Place in the Sun (King) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
1. What do you think of Berber. Is it possible to feel sympathy for her when her husband marries another wife. In what way might you say she is a product of her time?

When Shingu decides to take another wife Berber is confronted with the stark reality of tradition, since that is the norm in the society. A prosperous farmer is expected to take more wives. Being single-minded and a successful farmer in her own right Berber resists this move by her husband. But she fights a battle she cannot win. When the deed is done, Berber acquices so that peace will reign in her home. Generally women were reared to believe that it was a form of entitlement for a man to marry more wives. Even though reared along this line, still Berber resisted the move by her husband to take another wife.

2. Consider Gora. Yes, he is the village drunk. But later he came clean with alcohol. How does Gora represent a tragic hero?

Gora is the tragic hero in this story. A notorious village drunk. He impregnates one of his pupils, Matta. But he shows no interest in marrying her. Meanwhile Matta has been expelled from school because of her pregnancy. She faces shame and disgrace because the society frowns at this type of thing. Girls were considered priceless pearls and they were expected to enter into matrimony with dignity and respect, not through the backdoor and by accident. Later Gora takes up his responsibility and asks for Matta's hand in marriage. He stays clean. But Matta has a stillbirth and the marriage eventually breaks up. Gora returns to his old ways. He is dismissed from the school. Thereafter he leaves the village and seeks his fortune in the township. While in the township he gets a job in the railways.Meanwhile Matta has returned to school. She falls in love with Zakka. But they cannot consumate their love because Matta's family has not returned Gora's dowry. In the eyes of tradition, Matta is still Gora's wife. Therefore once Gora settles down to work he decides to make up with Matta. While on his way to the village to seek Matta's hand in marriage he dies in a canoe mishap. Now the coast is clear for Matta and Zakka to marry.

3.How does World War1 impact Zakka?

Although far from the theatre of war, British colonial possessions like Songha were in the thick of the war effort. While a student at the Teacher's College some of Zakka's mates had joined the Songha Frontier Force, the colonial army and were mobilised for the war. Zakka had toyed with the idea of joining the army, but his Principal, Mr Wood had counselled him against joining the army, saying as a brilliant student he should concentrate his effort on his job, because he was of the impression that the likes of Zakka were likely to form the cream of indigenous leaders in the near future.

4.What do Matta and Zakka see in one another?

Both Matta and Zakka are young. They belong to the same milieu. As they were coming up great changes had occured in their society with the British invasion of Songha. Besides they form the first set of Songhans to seek Western education. Their parents even though not educated want their children to seek the white man's ways. Again both of them are ambitious. Besides they have both given up their traditional religion and embraced the new-fangled religion, that is, Christianity brought by the white man. They are both soldier and Amazon for Christ. Thus they share many things in common.

5.Describe the era itself in which King sets his story.

This is the advent of colonial rule in Africa. European powers had parcelled out different parts of Africa as their spheres of influence. Thus Songhaland was now within the ambit of British colonial rule. Having defeated the many kingdoms and empires that make up Songhaland, the British later established their power, authority and control over Songhaland.  Being a commercial colony the British were busy expropiating and exploiting both its natural and mineral resources.

6. Why does King keep the reader guessing until the end of the story?

 King has applied the technique of suspense and drama, drawing the reader into the story with several detours and twists and turns, keeping the meat of the story till the tail end as the reader gasps with baited breath turning every page until the last page of the story which ends in tragedy. In the end love triumphs over tradition, aided by the hand of Providence.
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

top of page (summary)