Using any literary text studied on your third year literature courses, identify and discuss the various voices the respective author employs. How effective are these voices in the articulation of themes and characters of these respective texts? ACENG ROSALIND

Polyphony as defined by Bakhtin Mikhnail (1929) refers to features of narrative which includes a diversity of points of view and voices. He does not stop here but continues that Polyphony refers only to literary number of voices, but the collective quality of an individual utterance that is the quality of my utterance embedded in some one else’s utterance even while its mine. That means, an author or writer may refer to the use other characters through focalization to bring out his/her own ideas in a given text. Bakhtin further offers a useful frame work for the individual texts and their potentials for performance while at some times acknowledging the social, political and cultural nature of texts and the primacy of all contextual meaning. Here, he meant that when looking at the voices, there is a purpose why they are used: it could be centred on its moral concept, thematic expression all of which give meaning to that particular text. In Arrow of God, Chinua Achebe uses different voices to portray to his readers the characters and various themes in the book. There is the use of Authorial intrusion in which he has the ability to see and speak in to the minds of the different characters through their articulation. Another providence is also the use of focalization in which he uses the second person point of view ‘he’ which he uses in the first chapter of the book to show a direct reference and knowledge of Ezeulu’s being as the main protagonist of his narrative. Micheal David Lukas (2013) asserts that from polyphony we derive a ‘polyphonic novel’ which he says uses a chorus of voices and narrative styles to create a whole/ meaning. He says; ‘Just as a polyphonic music combines melodies to create texture and tension, a polyphonic novel collects a multiplicity if distinct, often conflicting voices around a single place, family, object or idea. This is a clear indication in Arrow of God where several characters are used. They are as discussed below; The main theme that alternates through this novel is pride. Achebe uses the theme in mockery of Ezeulu a main character in this case. A good example is Oduche, his son whom he sends to the Whiteman’s religion to be his eyes there. Not knowing his decision is a deadly one. Oduche agonizes his entire family and village upon attempted killing of a royal python, he does not inform his father about the coming of the Whiteman in Umaaro. Ezeulu is greatly mocked by Achebe through his pride as Oduche does not obey him. Pride is also revealed through Obika’s death. We know very well Ezeulu believes much in his god and could never leave him. However, his pride is shuttered when Obika dies after the masking of a god running around the village as was the custom. His death is a spear in to Ezeulu’s life, he seems even dead himself. For the first time, his god has forsaken him publicly. Ezeulu’s arrest for two markets is yet another portrayal. He boasts of his relationship with the Whiteman, captain Winterbottom. However, when he refuses to be a chief of his people under the Whiteman’s administration. He is locked up, therefore, Chinua uses this instance in mockery of Ezeulu whose things his relationship with the captain can not result to this. Amalu’s death is yet another mockery towards Ezeulu. The famine that befalls Umuaro in his attempt to revenge why they did not go to war against his arrest. Amalu dies during this period and his death is blamed upon Ezeulu hence Achebe uses Amalu to mock him. Through Ezeulu, we also realize the theme of traditions and customs. A clear indication of this is the existence of the various deities for example; the ones headed by Ezeulu and Ezidemili. This shows the traditions and customs of the Igbo people who worshiped several different gods. Traditions and customs are also revealed through the different festivals that take place within Umuaro village. Examples are that of New Yam Festival, The Pumpkin Leaves and many others all of which shows their customs. They also believed that in the moon as a form of blessing to them especially when the women lament: “Moon, may your face meeting mine bring good fortune”. There is also the theme of competition. Ezeulu and Nwaka are the two competing agents in this case. They compete of attention between themselves especially during the meeting in which Umuaro attempts a war against Okperi. This is as a result of the farmland that belonged to Okperi. However much Ezeulu tells them the truth, his words are ignored and Nwaka cautions they go ahead with the war as suggested before. Ezeulu and Ezidemili, the chief priests of the gods in Umuaro are also portrayed as competitive characters. Agood example is when Oduche commits an attempted crime of killing a royal python. When Ezidemili sends word on how Ezeulu plans to cleanse his household off this evil, he simply says; “Go tell Ezidemili to cat shit”. This shows how competitive these two characters are in the novel. Another form of competition is viewed between Ezeulu’s wives. Ugoye and Mateyi often conflicted among themselves for their husband’s attention. Matefi is even portrayed as a a woman who only wants for herself not the rest. She does not care about other wives children and is often is a fuss when insight of them. Inconclusion therefore, the novel Arrow of God provides focalization to its extremes and through this, there are many other themes that are articulated in the book such as Revenge, Duty, Respect and Reputation, Men and Masculinity, all of which are portrayed through Ezeulu as the main protagonist of the novel.