THE RIVER AND THE SOURCE - PLOT ANALYSIS

·         Exposition

·         Foreshadowing

·         Inciting force

·         Crisis

Crisis is the point in a literary work where a character faces a dilemma. The dilemma forces the character to make a decision which will form the basis of the plot’s climax. The crisis is the major turning point of a story’s plot which keeps the story moving forward.

In the novel “The River and the Source,” the plot crises are divided into two major categories:

I.            Life and death dilemmas

II.            Social identity and ethical dilemmas.

Life and death dilemmas

i.            Birth of Akoko

ii.            Two weeks after the birth of Akoko, chief Odero gogni was caught in a dilemma because her only daughter had developed a prolonged bout of colic and screaming that went on all night. Unsure of what to do and his fears for his little daughter, he summoned his mother Nyar alego to help him unravel the dilemma that he was facing. Chief Odero gogni dilemma was resolved after the intervention of his mother’s prayers which helped to stop Akoko from crying. To prevent such a crisis from happening again, Akoko was given the name Akelo after the sister of Nyar alego and a cock was ceremoniously slaughtered and eaten in memory of Akelo who had died childless.

iii.            Death of Obura

The death of obura brought grief and dilemma not only to his family but also to the entire village of Sakwa. The dilemma was made worse by the fact that there was no body to mourn over and to bury. Since Obura was the first born son of chief Owuor kembo, he was in direct line to inherit the chieftainship from his father but this failed to happen due to his untimely death. His death also resulted in the failing health of chief Owuor kembo which later led to his death.

iv.            Birth and death of Owang sino

The birth of Owang sino was uneventful and harrowing which made his father to vow that he would have no more children because of the pain and suffering that his wife was going through with during delivery. Chief Owuor kembo’s decision not to have more children put him in a dilemma because the society from which he came from children was seen as a source of continuity and wealth. His decision was also going to put him into conflict with his mother and some of the village elders.

The death of Owang sino was a dilemma to Akoko and the entire village of Sakwa. As the only remaining son of Akoko it meant that the chieftainship was going to be transferred to Otieno’s household who were in not in good terms with Akoko. Owang sino’s death was also a dilemma to his young son Owuor because his uncle Otieno had shown no intention of relinquishing the chieftainship once Owuor was of age. Akoko was also in dilemma because he feared for Owuor’s life. Because of her fears, she sought the intervention if the white man’s government and she moved Owuor to Yimbo where he lived in Oloo’s household.

v.            Death of chief Owuor kembo

The death of chief Owuor kembo was a big blow to Akoko since it left her a widow. Before his untimely death, marriage negotiation between Owang sino and Alando nyar uyoma was in progress but after his death the negotiations were postponed putting the marriage between the two in limbo.

vi.            Death of Okumu

Nyabera faced a crisis after her husband Okumu died leaving her a young widow with a three year old child. Nyabera also faced another dilemma when her daughter started asking questions about her father’s whereabouts.

Since Nyabera was still young, a husband had to be found from close relatives of Okumu who would help sire children to maintain Okumu’s name and to keep his widow from wandering from man to man. When the man was found he became a dilemma to Nyabera since he wandered in and out of her life. Nyabera was also faced with another dilemma after she lost all the children that she had sired with the man.

vii.            Birth of Nyabera

The birth of Nyabera presented a dilemma to Akoko and the midwives who had struggled to save the life of both the mother and child. To Akoko the delivery had been a nightmare since the baby had lain badly and was trapped.  After the birth of the baby the midwives struggled to save Akoko’s life who had begun to haemorrhage.

viii.            Death of Akoko

The untimely death of Akoko presented a dilemma to her daughter and her grandchildren. Her death occurred on the same day that she had negotiated over the marriage between Awiti and Mark. Awiti was in a dilemma because she had hoped that her grandmother would be there during her wedding and that she would live to enjoy her great grandchildren. Because of her death, Awiti’s wedding to mark was postponed to give time for remaining family members to mourn her.

The death of Akoko also put Owuor in a dilemma since he looked up for her advice and now that she was no more his life was going to change without her. Nyabera too was in a dilemma because she still needed her mother so much. Though she easily accepted her death, she had to step into her place somehow to the best of her ability.

ix.            Death of Nyabera

The death of Nyabera was a big blow to Awiti because according to her she blamed herself for not looking after her mother properly. Her twin sons Opiyo and Odongo were also in dilemma because they had grown much attached to their grandmother.

x.            Death of Becky

Johnny and Alicia found themselves in a dilemma after their mother Becky died as a result of complications caused by HIV/AIDS. After Becky’s death, the two children were left without any biological parent. Their father John Courtney who had divorced from Becky before her death, moved back to his home country of Canada never to be heard from again.

xi.            Death of Elizabeth and Mark

The death of Elizabeth which was followed by the death of Mark a year later was a dilemma to their children who had now been left as orphans. Their death was also a dilemma to their children because they depended so much on them when they had problems and sought their advice.

xii.            Birth of Mary

Just like the birth of Nyabera, the birth of Mary was harrowing and uneventful. Elizabeth was in a dilemma since her medical condition (high blood pressure) meant that she could loose her pregnancy. Her husband was also in a dilemma after being informed by the doctors that Elizabeth’s condition may lead to the loss of both her wife and the unborn baby.

Social identity and ethical dilemmas

i.            Akoko not finding a husband in time.

Though she was the chief’s daughter and very beautiful, Akoko finds herself in a dilemma because her father and brothers made it impossible for suitors to take her hand in marriage. When she approached nineteen and thirteenth suitor, Akoko resigned herself to the fact that were had not created a man good enough for her.

ii.            Akoko’s marriage negotiation.

During the marriage negotiation between chief Odero gogni and the men from Sakwa, there was a crisis after chief Odero gogni set her daughter’s bride price at two and half times more than the usual price. The crisis escalated when Otieno opposed the amount that was to be paid because according to him there would be no cattle left when his time to marry arrives.

iii.            Akoko returns to Yimbo

When Akoko got into conflict with her mother in-law and brother in-law, her children were in dilemma because both their parents were not around to look after them. When chief Owuor kembo returned to Yimbo, he found himself in a dilemma after he learnt that his wife had returned to her father’s home in Yimbo. He also found himself in another dilemma since he had to go to Yimbo and appease both the elders of Yimbo and Akoko so that she could return back to Sakwa with her.

iv.            Chief Owuor kembo monogamous state.

Chief Owuor kembo found himself in a dilemma after he refused to marry a second wife. His mother and a section of Sakwa elders pressured him to marry a second wife which he flatly refused. Because of his monogamous state, Akoko found herself in dilemma after being accused of using charms that would prevent chief Owuor kembo from marrying another wife.

v.            Obura’s disappearance

When Obura left Sakwa and travelled with Ambere kongoso and Nyaroche silwal to go and work for the white man, he left his family and the entire village in crisis. Since he was the direct heir to the chief’s stool, his parents were left in a state of confusion not knowing whether their son would return. On learning about the death of Obura from the messengers who had been sent by the white men, Obura’s parents and the villagers were in dilemma since there was no body to mourn over and to bury.

vi.            Otieno’s chieftainship

After the death of Owang sino, Otieno took over the chieftainship of Sakwa and this created a dilemma for Akoko because Otieno had no intention of giving up the chiefdom when the rightful heir of Owang sino comes of age. Otieno’s numerous sons would also make sure that the chieftainship stayed in their family. Akoko also found herself in dilemma after Otieno appropriated his brother’s wealth and tried to grab her personal wealth as well.

During his rule as the chief of Sakwa, Otieno found himself in a crisis after he learnt that Akoko had sought the help of the white men to reclaim her wealth and the chief’s stool.

vii.            Owuor’s conversion to Christianity

Owuor’s conversion to Christianity and his call to priesthood was a dilemma to Akoko who had hoped that his grandson would return to Sakwa and take his position as the rightful heir to the chief’s stool. Akoko had also hoped that through Owuor, he would provide many sons to ensure the continuity of the house of Owuor kembo. His conversion was also a dilemma to him because he was at pains to tell his grandmother that he wanted to join the priesthood.

viii.            Elizabeth’s calling to college

When Elizabeth was called to the new teachers training college after finishing her primary education, Nyabera found herself in dilemma because she thought that her daughter was being taken away from her.

ix.            Mark and Awiti courtship

Nyabera and Akoko found themselves in dilemma after Awiti informed them about Mark. Though Akoko was excited, they were disappointed that Awiti didn’t know much about Mark’s roots and antecedents. Akoko and Nyabera also found themselves in a crisis when they learnt that Mark was to visit them in two weeks. Because of the short period of time that they had, they found themselves in a hurry to try and prepare early enough before the visitors arrived.

x.            Odongo’s drowning

When Odongo nearly drowned in a river, his elder brothers, Aoro and Tony, found themselves in a dilemma because they had to explain to their parents what had happened. Their trouble was made worse when the twins, Odongo and Opiyo, lied to their parents that Aoro and Tony forced them to swim in the river forgetting that they were the ones who had begged on their bended knees to be allowed to go with them. Aoro and Tony’s dilemma got worse after they learnt that because of their actions they would not have dinner that night while the twins who had lied about what had happened would have their dinner.

xi.            Aoro’s suspension from school.

Two weeks after joining secondary school, Aoro got suspended because of his indiscipline. When he got home, his parents discovered that he had been suspended from school because of his lack of discipline. When his parents realized what has happened, Aoro got himself in a dilemma when his father declared that since he didn’t want to continue with his education he would fend for himself.

xii.            Tony’s sickness

When Tony got sick, his parents and siblings found themselves in a dilemma since they had not anticipated that one of them would get so sick late into the night. Mark and Elizabeth found themselves in a dilemma because they had to transport Tony to the hospital late into the night. When they got to the hospital they again found themselves in another dilemma because the doctors who were supposed to take care of Tony were not in a hurry as Mar and Elizabeth wanted them to.

Tony’s sickness was also a dilemma to himself since he was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and had to undergo an emergency operation. His siblings especially Vera and Aoro were engulfed with fear and worry until the next day when their parents returned home and informed them that Tony had an operation and he was going to be alright.

xiii.            Mark’s visit to Seme

When Mark had stopped by to see his mother while he was on his way back to Nakuru from Aluor, he found himself in a dilemma when his mother accused him of allowing Elizabeth to take off with her grandchildren and treating them like dirt.

xiv.            Mark relationship with a pretty girl

Mark got himself in a dilemma after he started having an extra marital affair with a pretty girl. Two months into the relationship, the pretty girl declared herself pregnant and her declaration brought back Mark into his senses and he chased the girl out of his house. After chasing the pretty girl, he went to Aluor and brought back his family to Nakuru to live with him. That decision of living with his family was a dilemma to him because he feared that the neighbours would start blabbing about his affair with the pretty girl.

xv.            Vera’s decision not to join a National school.

Mark and Elizabeth found themselves in a dilemma because of Vera’s insistence of joining Becky’s school though she had won a place at a top national school. Her decision not to join the national school was a loss to her parents especially her father who had hoped that Vera would join the national school.

Other crises

i.            Crisis when Becky wanted to look for a job immediately after the results of O level examinations were published.

ii.            Crisis after Elizabeth got a telegram informing her of her mother’s sickness.

iii.            Crisis after five children of Mark and Elizabeth became candidates.

iv.            Crisis after Vera informed her father that she wanted to go to the movies with Tommy muhambe.

v.            Crisis after Odongo failed his primary examinations.

vi.            Crisis after Becky left for Nairobi without informing her parents.

vii.            Crisis after Vera broke up her relationship with Tommy.

viii.            Crisis when Mark learnt that his son wanted to marry a girl who was not from his tribe.

ix.            Crisis when Mark learnt that Vera wanted to join the catholic prelature of Opus Dei as a non-marrying member.

x.            Crisis to the colonialists after Kenya gained its independence.

xi.            Crisis after Vera discovered how her sister Becky changed.

xii.            Crisis after Wandia told Vera how Becky had lost considerable amount of weight.

xiii.            Crisis after Wandia discovered that his son Daniel had leukaemia.

xiv.            Crisis after Wandia wanted to go to America for further studies.

·         Rising action

·         Climax

·         Falling action

·         Resolution

The resolution is the point in a literary work where conflicts are resolved. In the novel “THE RIVER AND THE SOURCE,” some of the major conflicts are resolved while some have been left unresolved. Some of the conflicts that have resolved include:

a)      Man vs. man

         i.            Akoko vs. Oloo – Conflict between these two siblings was very minor because both of them were still in their childhood years and as they grew up Oloo became Akoko’s greatest helper and supporter.

       ii.            Akoko vs. Otieno – Conflict between Akoko and Otieno was resolved after Akoko sought justice against Otieno by seeking the Whiteman’s help. Her journey to Kisumu to present her case against Otieno helped to resolve the conflicts that were between them as Otieno was forced to return Akoko’s wealth and to forfeit the chieftainship.

      iii.            Ogoma kwach vs. his wife – Conflict between Ogoma kwach and his wife was resolved after his wife reported him to the council of elders of how he had neglected her. Ogoma kwach was reprimanded by the council of elders resolving the conflict that was between him and his wife.

     iv.            Nyabera vs. Catechist – Nyabera’s conflict with the catechist was resolved after she finally mastered the basics of Christianity and understanding its full meaning.

       v.            Akoko vs. Nyabera – The conflict between Akoko and Nyabera was resolved when Nyabera assured her mother that she trusts her with the decisions that she makes.

     vi.            Oyange silwal vs. Akoko – Conflict between Oyange silwal and Akoko was resolved after Oyange silwal accepted the bride price that Akoko had set for Awiti and which furnished the requirements of chik.

    vii.            Elizabeth Vs. Mark – Conflict between Mark and Elizabeth was resolved in the third year of their marriage when Elizabeth became pregnant and gave birth to twins.

  viii.            Mark vs. Odongo – The conflict between Mark and his son Odongo was resolved when Mark flatly declined to Odongo’s request of joining form one therefore making him to repeat the class that he had failed.

     ix.            Mark vs. Tony – After Tony’s ordination of joining the priesthood, Mark was full of pride of his son signalling that he was no longer in conflict with him.

       x.            Mark vs. Vera – Conflict between Mark and Vera are resolved after Mark accepts Vera’s decision of joining the catholic prelature of Opus Dei as a non-marrying member.

     xi.            Aoro vs. Wandia – Aoro and Wandia got into several conflicts before and during their marriage. Before their marriage, Aoro who had scored 77 points below that of Wandia of 78 points, offered to buy a drink for Wandia at the cafeteria so that they could resolve the competition that existed between them.

    xii.            Aoro vs. Mark - The conflict between Aoro and his father is resolved when Aoro asks for forgiveness from his father and he promises him that he will never do the things he had done in school again.

  xiii.            Becky vs. Vera – In her last will before she died Becky’s final testament shows that she was making peace with her twin sister. She did these by leaving her children under her care and by giving her control over her vast wealth that she had accumulated over time.

b)      Man vs. society

         i.            Chief Odero gogni vs. society – The conflict between chief Odero gogni and the entourage from Sakwa was resolved after chief Owuor kembo accepted to pay the thirty head of cattle to have Akoko’s hand in marriage.

       ii.            Chief Owuor kembo vs. society – The conflict between chief Owuor kembo and the entourage that accompanied him during his marriage negotiation in Yimbo was resolved after his uncle advised him and the rest of the entourage to shock the people of Yimbo by accepting their offer without bargaining. That way chief Owuor kembo’s name would be repeated for generations to come. His conflict with the people of Sakwa was also resolved after the birth of Owang sino.

      iii.            Otieno vs. society – Conflict between Otieno and the people of Sakwa was resolved after the D.C from Kisumu sent a contingent of askaris to Sakwa to forcefully remove Otieno as the chief and a council of elders was formed to rule the village until the rightful heir who was Owuor comes of age.

     iv.            Elizabeth vs. society – The conflict between Elizabeth and the society in Aluor was resolved during the wedding between her and Mark sigu. After the wedding the people of Aluor forgot about the acrimony and hatred that they had towards Elizabeth.

       v.            Vera vs. society – The conflict between Vera and her parents was resolved after her parents allowed her to go to the school that Becky had been called to.

c)       Man vs. self

         i.            Chief Odero gogni vs. self – Chief Odero gogni resolved the conflict within him when he accepts the suit coming from the people of Sakwa.

       ii.            Akoko vs. self – One of Akoko’s conflict within herself is resolved when she gets a man to marry her. After the death of her father she was internally conflicted but she tried to resolve the pain within her by naming her new-born daughter after her father.

      iii.            Nyabera vs. self – To help resolve the conflict that Nyabera was facing after the death of Obura, Akoko tells her daughter stories about the life of Obura until she started weeping. Four days later Nyabera ran out of tears and her life returned to normal as if nothing had happened. After the death of her brother Owang sino, her children and her children, Nyabera is comforted by her mother who helps to resolve the internal conflicts that faced her. To further resolve the conflicts within her she decides to seek a new religion which promised hope to the widows and orphans.

     iv.            Obura vs. self – After being restless for some time because of his parents’ denial to allow him to visit the world, Obura resolved the conflict within himself when he finally made the decision to travel with Nyaroche silwal and Ambere kongoso to work for the white man.

       v.            Vera vs. self – After breaking up with Tommy muhambe, Vera felt lonely and she went out to seek her sister Becky who worked at the airport. Her decision to join the catholic branch of Opus Dei was also meant to help resolve the conflict that she faced.

     vi.            Jonny vs. self – Because he had trouble fitting in as an African since people took him as a pure white, Jonny tried to resolve his situation by taking an African name, speaking mostly in Swahili, eating African foods and having friends who were practically soot black.

    vii.            Tony vs. self – The conflict within Tony is resolved when the inflamed appendix was successfully incised and removed.

  viii.            Elizabeth vs. self – Elizabeth’s internal conflict was resolved after she successfully gave birth to her last born child and her blood pressure returned to normal. She faced another internal conflict after the death of her mother which was not resolved.

     ix.            Mark vs. self – the conflict between Mark and himself is resolved after Elizabeth became pregnant again after she lost her first pregnancy, after she chased away the pretty girl and after Elizabeth successfully gave birth to Mary.

       x.            Peter Owuor vs. self – Peter’s internal conflict completely vanishes when her grandmothers gives him the go ahead and join the priesthood on condition that he takes the name of his grandfather.

d)      Man vs. supernatural

         i.            Grandmother Nyar alego vs. supernatural – The conflict between grandmother Nyar alego and her late sister and co-wife, Akelo, was resolved after she named her two weeks old granddaughter after her late sister.

       ii.            Akoko vs. Were – Conflict between Akoko and were was resolved after Akoko’s father accepted chief Owuor kembo’s bride price of thirty head of cattle.

      iii.            Nyabera vs. Were – Nyabera resolved her conflict with Were after she joined Christianity.

     iv.            Nyabera vs. God – Nyabera got into conflict with the Christian God after she left Aluor to go back to Yimbo so that she could start a licit union with Ogoma kwach contrary to the teachings of Christianity. When she returned back to Aluor after failing to convince Ogoma to go back with her, she tries to resolve the conflict between her and God by confessing her sins and asking God for forgiveness. After her confession she felt like a heavy load had been lifted off her shoulders making her feel that the conflict she had with God has been resolved.

       v.            Wandia vs. God – Wandia’s decision to go to church and pray after learning about the health of her son seems to have resolved the conflict that existed between her and God whom she saw as the cause of her son’s predicament.

e)      Man vs. destiny

         i.            Chief Owuor kembo vs. destiny – Chief Owuor kembo resolved his conflict with destiny after his determination to marry Akoko came to fruition. During the negotiation for the bride price, chief Owuor kembo made it clear to his brother and the rest of the entourage that Akoko was going to be his first wife and he had set his heart on marrying her.

       ii.            Obura vs. destiny – Obura fulfilled his destiny when one morning he makes a decision to follow Ambere and Nyaroche in their journey to work for the white men.

      iii.            Peter Owuor vs. destiny – Peter Owuor fulfilled his destiny of becoming a catholic priest and serving God after his grandmother gave him her blessings to do what his heart yearns for.

f)       Germans vs. The English – The conflict between the Germans and the English was resolved after the English won the war which had spanned over a period of four years.

g)      Colonialists’ vs. Mau Mau – The conflict between the colonialists and the Mau Mau was resolved after the country gained independence and the affairs of the country were left to the locals. The first president also helped to resolve the conflict that existed between the Mau and the colonialists when he urged the locals to forget and forgive and the people listened.