PASSED LIKE A SHADOW
CHARACTER:
Atwoki – Son of Adyeri
Adyeri – Father of Atwoki and Abooki
Vicky – An orphan
Amoti – Wife of Adyeri
Abooki – Daughter of Adyeri and Atwoki is sister
Aluganyira – Vicky’s husband
ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK (NOVEL)
PASSED LIKE A SHADOW
BY BENARD MAPALALA
PASSED LIKE A SHADOW
It’s relevant to content of the book once it takes about life of the people whose life seemed to pass like a shadow.
CHAPTER ONE
ADYERI: Is an educated man who reached the level of being the head of the school. Became famous one married with a good reputation in his society however later he changed to be alcoholic, womanizer took his secretary (and squared)
– Use the money to entertain Birungi (Secretary) Picked women from bar and slept with them.
– He used to mistreat his family after being drunkard; he beats his wife and uses a lot of abusive language “Have Married a Pig”. He also demanded a respect from his children while he did not deserve, he demanded delicious food while he did not leave enough money to buy such a delicious food for his family.
CHAPTER TWO
Vicky Atwoki’s cousin brings a man called Akena Opoto from Pallisa who owns a garage but coming from another tribe she wants to introduce him as her husband. “He is the man who wants to marry me.”
The book tried to reveal the way Vicky is treated in her uncle’s family. She is chased away by her uncles and found nowhere to go as a result she made a decision to find a husband who would make her life comfortable.
Her mother dead before telling Vicky who is her father therefore Adyeri’s wife is Lamenting to be given a burden i.e. Caring Vicky.
Akena is rejected by Adyeri’s wife that he is Munyamuhanga means a man from another tribe she said (Amoti). A person from another tribe cannot marry Vicky especially the tribe from north.
Adyeri is against Amoti’s view, to Adyeri something important is dowries and not anything else “I don’t care who married Vicky. Whether is a person or a con or a donkey all I want is dowry.”
Adyeri analyzing the dowries as he said is head cattle, including 3 bulls, but marriage negotiation fail dowry, then Vicky is completely disappointed and she wishes in other were alive because her uncle’s wife is no help but she is jealous of her.
CHAPTER THREE
The Author “reveals” to us the talent of Atwoki that when he is at primary school a little Atwoki is very good at football, it is ambition is to be prominent person as exemplified his argument he has with his age mate. The behavior of his father drinking much is hurting him when is mentioned any other person.
The Author reveals that Atwoki’s father is irresponsible person. This happened when Atwoki’s under pays visit to Atwoki home and kind home has got no food.
Araali (Atwoki’s uncle) is a best friend of children as always tries to show true love to them “Uncle Araali drew out a box of biscuits to them.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“What are you thinking Vicky?”
In this chapter Vicky is persuaded by her friend “Tusiime and Kunihira to find herself a man to look after her.
“Why didn’t you run a way with the man”……… ……
Kunihira is complaining that the parents they have considered marriage as a business. Since when one wants to marry, parents tend to put some conditions that can hinder smooth running of marriage process………… They demand a lot and put impossible condition”. Kunihira is also complaining that too much demanding of this things have become the reason to why people get marriage without official marriage.
The author tries to show that, friends or peer group can change the behavior of a person example because of some advice or influence given to Vicky by her friends she started to use cosmetics, she also started to attend disco but all in all she did all this so as to attract men
As a result from started to find Vicky “Men started chasing her up the way flies chasing rotting meat”
Vicky behavior is completely changing as she is going with sugar daddy being some money where sometimes she managed the budget and later Vick went for good with a man from Kassese.
CHAPTER FIVE
Adyeri is invited to Kanyamasika as the one of teachers started at that school the time it was starting.
The song that was sung by pupils of standard five touched Adyeri and gave a friction of his whole life.
One of the Adyeri’s life was that he was a drunkard person, a womanizer therefore however he was employed still he had nothing, he lived in a poor life.
Example: A part from Atwok’s mother Adyeri had another woman called Birungi she was a secretary when Adyeri the time when he was the head master at ST. LUIS high school.
This made Adyeri to acquire a disease that was called a (slim) AIDS as he was found asleep.
CHAPTER SIX
Atwoki and Abooki are living with their mother at Katumba in a home built by Atwoki while still a High School Student at St. Luis. Atwoki gets the money from rewards and gifts given to him by the president following the classic goals he scored in the Africa Cup of Nations. He was the national team striker while a school boy. The two Atwoki and Abooki have completed high school and they are at home.
Amoti informs her children about the news of their father’s sickness back at Kachwamba. The children have not been aware since there has been no communication between them and their father, Adyeri for several years. Though Adyeri know about his son’s fame as football star in Uganda, he has sworn never to beg or ask for any financial assistance from him.
Amoti informs the children about the broken relationship between Birungi and their father. Atwoki feels sorry for the father especially on the disease but the mother claims that has been the right time for Adyeri. An elderly woman comes to Amoti’s house to plead with her in order to have mercy on the husband who in a pathetic sight back at Kachwamba. Amoti refuses to heed this request and instead she advice the woman to go and tell concubine Birungi that Amoti is very bitter with the husband such that she not ready to forgive him.
Adyeri is brought by a group of people to his children and wife. He is very thin and barely recognizable. In fact he is stinking because of the sores all over his body. He is brought on a stretcher to one of the rooms in their house. The people who bring him are football fans who know Atwoki so well.
They have found it wise to bring the dying father despite the poor family history. They are sorry for those decisions to bring him there as they suspect it will remind them the family wounds. Atwoki accepts his father back despite the strong objection from his mother, Amoti. All that the children can do is weep uncontrollably what has be fallen their father. They really pity him.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Atwoki pays a visit to his friend, David, who lives in Kampala. While in Kampala Atwoki is introduced to a girl called Edda whom they meet in a restaurant. Everybody in the restaurant knows Atwoki as a football star nicknamed “the foot portal Bullet,” while at the restaurant, girls keep eying Atwoki. Some even sit directly opposite to him in a very provocative careless posture. It is revealed in this chapter that by the time Atwoki goes to Kampala; he is twenty two years but has never slept with a girl all his life. His sister Abooki has always warned him against girl even back at portal frontal.
During his stay in Kampala, Atwoki falls in love with Edda as a result of the peer pressure and the environmental influence at David’s home. David’s father, being rich and in the governmental influence at David’s with all the luxuries they need. Despite the information made available it about AIDS over the radio, TV, and magazines, David’s father never seems to care. He attends bar and picks girls together with his son, David, who a university drop out. Atwoki is provided with a room at David’s home where he sleeps with Edda during his stay in Kampala. David assures him that the girl is healthy and free from AIDS judging from her appearance. “Eventually the foot portal Bullet” falls a prey to girls.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Vicky and her husband, Aluganyira, go to a witch doctor at night. Their aim of visiting the witch doctor is to get a charm which makes them have a child. Aluganyira had married twice and divorced before he married Vicky. His former wives have given birth to two children each. They are now being taken care of by Vicky, as their step mother.
Aluganyira is a rich man and therefore, needs more children with Vicky. Vicky does not welcome the idea of visiting witch doctors but the pressure and anxiety to have a child makes her agree with the husband’s plan to make her to the witch doctor. At the doctors place they find six people lying on the Floor. Two of them are very thin and have rashes all over the bodies. At the corridor there are five other customers, probably AIDS victims must have been among the witch doctor patients.
The witch doctor makes pricks on Vicky stomach and tattoos it. He uses the same knife on the other patients who are probably infected AIDS. Vicky fails to object to the situation because she is desperately in need of a baby. Instead they receive something else, AIDS from the infected knife of the witch doctor. Victims must have been among the witch doctor.
CHAPTER NINE
Adyeri passes away and people mourn him bitterly, especially his drinking mates. Everyone knows the causes of Adyeri death. Judging from his love for ladies, they know he has swell died of AIDS (slim) probably infected by one of his concubines in the streets.
It revealed that Adyeri’s wife, Amoti, is also sick and the only hope is in the children. However, the Foot portal Bullet is rumored to have changed and become a reputed womanizer in Kampala. They say he has taken after his father and would probably die the same death because AIDS never discriminates people on the basis of race, age, wealth or education. The drunkards are wondering where the disease come from such that they are afraid it will wipe the whole of Uganda.
After his father’s burial, Atwoki goes back to Kampala leaving behind his sick mother under the care of Abooki. Atwoki neglects his mother and sister, Abooki back at home without enough money while the mother is sick, Football fans who are frequent Kampala say, he is tied to a lady with whom he is living. Despite his mother lamentation, Atwoki does not respond to the call of his sister. This makes their mother very bitter and complains a lot.
Abooki boards a bus to Kassese in order to see Vicky so that she (Vicky) may help in the financial situation; she is shocked by the health of her cousin and the husband. They are very thin, weak and they look old. Vicky confesses to her cousin, Abooki that she is an AIDS victim, therefore she as no hopes of living long. Vicky counsels her cousin by teaching her never to step hunting money. She says money will kill her. Then Vicky regrets for her past life.
Back at their home, Abooki continues nursing her sick mother. A boy, called John, from a rich family uses to visit them frequently. The boy helps her so much during her mother’s sickness. The boy having created trust in her invites her to visits her to his home where he play a trick. John drops a Valium tablet in her glass when Abooki goes for a short call. She drinks the contents in the following days when she finds herself in John’s bed naked minus her virginity. Abooki is so warned that he may be able to have inquired AIDS or unwanted pregnancy with the loss of her virginity to the cruet, John.
CHAPTER TEN
Abooki blames herself for honoring the appointment to visit John’s home she feels as if her life is over a as she is sure her mother will die soon leaving her under no one’s care as Atwoki has seemingly neglected them forever, Abooki becomes thin from the worries about her health. She has concurred to have been a victim of the virus following what John did to her.
Abooki goes for pure-blood test. She receives concerning by a councilor called Jonathan before the test. Jonathan informs her he ways through with the virus is spreads from one person to another. After narrating her story to Jonathan, the test is carried out in which both the HIV test and pregnant test results are negative. Abooki is very happy now that she is lucky to have acquired neither AIDS nor pregnancy.
Jonathan warns her to be extra careful now that she has contracted no AIDS. He says that the only hundred percent protections guaranteed from acquiring the virus is abstinence for un married people mutual love and loyalty among couples. The two Jonathan and Abooki seem to have fallen in love after this exercise.
Atwoki arrive home sick, just after the burial of his mother. The foot portal bullet has been completely disfigured by irritating skin burns and rashes all over his body. Atwoki acquired the disease in Kampala together with his friend David who has been trying to spread it to other girls. David’s father died earlier and now it is the mother and house girl who are on their death bed.
Abooki and Atwoki decide to visit their uncle Araali, who lived at Kitangwenda. They board a bus and drop at Kitangwenda from where Atwoki is to be carried on a bicycle for 20 kilometer to Thinga village, where their uncle says, uncle Araali welcomes them to his home where Atwoki decided to stay until the time of his death, since he knows that he will soon die as their parents and cousin died of AIDS. Only Abooki is spared in Adyeri’s family.