response for Cheik Hamidou Kane’s The Ambiguous Adventure

XU 1

Hao XU

HW2: Response for Mongo Béti’s The Poor Christ of Bomba

1. Criticism of colonial Christianity in the novel takes place throughout the whole story, as the author reveals the topic from the perspective of imposing faith as a strategy of the colonialists. In the book, the image of Christ is Father Drumont through the eyes of the main narrator, Denis. The actions of the priest blind the boy who tells the events in the first person. He serves and naively fulfills the orders of the abbot. Father Drumont has the features of a sinner, as he does a lot of bad things, beats women and is guided by the desire to earn money, rather than attract new believers to the church. The reader sees this in the scene where the poor woman wants to accept the faith. There, due to a lack of money, Drumont refuses her. The priest, in the perception of the narrator, is the possible living Christ, who rejects the machinations of Zacharia and enlightens people. In contrast, a more in-depth reading immediately makes the reader understand that the boy Denis is mistaken in his perspective.

2. The theme of polygamy in the novel is depicted as a negative phenomenon. Although it is part of the Cameroonian lifestyle and culture. Through the eyes of the boy, this phenomenon is a disregard for the Christian norms that Father Drumont tried to instill in the tribes. In some parts, polygamists are demonized, like criminals, cunning, who deceive wives. They reproach such wives, and they are compared with sorcerers and call it a game. In the description, families with polygamists are used as pagans. Further, the priest forces women who convert to Christianity to abandon their families who have not accepted the faith. In contrast, the pre-colonized tribal tradition provides for openness in this matter.

3. The "journal" format allows the reader to see the vision of the situation through the eyes of an African child who blindly believes his mentor and does not notice visible negative aspects. We understand the influence of spiritual and political colonial rule on Denis. Mongo Beti manifests it first in the fact that the boy prefers the church over the school. Words and thoughts, since the book is written in the first person, show primitive perception and the absence of critical thinking of the child. Thanks to dating, we see the development of the character, his adulthood, coming of age, and follow the changes in his thoughts.

Feedback:

blind the boy?

Question 3 is answered well, but 1 and 2 could have had more development. You are improving.