24. Choose two of the following essay prompts. Respond to each in a paragraph. Write your answer in complete sentences.
Prompt I:
In both "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark," young men fret that their fathers will disapprove of their potential wives. Compare these two stories by looking at how the personalities of the young men and their fathers help to shape the eventual outcomes.
Prompt II:
Examine how white people and black people regard each other in "No Witchcraft for Sale, "The Moment Before the Gun Went Off," and "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses." How do they help to both teach and support each other, and how do they fail? Thank about what each group is trying to protect and when it withholds something from the other.
Please help I've been stuck on this for forever Q~Q.
Prompt I: In "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark," the young men's fathers have a significant influence on the eventual outcomes of the stories. In "Marriage Is a Private Affair," Nnaemeka's father is a traditionalist who believes that marriage should be arranged and that his son should not marry a Christian. Nnaemeka is a modernist who believes in love and is determined to marry the woman he loves. In the end, Nnaemeka's father is able to accept his son's choice and the two reconcile. In "A Meeting in the Dark," the young man's father is a wealthy landowner who is determined to keep his son from marrying a poor woman. The young man is determined to marry the woman he loves, and in the end, his father is able to accept the marriage. The personalities of the young men and their fathers in both stories help to shape the eventual outcomes, as the young men are determined to marry the women they love and their fathers are eventually able to accept their choices.
Prompt II: In "No Witchcraft for Sale," "The Moment Before the Gun Went Off," and "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses," white people and black people regard each other in different ways. In "No Witchcraft for Sale," white people are portrayed as exploitative and oppressive, while black people are portrayed as resilient and resourceful. In "The Moment Before the Gun Went Off," white people are portrayed as oppressive and violent, while black people are portrayed as victims of injustice. In "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses," white people are portrayed as oppressive and controlling, while black people are portrayed as resilient and determined. In all three stories, white people and black people help to both teach and support each other, but they also fail to understand each other's perspectives. Both groups are trying to protect themselves, but they often withhold something from the other, leading to misunderstandings and conflict.
Prompt I:
In both "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark," the young men are deeply concerned about their fathers' disapproval of their potential wives. However, the personalities of the young men and their fathers play a significant role in shaping the eventual outcomes of their relationships.
In "Marriage Is a Private Affair," Nnaemeka is a young man who falls in love with a woman named Nene. He knows that his father, Okeke, strongly adheres to traditional customs and will likely disapprove of Nene because she is not from their tribe. Nnaemeka's personality is portrayed as rebellious and determined to pursue his own happiness, even if it means going against his father's wishes. On the other hand, Okeke is portrayed as strict and uncompromising in upholding traditional values. Despite Nnaemeka's efforts to convince his father, Okeke remains stubborn and rejects Nene. The eventual outcome is a strained relationship between Nnaemeka and Okeke, with Nnaemeka refusing to let his father's disapproval define his love for Nene.
Similarly, in "A Meeting in the Dark," John, the young protagonist, fears that his father, Samuel, will not approve of his romantic relationship with Wamuhu, a girl from a different tribe. John's personality is characterized by his love for Wamuhu and his desire for his father's acceptance. However, Samuel's personality is depicted as traditional and rigid, prioritizing tribal and cultural customs over his son's happiness. Despite John's attempts to reason with his father, Samuel remains unmoved. As a result, the relationship between father and son becomes strained, and John is forced to make a difficult choice between following his heart or obeying his father.
In both stories, the clash between the personalities of the young men and their fathers ultimately shapes the outcomes of their relationships. The young men's determination to pursue their own happiness, regardless of their father's disapproval, shows their strength of character. Meanwhile, the father figures' adherence to traditional values and resistance to change highlights the generational and cultural divide that exists. The stories thus explore themes of personal freedom, cultural clashes, and the consequences of defying deeply ingrained traditions.
Prompt II:
In "No Witchcraft for Sale," "The Moment Before the Gun Went Off," and "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses," the dynamics between white and black characters depict complex relationships, including moments of teaching, support, and failure. These relationships shed light on each group's desire to protect their own interests while also revealing instances of withholding information or understanding from one another.
In "No Witchcraft for Sale," the relationship between Gideon, the black cook, and the Farquars, the white family he works for, showcases a dynamic of teaching and support. Gideon possesses knowledge of a unique plant that can be used as a cure. He shares this knowledge with the white family, teaching them about the indigenous culture and its medicinal practices. In return, the Farquars appreciate Gideon's wisdom and expertise, and they mutually support each other in their respective roles.
"The Moment Before the Gun Went Off" explores the failure of understanding and support between white and black characters. The story revolves around a young white boy accidentally shooting a black farm worker, Lucas. The white community fails to acknowledge the importance of Lucas' life, and their response reflects deep-rooted racial prejudices. The failure lies in the lack of empathy and support offered to Lucas and his family, with the incident becoming a catalyst for exposing the underlying racism within the community.
Similarly, in "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses," there is a complex dynamic between white prison officials and the black prisoners they oversee. The story highlights instances of teaching and support, such as when the white superintendent, Brille, wants to educate the black prisoner, Brille, about the power of knowledge. However, there is also a failure to understand and support each other fully, as the white prisoners fail to recognize the significance of Brille's sacrifice and refuse to support him despite his efforts to improve their living conditions.
Overall, the interactions between white and black characters in these stories depict a mixture of teaching, support, and failure. From attempts to bridge cultural divides and provide mutual assistance, to instances of withholding empathy and understanding, these relationships emphasize the complexities involved in the interaction between different racial and cultural groups, and highlight the ongoing struggle for genuine understanding and support.
To answer these essay prompts, you need to analyze the personalities and actions of the characters in the stories and examine how they contribute to the eventual outcomes. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to approach each prompt:
Prompt I - "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark":
1. Read and understand both stories: Begin by reading and understanding both stories thoroughly. Pay attention to the characters, their relationships, and the conflicts they face.
2. Identify the young men and their fathers: Take note of the young men in each story and how they perceive their fathers' opinions of their potential wives. Look for similarities and differences in their attitudes and fears.
3. Examine the personalities of the young men: Analyze the personalities of the young men in each story. Consider their values, beliefs, and desires. How do their personalities influence their actions and decisions regarding their potential wives?
4. Compare the fathers' attitudes: Explore the attitudes and personalities of the fathers in each story. Look for similarities and differences in how they view marriage, tradition, and their sons' choices. Consider how their own experiences and beliefs shape their reactions.
5. Analyze the outcomes: Finally, examine how the personalities and actions of both the young men and their fathers contribute to the eventual outcomes in each story. Look for instances of personal growth, conflict resolution, or the perpetuation of generational differences.
Prompt II - "No Witchcraft for Sale," "The Moment Before the Gun Went Off," and "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses":
1. Read and understand the stories: Begin by reading and understanding each of the stories mentioned. Take note of the interactions between white and black people and the dynamics of power, privilege, and race.
2. Observe the interactions: Pay attention to how white people and black people regard each other in the stories. Look for both positive and negative moments of interaction, whether they support or fail to support each other.
3. Identify teachings and support: Analyze the instances in which the characters from each group teach and support each other. Consider the motivations behind these actions and the impact they have on the individuals and the larger community.
4. Identify failures: Similarly, identify situations in which both white and black characters fail to teach and support each other. Consider the reasons behind these failures, such as fear, prejudice, or societal pressures.
5. Analyze the protection and withholding: Reflect on what each group is trying to protect and when they withhold something from the other. Consider the power dynamics, historical contexts, and the consequences of these actions.
Remember to use evidence from the stories to support your analysis and to write in complete sentences. Good luck with your essays!