WAEC GCE 2024 LITERATURE ANSWER

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(1)
Francis’ work as a printer in the novel portrays a stark contrast between his potential and his reality. As a printer, Francis holds a job that could symbolize progress, creativity, and contribution to society, but instead, his actions and attitudes reflect his lack of ambition, irresponsibility, and parasitic dependence on Adah. His work—or lack of dedication to it—reinforces his character as one who consistently fails to rise above his circumstances or to support his family in a meaningful way.

Francis’ role as a printer could have been an avenue for him to better his financial situation and contribute to his family's welfare. However, his inability to embrace his work with seriousness portrays him as a visionless and unmotivated individual. Rather than taking pride in his labor, Francis shows no interest in pursuing professional or personal growth. His lack of initiative suggests his resignation to mediocrity and his contentment with depending on Adah’s hard work and determination.

Moreover, his work as a printer underscores his inferiority complex and laziness. Despite having a skill that could allow him to make a decent living, Francis remains uninterested in using it to elevate his family's standard of living. His reliance on Adah’s income while he drifts through life reflects a troubling sense of entitlement and selfishness. This paints him as a person who does not value the significance of hard work or the role he could play in building a better future for his family.

Francis’ destructive behaviuor—such as burning the manuscript of Adah’s first novel—shows a deeper level of insecurity and resentment. While his work as a printer could symbolize creativity, his act of destroying Adah’s manuscript reflects a need to stifle her success, possibly stemming from feelings of inadequacy in comparison to her ambition and achievements. This act highlights his failure to be a supportive partner and further emphasizes his antisocial behavior and irresponsibility.

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(2)
The encounter between Mr. Okpara and Francis in the novel highlights critical themes of patriarchy, cultural expectations, and gender roles within the Ibo community, as well as the larger context of immigrant life in England. Mr. Okpara’s advice to Adah to seek forgiveness from Francis, despite her being the victim of his maltreatment, reveals the entrenched patriarchal mindset that pervades the society they both come from. This interaction underscores the systemic inequalities that women like Adah face in both their marital and societal roles.

Mr. Okpara’s perspective reflects the Ibo cultural norm where men are regarded as infallible, and women bear the burden of preserving family harmony, even at their own expense. His assertion that Adah should “beg his forgiveness” because men never err encapsulates this deeply ingrained patriarchal ideology. In this worldview, a wife is seen as property—“bought, paid for,” and obligated to comply with her husband’s demands, no matter how oppressive they may be. This reinforces the notion that women’s autonomy and agency are secondary to the preservation of male pride and dominance.

The encounter also serves to contrast Adah’s evolving sense of self-worth with the cultural expectations imposed upon her. While Mr. Okpara’s advice aligns with the traditional roles expected of women in their culture, it stands in stark opposition to Adah’s growing realization of her rights and independence. Adah’s refusal to conform to these expectations marks a significant step in her personal journey toward empowerment, as she challenges the societal norms that bind her.

The interaction between Mr. Okpara and Francis highlights the role of cultural preservation among immigrants. While living in England, both men cling to their Ibo heritage, which includes traditional gender roles. However, this adherence to cultural norms often perpetuates toxic behaviors, as seen in Francis’s violent and controlling treatment of Adah. Mr. Okpara’s advice reinforces Francis’s belief in his entitlement to dominance, further exacerbating the challenges Adah faces in asserting her independence.

This encounter also exposes the isolation experienced by women like Adah within their communities. Rather than finding allies among fellow immigrants, she faces a collective reinforcement of patriarchal values. Mr. Okpara’s advice not only dismisses Adah’s suffering but also perpetuates a culture of silence and submission that leaves women vulnerable to abuse.

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(3)
(i) Massa’s Sickness:
Massa’s illness can be seen as a direct manifestation of her personal and emotional struggles. Her sickness is not just a physical ailment but an expression of her internalized pain and unspoken fears. In the context of the novel, Massa’s condition symbolizes the broader societal pressures placed on women, especially in patriarchal societies where their roles are often limited to caregiving and subservience. Her sickness can be interpreted as the emotional toll of these societal expectations, representing both personal and collective suffering. It reflects the weariness and emotional exhaustion many characters experience as they try to cope with their daily realities. Massa’s journey toward healing can be seen as symbolic of the potential for personal growth and self-empowerment. The novel hints that to overcome personal and social illnesses, a holistic approach, embracing both emotional and physical well-being, is essential for transformation.

(ii) The State of Korle Lagoon:
The Korle Lagoon symbolizes more than just a physical location in Unexpected Joy at Dawn; it represents the environmental and moral degradation of the society depicted in the novel. The polluted state of the lagoon serves as an emblem for the neglect and indifference shown to both the environment and to societal problems. Just as the lagoon is filled with waste and refuse, the social fabric of the community is stained by corruption, stagnation, and the erosion of shared values. The pollution of the lagoon could also be a metaphor for the polluted thoughts and actions of individuals, who, like the water, have become contaminated by greed, self-interest, and disillusionment. In addition, the lagoon’s stagnant nature highlights the idea of inertia and the failure to address systemic issues, making it a powerful symbol of the need for change and renewal. The restoration of the lagoon might symbolize hope for societal or personal regeneration.

(iii) Kantamanto Market:
Kantamanto Market represents a microcosm of the urban experience, with all its contradictions, vitality, and struggles. It symbolizes the hustle and bustle of city life, where individuals are constantly trying to navigate their personal ambitions, dreams, and survival instincts within a larger economic and social framework. The market is chaotic, filled with competition, bargaining, and interactions, and serves as a backdrop for the constant negotiation of values, identity, and desires. Its diverse nature — a blend of modern and traditional goods, urban and rural people — also highlights the tensions between tradition and progress in the society. The market is not just a physical space; it reflects the way people interact with each other and the social structures that shape their lives. For the characters, the market could be seen as a place where they confront their aspirations, desires, and conflicts, mirroring the unpredictable nature of life itself.

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(4)
Nii Tackie’s work experience at Expense Bank offers an insight into the bureaucratic and economic challenges of the banking sector, as well as the moral dilemmas faced by individuals working in such an environment. Nii is portrayed as a conscientious and empathetic assistant manager, navigating a tense workplace dynamic while striving to maintain his integrity and professionalism.

Nii's role requires him to manage the delicate balance between adhering to the bank's stringent policies and addressing the needs of loan applicants like Aaron Tsuru. The rejection of Aaron's loan application, despite Nii's efforts to advocate for it, highlights the rigidity of the banking system during an economic slump. It also underscores the tension between corporate policies and the human element of decision-making. Nii’s admission to Aaron that he did his best but could not sway the bank's decision reveals his frustration and sense of powerlessness within the institution's hierarchical and profit-driven framework.

The economic context further complicates Nii's work experience. The central bank's directives to curtail the economic downturn and inflation have led to stricter loan approval criteria, which directly impact Nii's ability to support applicants. This creates a professional environment where the bank's cautious approach to lending leaves little room for flexibility, adding pressure on employees like Nii, who must enforce policies that they may not personally agree with.

Nii's interactions with his colleagues and superiors reveal underlying tensions within the workplace. The manager’s dismissive attitude toward aliens, coupled with his decision to reject Aaron Larshibi’s application, highlights a lack of empathy that contrasts sharply with Nii's own values. The manager’s exclamation about aliens further reflects the xenophobic undertones in the workplace, which Nii, born to Nigerian parents but raised in Ghana, subtly counters by labeling it as xenophobia. This illustrates the broader societal tensions

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(5)
The Brotherhood movement plays a remote role in precipitating the Harlem Race Riot, reflecting their manipulation of racial tensions for their ideological goals. The organization, while appearing to champion racial equality and social justice, ultimately prioritizes its own political agenda over the well-being of the Harlem community, leading to devastating consequences.

The Brotherhood's relationship with Harlem is rooted in exploitation. They infiltrate the community under the guise of empowering it but instead use Harlem as a testing ground for their broader political theories. The Narrator, initially inspired by the Brotherhood's rhetoric, becomes a prominent spokesperson for their cause. However, he gradually realizes that the Brotherhood views Harlem not as a community of individuals with genuine needs, but as a means to achieve their revolutionary goals. This detachment becomes evident when the Brotherhood shifts its focus away from Harlem, neglecting the growing discontent and unrest within the community.

The major moment that underscores the Brotherhood's culpability in the riot occurs when the narrator discovers their deliberate strategy of abandoning Harlem to chaos. The Brotherhood decides that allowing tensions to escalate will serve their ideological objectives, even if it comes at the cost of lives and livelihoods. This calculated neglect exacerbates the frustrations of Harlem residents, who feel betrayed and ignored by an organization that claimed to advocate for them. The lack of leadership and guidance from the Brotherhood creates a vacuum, allowing anger and disillusionment to spiral into violence.

The Brotherhood's manipulation of the narrator contributes to the riot's outbreak. The narrator is initially tasked with rallying the community, but when he tries to address their immediate concerns, he is reprimanded and sidelined. The Brotherhood's refusal to acknowledge the unique struggles of Harlem, coupled with their insistence on adhering to a rigid, impersonal ideology, alienates the community and deepens their resentment. This neglect fosters a sense of abandonment, igniting the very conditions that lead to the riot.

The Harlem Race Riot, therefore, is not just a spontaneous eruption of anger but a consequence of the Brotherhood's strategic indifference and exploitation. By prioritizing their ideological goals over the needs of the people, the Brotherhood reveals their true nature as an organization driven by power rather than genuine social justice. The riot serves as a tragic culmination of their failures, highlighting the dangers of using marginalized communities as mere tools for political experimentation.

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(6)
Young Emerson is a minor but significant character in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, offering a nuanced portrayal of moral conflict and disillusionment within the elite circles of American society. As the son of Mr. Emerson, a wealthy trustee at a prestigious institution, Young Emerson stands in contrast to his father’s cold, detached view of racial inequality. Where his father epitomizes the powerful, entrenched systems of oppression that marginalize African Americans, Young Emerson demonstrates a level of moral awareness and empathy for the protagonist's struggles.

In the novel, the protagonist, having been expelled from college, is sent by Dr. Bledsoe to deliver a sealed letter of recommendation to Mr. Emerson, hoping to secure a job. However, when the protagonist meets Young Emerson, he decides to reveal the contents of the letter. Unlike his father, who would likely have obeyed Dr. Bledsoe’s instructions without question, Young Emerson chooses to expose the truth. The letter instructs employers to deny the protagonist employment, painting him as unworthy of any opportunity despite his qualifications. By disclosing the letter’s contents, Young Emerson exposes Dr. Bledsoe’s duplicity and highlights his own willingness to confront the injustice embedded within the social system, even if it means defying his father’s expectations.

This moment in the novel emphasizes Young Emerson’s idealism and his internal struggle with the societal norms that perpetuate racial discrimination. Although he is part of the privileged class, he is not blind to the suffering and exploitation that the protagonist endures. His decision to reveal the letter’s contents can be seen as an act of moral courage, reflecting a desire to break free from the oppressive structures that his father represents. In a sense, his actions challenge the status quo of elitism and racism, demonstrating a glimmer of hope that change can come from within the very systems that sustain inequality.

However, despite his moral clarity, Young Emerson remains a largely passive figure. While he exposes the betrayal, he does little beyond that to help the protagonist. His idealism is not backed by substantial action, and his limited power to change the course of events highlights the broader theme of individual powerlessness in the face of systemic oppression. His character represents the struggle of individuals within privileged classes who recognize the flaws in the system but are unable—or unwilling—to take further steps to dismantle it.

Ultimately, Young Emerson serves as a complex symbol of the tension between moral awareness and the inability to challenge deeply entrenched societal structures. His character demonstrates both the potential for change within the elite class and the tragic limitations that come with being a product of that very class.

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(7)
Isabella Linton is a significant character, as her life becomes a tragic illustration of how vengeance and manipulation destroy individuals caught in their web. Her fate as a victim of Heathcliff’s relentless quest for revenge is a pivotal subplot that underscores the destructive nature of unchecked anger and obsession.

From the outset, Isabella is portrayed as naive and sheltered, shaped by her privileged upbringing at Thrushcross Grange. Her infatuation with Heathcliff is rooted more in romantic fantasy than in reality. Ignoring her brother Edgar's warnings and Catherine's insight into Heathcliff's dark nature, Isabella idealizes him as a Byronic hero, captivated by his brooding demeanor. This blind passion leads her into a disastrous marriage, which Heathcliff orchestrates not out of love but as part of his revenge against Edgar and the Linton family.

Heathcliff’s treatment of Isabella is a calculated act of cruelty, designed to torment Edgar by humiliating his sister and ensuring his dominance over her family’s legacy. Once married, Isabella experiences Heathcliff’s brutality firsthand, realizing that he has no affection for her and views her merely as a pawn. Her initial romantic illusions are shattered, leaving her in a state of physical and emotional suffering. Her letter to Nelly vividly describes the torment she endures, highlighting her disillusionment and her growing hatred for Heathcliff.

Isabella's victimization is compounded by her role as a foil to Catherine. Where Catherine is strong-willed and passionate, Isabella is passive and emotionally vulnerable. This contrast emphasizes Isabella’s inability to stand up to Heathcliff’s tyranny, making her an easy target for his vengeance. Her eventual escape from Wuthering Heights is an act of desperation and self-preservation, marking a moment of courage in an otherwise bleak existence.

As a victim of vengeance, Isabella’s story reflects the collateral damage caused by Heathcliff’s obsessive pursuit of power and revenge. Her suffering underscores the broader theme of the novel: how the cycle of vengeance perpetuates misery for everyone involved. Despite her victimhood, Isabella’s resilience in fleeing and raising her son Linton away from Heathcliff’s influence shows a glimmer of defiance and hope amidst the darkness.

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(8)
Mr. Lockwood’s dreams at Wuthering Heights are an essential part of Wuthering Heights, playing a crucial role in developing the novel’s gothic atmosphere and offering insight into the themes of the story. These dreams, particularly the one in which Lockwood encounters the ghost of Catherine Earnshaw, set the eerie, supernatural tone that pervades the entire narrative. The spectral appearance of Catherine’s ghost, scratching at the window and pleading to be let in, serves as a potent symbol of her restless, tormented soul. Her spirit is not at peace, reflecting the novel’s central theme: the enduring and destructive nature of love, particularly the obsessive relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff. Catherine’s ghost, appearing to Lockwood as a physical manifestation of unresolved passion and sorrow, hints at the impossibility of finding peace due to the overpowering emotions that define the characters’ lives. It foreshadows the central conflict of the story, emphasizing that certain emotions, such as love and vengeance, transcend even death.

The dreams also emphasize the theme of isolation and entrapment. Catherine’s ghost can be seen as a representation of emotional and spiritual confinement, mirroring the lives of the characters in Wuthering Heights, who are trapped by their relationships, their past actions, and the oppressive atmosphere of the house itself. Wuthering Heights is portrayed as a place of emotional entrapment, where characters, especially Heathcliff and Catherine, are unable to escape the destructive patterns of their lives. Lockwood’s dream illustrates how the house, much like Catherine’s ghost, holds a powerful grip on its inhabitants, keeping them in a state of perpetual unrest. In the novel, physical space often reflects the characters’ inner turmoil, and Wuthering Heights itself becomes a symbol of this emotional imprisonment. The house is an isolated, cold, and bleak place, and this setting acts as a catalyst for the characters’ inner conflicts, which are often played out in destructive and violent ways.

Mr. Lockwood’s dream highlights the moral decay and spiritual unrest that define the central characters of the novel. The ghostly visitation by Catherine emphasizes that the characters are not just physically confined within the walls of Wuthering Heights, but also spiritually trapped, burdened by the unresolved passions and betrayals that mark their relationships. Catherine’s ghost is unable to move on, stuck in a liminal state between life and death. This image of Catherine as an untethered soul reinforces the novel’s exploration of the destructive consequences of obsession and unrequited love. Catherine’s inability to rest symbolizes the toxic nature of the love that exists between her and Heathcliff, a love that keeps both of them bound in a cycle of revenge and longing.

The dreams illustrate the relationship between the characters and their environment. Lockwood’s encounter with Catherine’s ghost is not just a dream, but a symbolic moment that underscores how the physical environment of Wuthering Heights shapes the lives and psyches of those who inhabit it. The house is more than just a setting; it is a character in itself, haunted by the past and the unresolved emotions of its inhabitants. The ghostly appearance of Catherine reinforces this connection, showing that Wuthering Heights, as a place, holds the spirits of its past, and these spirits are intertwined with the fate of its residents. The house’s isolation from the outside world mirrors the emotional and social isolation experienced by the characters, particularly Heathcliff and Catherine.