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"The society in the River and the Source is biased against the girl child". Write an essay in support of this statement drawing illustrations from the River and the Source by Margaret Ogola.

      

The society in The River and the Source is biased against the girl child. Write an essay in support of this statement drawing illustrations from "The River and the Source "by Margaret A.Ogola.

  

Answers


Martin
There is a lot of discrimination on the girl child in the novel.Many decisions concerning her life are made without consulting her.If anything,the girl child is supposed to be seen,used and not heard,as the following illustrations.

Marriage is arranged by the parents. Akoko's father desired that his daughter marries a chief so that she becomes his mikai-first wife.He turns twelve suitors away before eventually accepting the thirteenth.He asks for thirty head of cattle as the bride price in order to put the people of Sakwa in their place.Marriage is almost compulsory for the woman as for one not to be married is almost unheard of.

The women are seen as chattels,vessels for producing children.This has promoted polygamy and reduced the women to inferior role and positions in the society.The society is obsessed with the continuity of the family-a woman who does not bear children is looked down upon.

The issue of wife inheritance was done traditionally and without the input of the woman.The inheritors role was to sire children.Even with the introduction of the western education,many more boys and girls were taken to school.The society saw no need for giving girls education because to them they were expected to get married and bring wealth inform of dowry.

Akoko is robbed of her husbands wealth by Otieno her brother in law because she is a widow,and without a son.It takes the intervention of the white man for Akoko to get what is rightfully hers.

In conclusion,it is safe to say that the girl child,as is clearly shown in the above illustrations was treated unfairly,was never given the opportunity to be heard and was treated in a biased manner
marto answered the question on June 14, 2017 at 07:28


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