The Old Man and the Medal by - Ferdinand Oyono - Summary & Analysis
INTRODUCTION
The novel of old man and the medal is about meka, an old man who has been converted to the religion of Christianity and very loyal to the new religion and the French colonial role. He has sacrificed much when fighting for the French against his fellow Africans the French applied the policy of assimilation to capture the minds of the Africans who were assimilated and accepted the French ways of living.
The district commissioner promised him that he would awarded a “medal” to show that a meka is a true friend of the French and that the colonial government respects his contribution . the whites (French) however , didn’t sincerely mean the true friendship . during the awarding day meka is neglected at the playground for so long time that he became embarrassed . after the awarding ceremony the was a party, which was held to entertain the whites.
In the party , meka gets drunk , and he was arrested , when he was going home at midright for being suspected a animal. Meka respesents the Africans who abandoned their traditional ways of life and adopted that of the whites; and acted against their fellow Africans, but later returned to their previous traditional religion
CHARACTERIZATION
MAKALEY
He is the protagonist of the novel.
Is married to kelara,brother in law of engamk
He is a poor old man
He is pompous
He is a catholic convert,He lives at mission a Dam.
He is chronic drunkard at Mamy titi’s place
He is loyal to the white colonizers.
He is religious, but not spiritual.
He is awarded a “medal” but loses it.
He is a victim of police brututality.
He has a changing behavior.
KELARA
She is meka’s wife.
She is a convert Christian.
She has a true love.
She is a victim of world war 2.
She feels betrayed by her husband.
She is highy emotional easily heartbroken.
She was betrothed, with while she was young.
ENGAMBA
He is kelara’s brother, and meka’s brother in law.
He is greedy.
He is very supportive.
He believes in superstition.
He was a polygamist.
He is a traditionalist.
He is a Christian convert.
AMALIA
She is the wife of Engamba.
She is very hard working.
She was married in a polygamous family
She is sympathetic.
M.FOUCONI
He is the chief administrator at doum.
He is a cigar smoker.
He is a hypocrite.
He has a terrible temer.
M.VARINI GULLET
He is the white superintendent of the policemen.
He is cruel to the Africans.
He is a heavy cigar smoker.
He is a hypocrite.
THE TITLE OF THE NOVEL, OLDMAN AND MEDAL
The title of the book is; The old man and the medal ; the title of the book is relevant to the content because:-
1. The whole novel is about the old man called meka who has last two sons and the land that was given to the whites. He is now very “old” and lives a very poor life
2. The old man is given a medal , because of the sacrifices he has made for the French colonizers and they promised him a “medal” which he was to be given on the day of 14th July by the High commissioner himself. However, he lost it during the night of the same day. Because of being heavy drunk.
3. The old man is promised another medal, when gullet later learns that he has last the first medal that was given. Although up to the end of the book, he has never received the second medal.
SETTING
The setting of the novel is in cameroon during colonialism, The novel shows the dilemma the Africa find themselves in living in the two worlds, that of the black man and his culture, and that of the white men [French] colonizers. The novel father portray sub section as rural and urban setting.
RURAL SETTING PORTRAYED BY
This is portrayed, evidenced by mentioning of village like zourian, where even the mode of transport is mainly walking on foot. Customs like, polygamy, widow inheritance, early marriage, completes rural setting.
URBAN SETTING PORTRAYED BY
This is evidenced by mentioning towns like doum, where white men live, presence of the police station, community center, European clubs.
STYLE OF THE NOVEL
The novelist Ferdinand Oyono, has applied different style and technique to enrich his work of literature
MONOLOGUE NARRATIVE; The novel has been written in a monologue which the author is the narrator, the third person point of view is the dominant one.
DIALOGUE; The author has used dialogue to bring the events and characters, which have been employed here and there.
SONGS; The novelist has applied and employed style in the poem by using the song, in [page 12] where, meka.
LANGUAGE USE
The language used is simple, and straight forward. However, there are some words used purposely for effect. Abusive language /22,/3/.
SIMILE : The chief was sweating like a wrestler [page 92]
SIMILE: Children today grow up like maize [page 57]
SIMILE: In those days, kelara had breasts as lemons [page 37]
SIMILE: We missionaries are like owls. [page 27]
PERSONFICATION: The hut was already alive [page
PERSONFICATION: The hut was already alive
METAPHOR: Now that har husband is going to have a medal, she will become a white man [page 62]
PERSONFICATION: The mouth has tired itself with talking [page 13]
PROVERB: The chimpanzee is no brother to gorilla [page 151]
HYPERBOL: I am all alone, alone in the world [page 121].
CHAPTER ONE
Meka wakes up at day break , in a very poor hut and finds his wife kelara still snoring . he wakes up wondering how she can sleep while her husband has trouble. He has summons to see the commander this morning. They pray together for the same. Then dresses and his wife praises him that he like and look an American missionary. He ate his breakfast and left. His wife warns him to be careful when he present himself before the white men.
He makes his way to town on foot, he comes a cross the European town and decides to stop at mammy Titi’s place to have arki . Arki is an illegal drink. That has been banned not to be distilled, so that those who sell it do it in secret. We are given a flash back that Meka, gave his plot of land to the catholic mission and now lives in a small hut in the village. He was told that it was the will of God to give his land .
When he finished he started off to the white men. He was singing a song of war they used to sing. Back in the village catechist Ignatus Obebe leads a mass of prayers then they dispers. Kalera refuses to go, in but sits at the door insisting and gazing the direction her husband had gon. Finally, he comes in a car sitting beside a white man. He informs the villagers who come and gather around him that the great chief of all the white men at Timba is coming to award him a medal on 14th July.
Many people come to his house to her the good news. Meka tells them how it all happened. Even ignatus Obebe comes to her the good news . However he seems a bit jealous and gives some remarks, that made him angry. He leaves they talk of another catechist who loved the wife of the chief and seduced her.
CHAPTER TWO
This chapter shows the events, taking place at the village of zourian where Kalera is born. His brother Engamba is eating, but he seems to hide behind the door so that the passers –by may not join him. When he finished he gets out. There is noise from the other side of the village. People come out from every direction they see a stranger who introduces himself as Nkolo mendo, son of mendo of Ngolman. many people are interested to know if he brings the good news.
After a long wait of leaving the villagers in suspense, he finally bring the news. He says that the day before he goes to down to see his future parent in-laws and gives them a bunch of stock fish they had asked her in order to marry the daughter. On top of that, he had already given them, thirty thousands franks, a case of beer ,pith-helmet, a sack of salt, thee machetes , thee ships; a wate bucket, a cast-iron cooking pot, and a sack of rise and all that was left the stock fish.
He says when he got to doum, the place was so bus and the lorries were fill of soldiers who were speech to town. They thought the war was about to start then he cools them down, because it was not the
war, but the chief of the white from paris was coming to doum to give Meka a medal. Engamba was happy to her that because Meka is his brother-in law Mbogsi, suggest that, Engamba should introduce him to the commandant that, he is the brother in law of Meka. Even the friends of Engamba want sue that to gain favours.
Finally all the villagers leave and Nkolo, is left with Engamba. We are informed that Nkolo is a polygamist. He has five wives and is soon going to take the sixth. More over we are told that when Engamba father dies, he left him six young widows to inherit. He enjoys the issues of inheritance, because women compete in his favour. Things began to change when the missionaries started to teach about Christian marriage and some of his wives demanded their liberty to be baptize. Engamba was the first of the pagans to be converted and Amalia to Christianity in a church officially.
A flash back is then given that one day Meka passed through zourian and Engmba
Egamba sees Meka as being lucky and calls him ‘The lucky devil’. Engamba catches one of his goat called Ebogo [the name of his youngest wife ]and start his way to doum to attend the celebration of the medal award.
CHAPTER THREE
The preparation for the 14th of July had changed the atmosphere of doum, just as Nkolo said. The place was busy preparing for the event under the supervision of M. Fouconi, the chief administrator. Because of soldiers were moving here and there in lorries, and practicing in the street, the Africans were in territory thinking the war is back. After supervision the preparation, M.Foukon goes back to the residence some Africans bring the crates of the drinks that will be used that day. To be used on the celebration. He orders them to take the crates direct to the .Africa community center where the reception party will take place. We are told that this center was a corrugated iron hut. It was white washed all over to hide the colour it had been before
Meka had gone to see the tailor-Ela who was seving his jacked, and was worried whether it would be ready by the following day. Ela assires Meka that he will make it ready and Meka will lobe it when the tailor is done he gives the jacket to Meka, but he says button will be sewn by Meka’s wife because he is rushing to go and see his wife who is sick. Meka pays 500 franks and yet they depart.
CHAPTER FOUR
Engamba and his wife Amalia, were still on the war to doum ; They procced ed like this until night fell own the bush. Engamba complained Amalia was going too fast since he was pulling his goat A Flash back of Amalia’s life is given. She used to carry some heavy basket of wood when coming from the field, basket of sans for the hut, basket of stones for the priest houses, so she could go to the confessi on and the basket of food for the journeys.
She had done so purposely because her mother considered her lazy. Finally the villagers praised her saying. ‘A girl who will know to feed her husband he will never die of hunger. Atema, Amalia’s mother had had a daughter among daughters. Amalia got ten offers of marriages. Among them was wealthy Engamba of zourian. Amalia preffered this man, though he had many wives. That was how Amalia married Engamba. They continue with their journey but it was getting dark and come to Nkango, hamlet
Some one welcomed them to have a meal with them ; because the night had many mysteries; The man recognized Amalia as entered the hut, while Engamba was trying his goat outside. The man was Binama they talked of Meka, getting a future of a medal at the old age. Agatha, binama’s wife brings them food. When food is over, Engamba raises to go. Engamba and Agatha escorts them to the river. Binama tells Engamba that Meka, should tel;l the chief of whites they need a road to the village. Theey passed through. several villagers at night and there was one village left. They entered the village of Boton. They had to cross the whole of Europe quarter pass a cross the African location before they came to Mekas house.
CHAPTER FIVE
Meka comes back from taking his jacket and find a number of people at his place, all who come to celebrate with him. He greets them in a normal traditional way, while joking and bursting into there were Engamba’s and Essomba’s ,all his causins male and female were there with their children,Everyo connected intimately or distantly with kelara, also were there. For example there was an old women with nursed kelara mother who died before WW1, there was Nua,Nti,Mvondo,Evina, The causin of meka, and his wife and their brothers in law who had come there and post poned their departure. There were also villagers who had come to honour their fellow country.
Meka, welcomes them all and they start the normal chatting. Meka retells his story as he has been doing ever since. Kelara brings them the food, but for me it was not enough as they finished, it before other managed to reach the plate. After that kelara arranges the bedding for every body and announce the arrangement. Others slept on beds, others on sleeping mats and others on banana leaves. Before they sleep, they remember to tell meka to try his jacket. All others praise it exept kelara who says it is over size, and not good.
Kelara brings the leak shoes meka has bought at madam pipiniakis, men had gon before foot until when he married kelara. So his feet were disfigured and that was complicate by two little toes, which hung on the each side of the feet. So when he had to bring the canvas shoes,he had to cut two little windows. For the little does. At the shop he did try to them, on despite the insistence. Of the white women since he did not want o display his suffering in front of the stranger.
Meka puts them, but they hurt him and says, he wouldn’t get for with them, the following day. Engamba suggest that they should fill the sand and moisten the leather a bit to make them supple.Finally they say, their prayers and go to sleep, while others are a sleep meka has been sleep less, night because a lot of thought and imagination of the next cross in his mind, but eventually he fell a sleep.
THEMES IN THE NOVEL
The novelist has portrayed the following themes;-
A. Bride pays, The author has portrayed that before a girl is married in this society, the bride price has to be paid; Nkolo mendo pays a bundle of stock fish.
B. Superstition; When nkolo comes to Engambas house to bring the news of meka’s medal award, he warns one of the men who were there. Don’t start your witch craft.
When meka goes back home after the mistreatment he had received from the whites, he decided to pick back his superstition believes, he had before he become a Christian.
C. Widow inheritance; this has been portrayed who Engamba inherit the wives of his father.
D. Polygamy; In this society men mary wives for pleasure and enter entertainment. Engamba had six wives, Nkolo mendo is a polygamist with five wive.
E. Early marriage; In this society, kelara is betroth to meka when he was baby child.
F. Food taboos; In this society, the youth are not allowed to eat the etails of the sheep with out permission of the elders. If one did, he was change and fined a ram a punishment.
CONFLICT
Is a situation of the misunderstanding between the two sides; in the novel, Old man and medal there are following;-
Intrapersonal conflict ; This happen’s when meka summoned to go to see the commandant, he was wondering what would happen to him. He asks kelara to pray for her.
On the 14th July, he was left in the hot sun, wait to be awarded a medal, he was wondering whether to go away or wait for it.
Personal conflict; This happens between meka andhis police men, this happens when meka walk without a lamp at night and without an ID.
Cultural conflict; There is a cultural conflict between the two cultures. Europeans preach that the distilling and drinking of the local brand ‘arki’ is a mortal sin, but imported drinks like wine and whisky.
Political conflict; There is a conflict between the European and the African are forced to labour for the whites.
POSITION OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY.
1. Women have been portrayed as tools of pleasure. Men mary many wives, because they use them as the sourse of sexual pleasure. Nkolo has five wives, Engamba had six wives.
2. Women are portrayed as people who are emotional they are portrayed as people who cant handle disapporntments. When Amalia is reminded of her dead sons, she cried bitterly as receiving news for the first time.
3. Women are portrayed as parents and caretakers in this novel we have seen women playing the good role of good and care takers.
4. Women are portrayed as sympathetic people. When kelara weeps for her lost sons, and Amalia joins in the weeping.
5. Women are portayed as true love; Women are portrayed to have sincere love, because the medal offered to meka as a compensation to her lost son is a betrayal.
6. Women are portrayed as weak people Women seen to have no say in the society, they are married in a polygamous setting and they are victims of early child marriage.
AWARENESS
Is the knowledge of knowing what is going on around you. Awareness is portrayed as;
Africans are a were of the hypocrisy of the white who tell them, they have become more friends and they are now brothers.
Meka is a were of the hypocrisy of the white people and the friendship they are talking about
Kelara is a were of the white men hypocrisy in awarding the medal to her husband.
HYPOCRISY
Hypocrisy is a situation of pretending to have qualities or beliefs you don’t have; the white men are portrayed to be hypocritical;-
White praise meka for his contribution, but they don’t mean it from their hearts.
Mr. Fouconi, is a hypocrite, he lived with the Africa women but used to hide her in the whenever he had visitors.
The white missionaries are hypocrite in a war they preach, that drinking of ‘arki’ is illegal and sin, but they drink imported drinks from Europe.
Father vandermayer is a hypocrite, He is a religious leaders but practices recisim.
Also, Father vandermayer, chases beggers from his church.
OPPRESSION
The white in this book are portrayed as oppressors to the Africans. Oppression has been portrayed in the following ways.
Black are tortured and oppressed by the police constable led by. M.Virini-Gullet. Meka was tortured and oppressed by the police when he was arrested and sent to the police station. He is beaten by police including Gullet himself despite the fact that he explained he was innocent.
Africans had to walk with the ID and when he was found without an identity card, He was arrested when the police found meka; the first thing they asked was the papers when he failed to produce he was arrested.
Africans land was taken by force from the blacks. The Africans loses their land to the French colonizers through the land alienation. Moist Africa had to go and work for the Europeans to earn a living.
Africans are arrested for distilling and drinking local beer [arki]. Africans were not allowed to make and sell local beer instead, they had to buy beer and other drinks imported from France. Those who sold and drink the local brand, had to do it secrety.
NEPOTISM
The people in this society portray the spirit of nepotism.
The whole village, close and distant relatives from distant place come to join meka, in his celebration of the medal a ward, so that hey can be know to meka, as a result they can be treated with preference.
The stanger suggest that it should not be confined in the sphere of close relatives, but also to friends of meka.
They believe that even other development project like the construction of roads have been treated under the guise of nepotism. Whe Binama and Engamba discuss about the problem of road construction from zourian to doum, Binama suggest that Engamba should inform meka, may send the message to the chief of whites.
RACISM/ RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Racism means discrimination and abuse behavior towards other members of the society based on their race [colour] in this book, racism is shown in the following ways
Father vandamayer segregated meka because of being an African, while he was white. He gives meka a lift at the back of the car when he drives to the African community center. Father vandamayer is a racist.
The whites refuse mekas invitation to eat a goat, with him pretending that they were going away. They said , they will eat his goat in through
On the celebration day, the whites sit alone on the plat and the blacks were saying, there was no African on plat form.
There are special residential areas for whites and Africans. Africans lives in their own local areas while European sit and lives in their own residential area After celebration, European go back to European club, where M. Ripianikis goes to celebrate legion d’honneur.
M. Fouconi lived with an African woman but he used to hide her in the store room, whenever he had the European visitors. And the day before the governor arrival he is sent back to the African location.
MORAL CURRUPTION
In this society , people are morally corrupt in some ways. The following are few cases in point;
Prostitution; Because of life difficult some women decided to engage themselves in prostitution to earn a living. This causes serious moral corruption in the society. The author uses ignatus to present the point.
Alcoholism; Alcoholism is rampant in this society both local and imported. Moist Africans wake up and go at mammy titi; place to drink alcohol on the day also of the award of medal, they were invited to drink to the capacity to the level of bringing them to shame.
MESSAGES/LESSON FROM THE NOVEL
The author has highlighted the following message in the novel;-
- Polygamy, bride price, superstition, widow inheritance, early marriage, food taboos. These are out dated customs. They should be discouraged as they lead to the necessary conflict in the society.
- We should fight against oppretion, hypocrisy, exploitation and classes, in our societies.
- Alcoholism and prostitution are not solutions the problems affecting our society.
- Nepotism and racism should be discouraged in the society.
- We should be a were of the oppression, and injustice in our society fight it.
RELEVANCE
Although the novel is set back during the colonial period, there are themes still relevant today, in our contemporary society in a number of ways;-
- Classes, oppression, hypocrisy, and exploitation are still prevalent in our contemporary society.
- Polygamy, bride price, superstition, widow inheritance, early marriage, and food taboos, and other out dated customs are still practiced in most rural Africa communities
- Moral corruption especially prostitution and alcoholism is prevalent in big cities and rural communities.
- Racism and racial segregation is still practiced in many countries in the world. There are also few cases of racism in Tanzania as well.
