranger man) pg. 42

Torvald learns that Krogstad was at the house even after Nora lies about it. He playfully chides her (pg. 47). He also tells her that Krogstad s forged someone’s name. Since Krogstad did not openly confess his fault and take punishment Torvald says he is a hypocrite who poisons his home and infects his children with germs of evil. He adds that deceitful mothers ruin their children (pg. 47).

This makes Nora feel so guilty. It ruins her relationship with her children. She cannot mingle with them despite them begging.

“(pale with terror) Deprave my children? Poison my home?” (pg 48)

Nora confides in Mrs. Linde that she forged a name.

“I forged a name” (pg 77)

The thought of Krogstad’s impending blackmail causes Nora misery. She thinks of desperate solutions-running away from home or committing suicide by drowning in ice cold water. She feels like she could easily go out of her mind. (pg 74, 76, 78, 84,112,117)

 

The Blackmail

When Nora keeps secrets about her loan and the frauds he committed from her husband Torvald it gives Krogstad an unmitigated opportunity to blackmail her.

Mrs. Linde is bound to take Torvald’s position at the bank after Nora’s influence on her husband who is the bank manager. (pg 28)

Torvald plans to fire Krogstad because he is an old friend who usually assumes an overly familiar and friendly tone with him when people are around and as a man who cares too much about his reputation Torvald finds this intolerable. (pg. 60)

Krogstad wants Nora to use her influence to help him keep his subordinate position at the bank. (pg. 34)

Krogstad vows to fight for his position at the bank as if he were fighting for his life. He does not need the job for the money per se, but rather to win back the respect he had lost after committing an indiscretion.

“And now your husband is going to kick me downstairs again into the mad.”(pg.36)

Krogstad tries to coerce and compel Nora to ask Torvald to let him keep his position at the bank lest he tells him about the money Nora owes him. (pg 36)

Apart from borrowing money without Torvald’s knowledge, Nora also forged her father’s name. (pg 40)

Krogstad tries to put his life back in order, and Torvald proves a stumbling block, he swears to drag Nora down with him should he get sacked. He plans to reveal her secret that she is guilty of fraud (pg. 41)

Torvald judges Krogstad harshly for committing a fraud little does he knows that Nora also committed the same crime. He says that Krogstad has been persistently poisoning his own children (pg. 47)

Krogstad's threat troubles Nora greatly. She is worried about her children.

“What rubbish! Of course he can’t be earnest about it! It is impossible. I have three little children” (pg 49)

Nora becomes paranoid about the impending blackmail.

“If only no one would come. If only I could be sure nothing would happen here in the meantime. Ah! There is someone coming” (pg 51)

Even Mrs. Linde notices that Nora is hiding something. (pg 56)

Nora tries to convince Torvald to let Krogstad keep his job and suggests that he sacks some other clerk instead. She wants the secret to remain safely kept. (pg 48, 58)

Krogstad’s constant intimidation causes Nora to think of desperate exists out of her hole. She thinks of running away from home or committing suicide by drowning in ice cold water. (pg 74, 76, 78, 84,112,117)

She plans to commit suicide to save Torvald the burden of having to say he’s the guilty one and save her face.

“That was the wonderful thing which I hoped for and feared; it was to prevent that I wanted to kill myself “(pg 117)

Krogstad even has the temerity to demand a higher position at the bank. (pg75)

 

Work

After Nora borrows the loan she has to work tirelessly to repay it. She shocks Mrs. Linde when she tells her that she has to work and not just Torvald consider that woman are not expected to work or carry out any serious business or financial transactions.

“Yes; odds and ends needle work, crochet work, embroidery and that kind of thing” (pg 12)

Mrs. Linde and Torvald think Nora is a naive child who knows very little about life but that could not be further from the truth.

Torvald thinks that Nora got the money from her father yet she had borrowed tremendous amounts of money from Krogstad and was working secretly with a view of paying off the loan.

Nora has been so worried about her secret debt. It has been difficult to meet her engagement punctuality. She tells Mrs. Linde about how hard it has been to manage quarterly interest and paying in installments. (Pg 20)

Apart from saving the house keeping money she receives from Torvald, she has had to find other means of earning money. She got some copying work to do and she locked herself up writing every evening until late.

“I was desperately tired.” (Pg 21)

“Many at times I was at my wits end.”(pg 22)

It was so difficult that she wishes she had a rich old man to help her offset the loan.

“I used to sit here and imagine when I couldn’t think of any way of procuring the money” (pg 22)

She suffers because she procured the loan in secret and cannot ask her husband for any form of help.

 

Pretence

When we meet Nora she seems like a carefree woman enjoying a happy marriage. It turns out she has never been happy in the eight years she has been married to Torvald.

Torvald refers to her using childish pet names like little squirrel and little feather head and she does not seem to mind. She acts like a subservient guileless woman and seems animatedly excited when Torvald gives her two pounds (pg4)

Torvald mistakenly thinks she is a spendthrift who cannot save any money and money melts in her hands. (Pg 6)

Nora tells Christine, “The last eight year have been a happy time for me, I can tell you” (pg9). She adds that they will have so much fun together. She is excited that Torvald has been made a bank manager.

“I feel so relieved and so happy Christine!”(pg11)

Nora’s role in the marriage is to please Torvald and looks pretty like a doll. She says, “I will do everything I can think of to please you. I will sing for you and dance for you.”(pg152)

Torvald influences her tastes and she plays along dutiful. For the fancy dress ball “Torvald wants to make me go as a Neapolitan fisher-girl and dance the Tarantella that I learned at Capri.”(pg 52)

Torvald and Nora do not hold meaningful conversations. Nora calls herself “your squirrel” or “your skylark” and promises to sing and dance for him even when she wants to breach serious subjects. (Pag57-58)

Nora tells that Torvald loves her, “You know how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me; he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for me”. (pg68)

Nora’s father was preachy and forced his taste on Nora. (Pg 70)

When Mrs. Linde learns that Nora got the money from Krogstad, she opens that it would be the best for both Nora and Torvald if the cat is let out of the bag. (Pg 177)

Nora tells Torvald that everything he does is quite right to which he replies “now my little skylark is speaking reasonably. (Pg 95) Torvald only cares about Nora’s appearance (pg 96)

When Torvald learns about Nora’s secret he is infuriated. Nora admits that he should not suffer (sacrifice) for her sake. Torvald calls her a hypocrite, a liar, a criminal! He adds that she has destroyed all his happiness and that she is a thoughtless woman. It is clear that Torvald is only worried about his reputation (pg 104)

“He can make the affair known everything and if he does, I may be falsely accused of having been a partner to your criminal action. Very likely people will think I was behind it all.” (Pg 105)

Torvald tells Nora that she must keep the issue a secret and before the world everything must appear perfectly normal. He even forbids her from bringing up the children.

“All that that concerns us is to save the remains, the fragments, the appearance…” (pg105)

It emerges that Torvald only cares about his reputation.

Nora opens up that Torvald has never understood her and she has never understood him either. (Pg 109) They have been married for eight years but never had a meaningful conversation. They have never spoken about a serious subject. Both Torvald and her father have wronged her. Torvald has never loved Nora (pg110).Nora only pretended to have the same options as her father who treated her like a doll. Torvald also forced Nora to have his taste and she had to pretend to enjoy. She claims it’s because of the two she has made nothing out of her life.

Nora reveals that she has never been happy! -Only merry. There house was nothing but a play room (pg 111-112).

She finally refuses her role as a doll wife and asserts that she is a reasonable human being just like Torvald (pg 114).

Since Nora is tired of pretending and conforming to the repression codes of Victorian society. She decides to leave Torvald.

Nora admits that she has lived with a strange man for eight years.

“Oh I can’t bear to think of it! I could tear myself to bits.” (pg118)

Nora says for there to be happiness and fulfillment there must be perfect freedom on both sides (pg 119).

 

 Do you keep any secrets from your loved ones? 

 

JUANA IS THE VOICE OF REASON IN THE PEARL

Juana is portrayed as a voice of reason in The Pearl. Her steadfast spirit makes her a pillar of strength to her family members. Although the society in La Paz is mainly patriarchal, Juana asserts herself as a sagacious and perceptive woman. As much as she is acquiescent and subservient, she makes judicious decisions and gives Kino wise counsel. She perseveres through many difficulties but sticks together with Kino and gives the family strength both in good and bad times.

 

The scorpion sting

We first experience Juana’s grit and wit when Coyotito is stung by a scorpion. She sucks the poison from the red puncture while Kino is busy killing the scorpion.

“She put her lips down over the puncture and sucked hard and spat and sucked again while Coyotito screamed” (pg. 22)

She sucked until the little hole enlarged and its edges whitened. She acts instinctively because she knows that a baby could easy die from the poison.

“First they knew, would come the swelling and fever and tightened throat, and then cramps in the stomach and then Coyotito might die…” (pg. 23)

The sucking helps ease Coyotito's stinging pain since his screams turn into moans.

She also uses an ingenious method to relieve the baby’s pain when they go fishing for pearls with Kino. She gathers some brown seaweed and makes a flat damp poultice which she applies to the baby’s swollen shoulder. We are told that it “was as good a remedy as any and probably better than the doctor could have done” (pg. 33)

Perhaps Juana could have sucked out the poison in time since the stomach cramps had not come to Coyotito (pg. 33)

Finally the poison recedes from his body and the swelling  was going out of his shoulder. (pg. 38)

Juana saves Coyotito’s life through her timely shrewd actions.

The Doctor

“Kino had wondered often at the iron in his patient fragile wife. She who was obedient and respectful and cheerful and patient could arc her back in child pain with hardly a cry. She could stand fatigue and hunger almost better than Kino himself. In the canoe she was strong like a man.”

She surprises Kino and the neighbours when she demands that they go to get the doctor (pg. 23). The dwellers of the brush houses know that it is wonderful to want the doctor but it would be remarkable to get him. He never comes to the cluster of brush houses. He prefers attending to rich people who live in stone and plaster houses of the town. (pg. 23)

When the people in the yard, the people at the door and Kino say that the doctor would not come, she looks at him her eyes as cold as the eyes of a lioness.

“This was Juana’s first baby-this was nearly everything there was in Juana’s world” (pg. 23-24)

Even Kino sees the determination in her. The music of the family sounds in his head with a steely tone.

She declares that they will go to the doctor (pg. 24). She covers the baby with a dark-blue shawl to protect him from the light. (pg. 24)

When the doctor refuses to treat Coyotito everyone else leaves save for Juana who stands beside Kino for a long time. (pg. 29)

The “evil” pearl

When a thief sneaks into Kino’s hut with the intention of stealing the pearl, Juana warns him. Kino hurts his head while trying to fight the intruder.

“Kino could feel warm blood running down from his forehead.”

Juana is worried. She lights a candle goes out and dips the end of her head shawl in water and swabs the blood from Kino’s bruised forehead.

Juana is seen as a voice of reason when she wisely advises Kino to get rid of the pearl.

“This thing is evil” she cried harshly, “This pearl is like a sin, it will destroy us”. (pg. 59)

She asks Kino to throw it away or break it between stones, bury it or throw it back into the sea. Juana is worried that the pearl will destroy the family including their son Coyotito. Kino insists that their son must go to school and the pearl is his only hope. (pg. 60)

Kino intends to sell the pearl and pursue his dreams. When the dealers give him a raw deal he decides to keep the pearl to sell it later at the capital. Juana is worried but she remains supportive.

“Juana watched him with worry, but she knew him and she knew she could help him best by being silent and by being near.”

She also “fights evil” by singing softly the melody of the family “of the safety and warmth and wholeness of the family” (pg. 75)

When Kino senses an intruder walking outside his hut, Juana tries to protect him by stopping him from going out. (pg. 78)

Kino struggles with the attacker and Juana grabs a stone and reaches out to help her husband. He has been slashed badly by the attacker.

She assists him back to the house. He is bleeding. She wipes his face with her skirt. She offers him some pulque to drink. (pg. 79)

Juana reiterates that the pearl is evil and should be destroyed.

“Kino this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us.” (79-80)

Kino insists that he is a man. He claims he’ll fight and win. Juana tells Kino astutely than a man can be killed (pg. 80). She insists that they should throw the pearl back into the sea.

It is evident that Juana is right all along. The pearl causes a strain in their marriage. Due to Kino’s inaction, Juana decides to throw the pearl herself albeit secretly. Kino catches her just in time and strikes her in the face with a clenched fist and kicks her in the side. He hisses at her like a snake, but she stares at him with wide unfrightened eyes like a sheep before slaughter.

Even after the attack, Juana remains rational. There is no anger in her for Kino. She knows that she needs Kino who she feels is half good and half insane.

“Sometimes the quality of woman, the reason, the caution the sense of preservation could cut through Kino’s manness and save them all” (pg. 85)

The journey north

When Juana realizes that Kino has killed a man, she knows the old peace is gone. The old life she was trying to rescue is gone.

“There was nothing to do but to save themselves” (pg. 56)

She tells Kino that he has killed a man and people will come for them. Therefore, they must leave before daylight. Kino says he did it in self-defense but Juana warns that the men of the city won’t buy his explanation. Kino concedes that she is right. (pg. 86)

Juana accompanies Kino on the journey north. The trek is tedious but Juana’s mettle gives Kino a lot of steadfastness and pluck.

“And Kino could hear the pad of Juana’s feet behind him” (pg. 45)

Juana shifts Coyotito to the front whenever he awakes and she sooths him to sleep. They walk all night with out changing their pace.

Juana’s mouth was still swollen where Kino struck her but she resiliently sits still like a sentinel (guard/guardian) watching her baby. (pg. 99)

She’s clearly a voice of reason when she discourages Kino from capitulation and allowing the trackers to take him. She knows they would kill then.

“Do you think they would let me live? Do you think they will let the little one here live?”

Kino finally yields to her goading.

The journey north is surely racking but Juana is unflinching in her bid to protect her family. Her ankles are cut and scratched from stones and brush.

Juana’s prudence is evident when he dissuades Kino from splitting up with them when he suggests that she and the baby go north Loreto or to Santa Rosalia.   

“He looked then, for weakness in her face, for fear or irresolution and there was none… he had taken strength from her” (pg. 105). Juana is indeed the tower of strength in Kino’s family.

Juana advises Kino to remove his white clothes since he could be seen easily. (pg.111)

When Coyotito is killed, Juana and Kino return to La Paz walking side by side. Juana remains by Kino’s side up to the bitter end.

Juana was right all along. The pearl indeed destroys the family. They lose their hut, their boat, their old peace and their son. Her steadfast spirit gives the family strength from start to finish.

If only Kino had listened to her.

Next: The Pearl Essays 

IS RESIAN RAPED IN BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH?

Was Resian raped in Blossoms of the Savannah?

Many teachers and students have grappled with this question ever

since Blossoms of the Savannah was approved as a set text by KICD.

First Taiyo and Resian face a near-rape experience in the hands of

Ntare Muyo and Lante son of Kanyira. (pg 140-141)

Luckily they are saved by Olarinkoi. 

When Olarinkoi later abducts Resian and takes her to his home in

Inkiito, he tries to rape her. He comes home while stone drunk and barks angrily at Resian who had refused to make him food. 

“I tell you to prepare food and you refuse to do so, eh? Today you will know who is the owner of this home.” (pg 221)

He insists that Resian is his wife. He grabs her and starts unfastening

her buttons while she resists and fights back tenaciously. She screams

fruitlessly unable to free herself from his firm grip. She manages to bite his thumb and almost amputates it. 

“She thrusts his thumb into her mouth; sunk her teeth into the flesh like a ferocious animal and tenaciously held unto it tugging at it fiercely like a lioness” (pg221)

Olarinkoi howls with pain but finally manages to hit her hard on

her ribcage with his elbow and on the side of her head. 

Resian passes out and when she regains consciousness it is not

clear exactly what transpired. She is lying in a makeshift bed. She is naked, in excruciating pain and bleeding from the nose. Resian recalls the incident with Oloisudori, the quarrel with her father, the trip with Olarinkoi and the struggle with him as he tried to rape her. (pg 222)

Nabaru insinuates that Olarinkoi tried to rape Resian but did not

succeed. 

“What was not in the prediction was what Olarinkoi tried to do with you. Rape was not part of the programme“ (pg 232)

Even Olarinkoi himself suggests that he did not accomplish his

goal.

He says: “I’ll not repeat what I tried to do last time and I regret having been forced to hit you” (pg 241)

We learn that Olarinkoi does not succeed to rape Resian based on

what Nabaru (Enkabaani) tells Resian.

“I will never forget the way you bravely wrestled with that brute called Olarinkoi and bit his thumb so severely that he was unable to rape you as he had intended” (pg 253).

In conclusion, Olarinkoi does not succeed to rape Resian. 

Literature rewards virtues and punishes vices.

Olarinkoi abducts and attempts to rape Resian. He is punished when he is shamefully scolded by his mother that he hides and also suffers the pain inflicted when Resian bites his thumb. 

Resian is a virtuous character. She is assertive and determined. She

tells off her father Ole Kaelo when he tries to marry her off to old

Olosisudori against her wish. She also fights off Olarinkoi determinedly

and is rewarded. She manages to avoid early marriage and FGM and even rape. She also manages to join Egerton University. 

From this we learn that evil does not pay but determination is rewarded.

Next: Blossoms of the Savannah Essays

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