3 – ON CHILDREN 12 – THE VOTER
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER: KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
The speaker says „your children are not your children‟. Roof was a political campaigner in his village Umuofia. He was
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing. in the service of his village. He inspired the villagers to vote for
They come through the parents but not from them. Marcus Ibe
Marcus Ibe was Minister of Culture in the outgoing Marcus
Though they are with the parents, yet they do not belong to
government. He belonged to the PAP. He would surely win in
them.
the next election. He was not a successful teacher. He joined
The arrows are children and bows are parents.
politics from a female teacher's complaint. Later he would marry
The parents can give their love but not their thoughts. her. He remained devoted to his people. Once he accused his
Because the children have their own thoughts. wife for insulting Roof.
The parents may house their bodies but not their souls. He named to his new house as Umuofia Mansions.
Their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow. The villagers had given their votes free of charge five years ago.
The parents cannot visit in their dreams. Now they received four shillings to vote for Marcus.
The archer is God. The POP gave Roof five pounds to vote for Maduka. He also
The arrows are children and bows are parents. swore in on lyi. At the end, Roof cut his ballot into two. He put
The bending is in the archer’s hand. the first half into Maduka's box(head symbol) and another half
The archer loves the arrow that flies and the bow that is into Marcus Ibe's box (car symbol). He consoled himself that he
stable. had given justice to both.
RECAPITULATION:
RECAPITULATION:
A short story. Evils of elections.
A woman requesting prophet to speak on children.
Weaknesses for power and money.
Children belong to life not to parents.
Rufus Okeke – a young man from Umuofia.
Parents can give love but not thoughts.
Expert in campaigning.
Parents may give shelter to bodies but not their souls. Marcus Ibe- The minister for Culture-PAP party.
Children’s souls dwell in the house of tomorrow. Former school teacher.
Bows- parents. Living arrows- children. Amassed wealth in five years.
God- the archer. Maduka –POP party.
Archer loves both children and parent. Roof takes five pounds. Dilemma in Roof
