Jusper is a victim of circumstance.Drawing illustrations from Betrayal in the City,explore the validity of this assertion.

      

Jusper is a victim of circumstance.Drawing illustrations from Betrayal in the City,explore the validity of this assertion.

  

Answers


Martin
It is possible for someone to get involved in occurrences that cannot totally control.In the play, Jusper undergoes various situations he seemingly has no control over.The death of his brother triggers his madness and what he does after that can only be explained by looking at the prevailing circumstances.

The killing of his brother Adika during a students demonstration overwhelms him.According to his father Doga, he says that he was never the same again.He became wild at the funeral and began singing songs of vengeance.The authorities then took him away saying he was a threat to peace and when he was released he was mentally imbalanced.It is Adika's death that changed his life.
Chagaga, the sub chiefs brother ,the man believed to be behind the killing of Adika,dies in Juspers hands.It is possible that Chagaga found Jusper guarding the grave at night.He had come to try to burn the body to get rid of the spirit of the dead one.So Jusper happens to be there guarding the grave as directed by his parents when Jere reports that he had killed Jusper there is no other conclusion we can make.

Jusper appears at the grave and finds his parents.He babbles about having killed Chagaga but his parents Nina and Doga do not understand him when he asks them if he should go and confess.They allow him to do so only after he puts on a clean shirt.It is clear that they were speaking at cross-purposes.This is makes him confess in front of a crowd.The people stone him until he dies.

Nina and Doga's stubborn will to conduct the shaving ceremony leads to their death. Adikas death therefore causes Jusper more distress when he is released and finds himself an orphan.

It is therefore clear from the above that Jusper finds himself in particular circumstances that influences the way he conducts himself. His brothers death leaves him devastated but what he does leaves us wondering whether he is really mad.His behavior is aptly captured by Jeres words " when the madness of the entire nation disturbs a solitary mind , it is not enough to say the man is mad."

marto answered the question on July 4, 2017 at 11:12


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