i.
Man vs. man – A man vs. man
conflict can be described as disagreement or argument arising between two or more
characters. In the play “Betrayal in the
city,” several characters get into conflict with each other and some of the
conflicts have been resolved through killings.
a.
Tumbo vs. Boss – Conflict
between Tumbo and Boss started after Regina’s visit to Boss’s palace. While she
was there, Boss tried to take Regina by force but she escaped by jumping out of
a ten foot high window. The incident did not go down well with Tumbo since he
was the one who had recommended Regina to go and plead with Boss for her brother’s
release. In the same act, Tumbo tells Jusper that Boss was in an unpredictable
mood and that he was very cross with him when he told him that they did not
have all the props.
b.
Regina vs. Tumbo – Tumbo felt
that Regina will not forgive him after the incident that happened in Boss’s
palace where Boss had tried to take her by force.
c.
Boss vs. Doga and Nina – In act
two of the play we learn that Boss gave the order for the killing of Doga and Nina.
This is revealed to us through Mulili who wanted to get rid of Kabito just the
way he did with Doga and Nina. Boss’s decision to kill Doga and Nina might be
because he was in conflict with them.
d.
Mulili vs. Doga and Nina – In
act one, conflict arises when Jere and Mulili arrive at adika’s grave and
inform Nina and Doga that there will be no ceremony. Mulili shows no sympathy
to Doga and Nina and calls them murderers. When he tells Doga and Nina that
Adika’s grave no longer belonged to them, Nina threatens to curse him and Jere
by stripping naked. Mulili’s lack of respect towards the two old couple also
angers Doga who tells him that he would die the same way his son Adika died.
e.
Regina vs. Jusper – Regina was
at crossroads with Jusper because he lacked manners. This is shown by Jusper
when he enters Regina’s house without knocking on the door. Regina was also
opposed to Jusper’s choice of attire. She tells Jusper that the red gown that
he had worn made him look more dangerous than he really was. Regina was also
opposed to see Jusper wearing the red gown because when he puts it on and move
up and down the streets, she thought of nothing but trouble. She also says that
every time Jusper wears the red gown, people start to think that it was right
for Mosese to be locked in. Regina was also in conflict with jusper when she
reminded him the promise he made to his brother Mosese and which Regina felt that
he was not going to honour it.
f.
Mosese and Regina – Conflict
between Mosese and Regina began when Regina went to visit Mosese in prison.
While there she told him that she wanted to go and plead for his release.
Mosese viewed Regina’s decision as the ultimate betrayal and he nearly slapped
her for being too soft for a prisoner’s sister.
g.
Doga vs. Sub-chief – Doga was
in conflict with the sub-chief because it was his brother Chagaga who had shot
and killed his son Adika.
h.
Boss vs. Regina – Conflict
between these two happened after Regina had gone to Boss’s palace to plead with
him to release her brother. While at the palace Boss tried to take her by force
but she escaped by jumping a ten feet high window.
i.
Doga vs. Chagaga – Doga was
full of bitterness because Chagaga had killed one of his sons and he was never
jailed because he had told the authorities that he killed Adika in
self-defence. When talking to the ghosts of his late son, he gets vengeful and
tells his son to follow those who killed him to the bitter end. This revenge
mission can be attributed to Chagaga who had killed Adika.
j.
Jusper vs. Chagaga – After the
death of Adika, Jusper got into conflict with Chagaga because he was the one
who had killed his brother Adika. During Adika’s funeral service, Jusper became
wild and he started singing songs of vengeance. Several days later Jusper gets
arrested by the authorities after confessing that he had killed Chagaga.
k.
Nicodemo vs. Tumbo – At the
committee meeting that was planning the entertainment for the visiting head of
state, Nicodemo tells Tumbo to drop the formality because they were not
friends.
l.
Kabito vs. Tumbo – At the
committee meeting that was planning the entertainment for the vising head of state;
Kabito agrees with Nicodemo that Tumbo should drop the formality because he was
not their friend. Kabito goes ahead and tells Tumbo that he joined them
recently and the way things are done there has escaped his eyes.
m.
Doga vs. Nina – In the opening
of the play Doga gets into conflict with his wife Nina because she feared to
set her eyes on her own son grave. Doga also opposed Nina’s suggestion of
sending word to the sub-chief to delay the shaving ceremony. Doga opposed it
because he did not want to involve the sub-chief whose brother was the cause of
their son’s death.
n.
Mercedes vs. Boss – Conflict
between these two arose after Boss locked up Mercedes for complaining about the
incident that happened between him and Regina where he had tried to take Regina
by force.
o.
Boss vs. Mulili – Conflict
between these two arises after Mulili betrays Boss. During the rehearsal of the
play in the palace, Mulili denies that Boss was his cousin but a distant
cousin. When Jere asks Mulili to give him one good reason why Boss should not
be killed, he says that he has no reason and that they could go ahead and kills
him. Boss is shocked to hear Mulili betraying him and he tells Jere to go ahead
and shoot him so that he could be spared from Mulili’s betrayal.
p.
Nicodemo vs. Mosese – Nicodemo
was against Mosese being pardoned because he says that it would be a personal
tragedy for him if he was released.
q.
Mosese vs. Nicodemus – Mosese
had dropped his first name Nicodemus because the man who had planted a
kilogramme of opium in his car leading to his arrest was also called Nicodemus.
r.
Boss vs. Kabito – Conflict
between these two arises after Mulili goes to the palace and tells boss that
Kabito was slandering his name. He tells Boss that Kabito had gone to the
meeting while drunk and shouting to everyone how Boss had ruined the economy of
Kafira by hiding millions in foreign countries and how he had tried to take Regina
by force. Mulili’s lies infuriate Boss who accuses Kabito of poisoning Mercedes
mind. The conflict between these two is resolved after Boss orders Mulili to take
two guards and silence Kabito. Later in the play we learn about the death of Kabito
through a fatal accident and during the rehearsal of the play at the palace, Mulili
confesses that Boss killed Kabito.
s.
Jusper vs. Doga and Nina – Conflict
between Jusper and his parents began at the grave of Adika. When Doga and Nina
arrived at the gravesite early in the morning they found the grave deserted and
desecrated. Doga and Nina blame Jusper for deserting his brother’s grave and
therefore allowing it to be tampered with. Nina fails to understand why Jusper
did not shout for help when he saw them tampering with his brother’s remains.
Jusper is also in conflict with his parents because they thought that he was
out of his mind.
t.
Tumbo vs. Mulili – Tumbo was
opposed to Mulili sitting in the committee meeting that was tasked with the
entertainment of the visiting head of state because of his temperamental
nature. He also did not like Mulili because he knew that he was responsible for
Kabito’s death.
u.
Jusper vs. Mosese – During the
climax of the play, Jusper and Mosese had different opinions on what should be
done to Boss and Mulili. Jusper wanted revenge while Jere and Mosese were
against it since they did not want to swim in human blood.
v.
Mulili vs. Jere – Conflict
between these two started when both of them were sent to Adika’s grave to
prevent the ceremony from taking place. While at the grave, Jere becomes
sympathetic towards the plight Doga and Nina but Mulili was the complete
opposite. Mulili started abusing Jere because he was being too soft with the
two old couple. Jere then tries to plead with Mulili to allow Doga and Nina to
carry own with their ceremony but Mulili was opposed to Jere’s suggestions.
Mulili tells Jere that his future depended on him keeping law and order since Boss
had promised him many acres of farmland and grade cattle. Since Jere sees no
hope in trying to convince Mulili to allow Doga and Nina to carry on with their
traditional ceremony, he tries to shoot him but Mulili manages to dive off
stage. At the end of the play it is evident that Jere was satisfied with the
death of Mulili.
w.
Jere vs. Askari – When Jere was
arrested and taken to prison; his interaction with the prison warder was not
friendly. Jere uses sarcasm as a way of belittling the prison warder. Because
of these Askari constantly threatened Jere with dire consequences and this
becomes a reality when he refuses to give him tea but gives Mosese.
x.
Kabito vs. Mulili – The
conflict between these two started when Kabito learnt that the milk supply
tender to the university has been given to Mulili. Kabito had spent the whole
night canvassing with the university officials so that he could be awarded the
tender. After he got the tender, Mulili uses his connection with his cousin who
calls the university catering manager and tells him to cancel Kabito’s tender
and to give it to Mulili. Kabito was not happy that his milk supply tender had
been cancelled and given to Mulili. During the committee meeting, Mulili tells
the other committee members that the man who was at first given the contract
will regret the day he was born without knowing that the person who he was
talking about was Kabito. Kabito and Mulili also get into another conflict when
it came to discussing about what was to be included in the entertainment
program. Mulili wanted every adult and child to line the road when welcoming
the visitor while Kabito was against the idea because the children were in
their final term and most of them were sitting for their exams. Mulili also
wanted the drama department of their national university to be given the
responsibility of producing the play but Kabito was against it because
according to him it was not necessary to force grown-ups to do a thing that
they did not believe in. Due to Mulili’s illiteracy he misquotes what Kabito was
telling him and he felt that Kabito was belittling him. Mulili then demands an
apology from Kabito but Kabito refuses to apologise setting the stage for
Mulili’s plan to eliminate Kabito. During the one hour break from the committee
meeting, Mulili goes to boss’s palace and spreads propaganda against Kabito to
boss who orders for his killing.
y.
Jusper vs. Mulili – Jusper
might have known that it was Mulili who had killed his parents and that was why
he told Regina that he would get revenge against those who killed his parents
even if it meant going it alone. During the rehearsal of the play, Jusper
spares the life of Boss but he kills Mulili.
ii.
Man Vs. Technology – This is
the type of conflict where man tries to adjust to the technological advances
that are taking place.
a.
Jusper vs. Jaguar – When Tumbo
asked Jusper whether he could drive a Jaguar, Jusper replied that he has never
dreamt of driving a car. Tumbo then tells jusper that the jaguar was the
simplest car to drive but Jusper did not even know what gears were.
iii.
Man Vs. Supernatural – This is
the type of conflict where a character is in disagreement or argument with
unseen beings such as ghosts, gods, aliens, spirits etc.
a.
Jusper vs. ghosts – Jusper was
in conflict with his brother’s ghost. In act one he tells Regina how his late
brother’s ghost won’t give him a night’s peace. He also tells her how his late
brother’s ghost kept appearing on him and how it nearly hit him with an
enormous slide rule for shaking hands with their local chief.
b.
Doga vs. ghosts – In act one it
was clear that Doga wanted his late son ceremony to go on because he did not
want the spirits of the dead to turn wild with anger on account of a ceremony
unperformed. In the same act, Jere tells
Mulili that the ceremony Doga wanted to perform was to get rid himself of his
late son’s ghost.
iv.
Man vs. Society – This is a
type of conflict where a character goes against the wishes of a society.
a.
Jusper vs. society – The
conflict between Jusper and the society of Kafira began during the funeral
service of his brother Adika. At the funeral he became wild and started singing
songs of vengeance. His actions led to him being taken away since he had become
dangerous to peace loving people and had to be cooled down. After confessing
that he had killed Chagaga, Jusper gets stoned by the people who were in a
rally after they realized that what he was telling them was the truth. In act
two of the play he faced another conflict after he decided to write a play that
was to be acted for the visiting head of state. His fellow university students
viewed him as a betrayer of their cause and they sacked him as the organising
secretary of the university students union.
b.
Mulili vs. Society – As one of
Boss’s right hand man, Mulili was against change in Kafira that would give the
masses voice. Mulili was also against the university students who were rioting
in the streets opposing Boss’s development plans.
c.
Boss vs. University students –
The university students were against Boss because of his development policies.
They were against his decision of bringing expatriates to the country and the
injustices that the people of Kafira were going through under his leadership.
Because of his leadership style, a plot is hatched to overthrow his government
so that change can finally be felt in Kafira.
d.
Tumbo vs. University students –
As a government official and part of the status quo, Tumbo was opposed to the
views and activities of the university students. He nicknames the rioting
university students “red guards.”
e.
Jere vs. Authority – When Jere
was sent to his sub location to restore peace and order; he rebelled against
the authorities and took sides with his own people. That decision led to his
arrest and he was sent to prison.
f.
Mosese vs. Politicians – When Mosese
spoke his mind during the funeral service which had been hijacked by
politicians. He was set-up by the politicians who used a man by the name Nicodemus
to plant a kilogramme of opium in his car. When the opium was found by the
authorities, he got arrested and sent to prison.
v.
Man vs. Self – It is a type of
conflict where a character struggles with him/herself.
a.
Mosese vs. Self – Though Mosese
appeared sane; it was obvious that there were some form of inner conflict that
he was struggling against. While he was in prison with Jere, he gets a terrible
nightmare and during h the nightmare he utters a terrible war cry. His speech
during the nightmare reveals how he was struggling with a job offer, his
honesty and his marital status. At the end of the scene, Jere concludes that Mosese
was mad. Mosese also suffered internal conflict when he had to choose whether
to take part in the play that was to be acted for the visiting head of state.
b.
Jusper vs. Self – After the
death of his brother, jusper faced conflict within himself and these leads to
periods of madness and sanity. Because of this he is taken away from the
society and gets admitted to a mental facility where he is rehabilitated and
released after getting better. At the end of the play, it is evident that he
had not gotten better because after killing Mulili he goes back to his state of
madness.
c.
Doga vs. self – After his son’s
death, Doga suffered internally because the killer of his son was still roaming
free and lived among them. He was also distressed because his other son
suffered a nervous breakdown during the funeral service of his dead brother.
vi.
Role Of Conflicts
a.
To set the tone and mood of the
play – The conflicts in the play have helped to create tension in the play
therefore helping to set the mood and tone of the play. For example the argument
between Kabito and Mulili has helped to shape the mood of the two characters
and the tone of the play.
b.
To reveal themes – Themes such
as betrayal, murder, oppression, dictatorship etc. have been revealed through
the conflicts that are taking place in the play. For example the conflict
between Mosese and Regina happens because Mosese felt betrayed by his sister.
On the other hand Boss is in conflict with the university students because they
were opposed to the development plans that he undertook to perform.
c.
To reveal the character traits
of other characters – Kabito and Mulili’s conflict reveal how argumentative
both characters were. It also reveals how commanding and confrontational Mulili
was towards those he felt that were below him.
d.
To reveal secrets – Conflict
between Jere and Mulili reveal the secret about Mustafa who was a prisoner and
who Mulili had helped to escape from prison.
e.
To create suspense – Suspense
is created when the reader anticipate to know what will happen after a conflict
is solved. The conflict between Mulili and Kabito creates suspense within the
play with the reader anticipating to know how the conflict between the two
characters would be solved.
f.
To reveal the setting of the
play – Conflict between Jere and Mulili has helped to reveal the physical
setting on which the play is based upon. P13-14
g.
To enhance literary devices –
Literary devices such as suspense, poetic justice, satire, etc. are enhanced
and understood clearly through the conflicts that are taking place in the play.
For example the conflict between Mulili and Kabito helps to enhance suspense
and satire within the play.
h.
To reveal characters in the
play – Characters such as Chagaga and the sub-chief are revealed through the
conflict between Doga and Nina.
i.
To reveal culture and
traditions practiced by a section of the society in Kafira – The conflict
between Doga and Nina has helped to reveal some of the traditions practiced by
a section of the people living in Kafira. Both Nina and Doga got into conflict
after Nina was opposed to the idea of holding their son’s shaving ceremony
without the sub-chief’s knowledge.
j.
To foreshadow events taking
place in the play. The conflict between Kabito and Mulili foreshadows the
demise of one of the characters.
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