THE VOTER

SUMMARY:

Character List:

Major Characters
1. Rufus Okeke (a.k.a. Roof)
2. Marcus Ibe (a.k.a. Honorable Minister)

Minor Characters
1. Roof's Mother
2. Maduka's main election campaigner
3. Ogbuefi Ezenwa
4. Maduka
5. Village people

In The Voter by Chinua Achebe, we have the theme of corruption, loyalty, guilt, power, greed and tradition. Taken from his Girls at War and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Achebe may be exploring the theme of corruption. As a politician, Marcus has made sure that his life has improved in comparison to those who live in Umuofia. He has built himself a new home with running water yet his constituents don’t have the same access to water as Marcus does. Though it is not explicitly stated that Marcus has inappropriately obtained his property the fact that he has ready and easy access to large amounts of money suggests that he may be corrupt. Also, Roof on Marcus’ instructions bribes some of the local elders in order to ensure that they will vote for Marcus. At no stage in the story does Roof advise the elders as to why they should vote for Marcus or what benefit electing Marcus will be to the community. The reality is that Roof is bribing the elders in order to ensure that they vote for Marcus regardless of what Marcus might and might not do for those in the village. Roof’s main concern is not the elders or those in the community but Marcus himself. There also seems to be no thought given by the elders as to what the consequences of their actions (voting for Marcus) might be. Just as Marcus and Roof are corrupt so too are the local elders who are more concerned with receiving payment for their vote than they are on improving life in the village.

It may also be a case that Achebe is exploring the theme of loyalty. Not only do the elders accept a bribe in return for their loyalty to Marcus but Roof too accepts a bribe to ensure that he will vote for Maduka. Even though he spends the entirety of the story attempting to ensure that Marcus will get re-elected Roof at the end shows Marcus no loyalty. Having being swayed by the five pounds he has received in order to vote for Maduka. Which in many ways is ironic as there is a sense that even though Roof is working for Marcus he cannot be trusted by Marcus. It is also possible that Achebe is placing a spotlight on the way that elections were held in Nigeria at the time the story was written. With the possibility that corruption was commonplace. By bribing the elders of a village a politician was able to ensure that they got elected. Where many would expect an individual to be allowed to independently decide on who they should vote for this is not the case in the story. With constituents being instructed by the elders on which way to vote.

It is also difficult to say for certain as to why Roof begins to feel guilty about the prospect of voting for Maduka. However, it is possible that Roof feels guilty because he is loyal to Marcus and he knows that should Maduka become elected his services will no longer be needed by Marcus. The position he holds in the village will be lost and as such he will no longer have the authority that he feels he has over others. Any power that Roof does have will be gone. He will no longer be able to benefit personally as he has been able to do while Marcus has been elected. Just as Marcus may lose any comforts he has obtained from his corruption so too will Roof. There will be no need for the elders to listen to Roof should Marcus lose the election as there will no longer be any available funds to bribe the elders with. The introduction of the iyi may also be important as by introducing it into the story Achebe appears to be exploring the theme of tradition. Roof is very much afraid of the iyi and his actions at the polling station may be triggered by his fear of the iyi and what may happen to him should he not fulfil his promise to vote for Maduka.

The end of the story is also interesting if not ironic. By ripping his ballot paper in two and placing half of the paper in each ballot box Roof feels that he has honoured his commitment to vote for Maduka. However, if anything Roof has ended up spoiling his vote with neither Marcus nor Maduka getting his vote. Despite having been bribed by one of Maduka’s men and having a sense of loyalty to Marcus Roof hasn’t managed to vote for either man. Something that appears to be lost on Roof with Achebe describing Roof as walking out of the polling station ‘jauntily.’ It might also be a case that Achebe is suggesting that an individual should be allowed to freely cast their vote without the influence of others (Elders, Roof, Marcus and Maduka). Something that has not been the case throughout the story with Roof acting as an agent for corruption in order for Marcus to continue living the lifestyle he has become accustomed to. Yet at the same time, he provides no benefit to his constituents. Democracy has not been allowed to play its role due to the corruption that exists in Umuofia. The reader is also aware that when the next election arrives that too will be corrupt thanks to the actions of both Marcus and Maduka. Maduka might not win the election on this occasion but he is preparing himself for the next election. Paying for votes with money and having no concern, like Marcus, for the constituents in Umuofia.

Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase or a sentence each.

Answer: Two years

Answer: Marcus Ibe

Answer: Marcus Ibe

Answer: Umuofia Mansions.

Answer: Roof had warned him about the radical change that had come into the thinking of Umuofia.

Answer: Two shillings.

Answer: PAP (People's Alliance Party and POP (Progressive Organization Party)

Answer: Maduka.

Answer: Five pounds.

Answer: Highlife Band.

Answer: Motor Car

Answer: Election campaigning

Answer: Minister of Culture.

Answer: People Alliance Party

Answer: Five Pounds

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II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:

III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words:

Answer: POP stands for Progressive Organization Party. This party was formed by the tribes down the cast to save themselves as the founders of the party proclaimed, from “total, political, cultural, social and religious annihilation. The POP was a complete non-entity in the first election. When tribal people understood that there was no opposition to the ruling party they decided to come to power. In the story, there was no hint about the objectives of the PAP, but the organizers of POP claimed that they wanted to save the people from all aspects.

Answer: Roof was the most trusted servant of Marcus. He was also popular with the villages of Umuofia. He had become an expert in election campaigning. He could tell the mood of the electorate. After conducting the whispering campaign successfully, he warned the minister that the villagers had become more intelligent in the last five years, wondering how quickly politics had brought wealth, titles and doctorate degrees to the elected leader.

Meanwhile, the opposition party 'Progressive Organization Party (POP) with considerable money power plunges into election campaigning. One night, the local camp leader pays a visit to 'Roof' and bribes him with five pounds’ money and asks for his vote. When 'Roof' tells them he could not deceive Marcus, they assure him that they would not reveal his treachery to anyone and after 'Roof' takes the bribe of five pounds he is asked to swear on the 'iyi' that he will vote for 'Maduka' the opposition leader. Even on the election day 'Roof' campaigns for Marcus and when he goes into the voting booth to cast his vote, he was torn between his loyalty and the wrath of 'iyi'. So he tears up his ballot paper into two pieces and casts one piece each to both 'Marcus' and 'Maduka'. Hence he resolves the issue diplomatically.

Answer: The meeting between Roof and POP campaign team highlights how voters are easily bought and voters are induced to vote for monetary considerations, one night, the local camp leaders pay a visit to Roof and bribes him with five pounds’ money and asks for his vote. When Roof tells them that he can't deceive Marcus, they assure him that they would not reveal his treachery to anyone. After taking the bribe of five pounds, Roof is made to swear on the 'iyi' that he will vote for 'Maduka', the position leader. This meeting leaves him in confusion. So when he goes into the voting booth to cast his vote, he finds himself torn between his loyalty and the wrath of 'iyi.

Answer: Roof was a popular man in his village. He was an energetic young man who wanted to guide the people of his village in difficult times. Marcus Ibe, the leader of the People's Alliance Party was the minister of culture and he wanted to win the election, the second time. He knew that the people were unhappy with him. So he wanted to make use of Roof's popularity and service. Roof was intelligent and he understood that people would not vote for Marcus if he did not give them enough gifts. He assured the villagers that Marcus would bring water and electricity to the village if they elect him. He tempted the villagers with money for their votes. On the day of the election, he ran around goading the villagers to vote for Marcus. He informs the minister about the radical change in voter's attitudes. He also assured Marcus that he would get a landslide victory in the election. All that proved that he was a loyal and trusted whispering campaigner.

OR

Roof, as expected, was in service of the honourable minister and had become an expert in election campaigning. He knew the mood of the electorate and had warned the minister that the villagers had become more intelligent in the last five years, wondering how quickly politics had brought wealth, titles and doctorate degrees to the elected leader.

Meanwhile, the opposition party 'Progressive Organization Party (POP) with considerable money power plunges into election campaigning. One night, the local camp leader pays a visit to 'Roof' and bribes him with five pounds’ money and asks for his vote. When 'Roof' tells them he could not deceive Marcus, they assure him that they would not reveal his treachery to anyone and after Roof' takes the bribe of five pounds he is asked to swear on the 'iyi' that he will vote for 'Maduka' the opposition leader.

Even on the election day 'Roof' campaigns for Marcus and when he goes into the voting booth to cast his vote, he was torn between his loyalty and the wrath of 'iyi'. So he tears up his ballot paper into two pieces and casts one piece each to both 'Marcus' and 'Maduka'. He comes out of the voting booth relieved.

Roof was the most trusted servant of Marcus. He was also popular with the villages of Umuofia. Being a popular person 'Roof' could judge the villagers, mood and inform Marcus accordingly. Before bribing two shillings to a group of elders, he asks them that the people of Umuofia should be honoured to have a leader like Marcus in their midst and the leaders of PAP also favoured their village. He, then, increases it to three shillings and proclaims that if it is not enough for them, then they are free to vote for the opposition. The elders agree to cast their vote in favour of Marcus.

Answer: Roof was a very popular man in his village. The people of Umuofia village had a lot of trust in him. He was an expert in election campaigning. Marcus Ibe, the Minister, wanted Roof to work for him in the upcoming elections. Roof had understood that people were not happy with Marcus and they might not vote for him this time. He met a few villagers and explained to them that Marcus Ibe would bring a lot of developments to their village.

Marcus Ibe would bring a lot of developments to their village. He made them believe that every honour that the village received was due to the hard work Marcus and they were favoured all the time by PAP, the People's Alliance Party to which Marcus belonged. Finally, Roof tempted the villagers with money. He promised them two shillings each if they along with their family members would vote for Marcus Ibe in the elections.

Answer: Marcus Ibe was the Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and he belonged to PAP, the People's Alliance Party. Roof was the election campaigner for Marcus Ibe. He had already warned Marcus about the change in the people's attitude. Though the villagers were innocent, they had seen that Marcus had made a lot of money and acquired a car and bungalow in those five years. He also had a private power plant to supply power to his house, then the village had no running water or electricity. The villagers realized that Marcus had made his life luxurious instead of taking care of the welfare of the people. So they decided not to give free votes to him in the forthcoming elections.

Answer: Rufus Okeke was popular in his village as a knowledgeable person. He was in the service of Marcus Ibe, the minister of culture. He was a real expert in election campaigning at all levels, the village, local and national. He could even tell the mood and temper of the electorate. The way he deals with the elders of the village and convinces them to vote for Marcus is appreciable. He makes use of his powers and gets expensive gifts from Marcus, much against the wishes of Marcus' wife. But later, when he is approached by the leader of the POP, he makes use of the opportunity skillfully. He tries to be very normal on the election day, even influences people to vote for Marcus but tears his ballot paper and votes for both Marcus and Maduka. This shows that he was truly skilled in politics.

Answer: On the busy day of the election, men and women in Umuofia village came to the voting booth with enthusiasm. On the way, people found a lot of posters of both POP and PAP parties. PAP leader Marcus Ibe had arranged a music hand to attract the attention of the people. Marcus was sitting in his big green car watching and smiling at the villagers. The illiterate villagers shook hands with Marcus and congratulated him even before they cast their votes. Roof was reminding the people to vote for Marcus in the Motor Car symbol. He assured them that they would get rich to ride a car if they voted for Marcus. It was his turn to go into the booth to vote. When he went inside, he was in a dilemma whether to vote for Marcus or Maduka. Both the leaders had given him lots of money. So he tore his ballot paper into two and put one in each box. The election officials put a purple ink mark on his finger

Answer: Earlier Marcus Ibe was a not-too-successful mission school teacher. When he was almost on the verge of dismissal on the basis of a female teacher's complaint, he joined politics, got elected as a representative of Umuofia and was made minister of culture. In a period of five years Marcus became very wealthy, was given many chieftaincies titles and a doctorate degree and several other honours. He had amassed a lot of wealth and power. To win the villagers, he threw a grand party to them as he knew that it was their votes that would bring good fortune.

Answer: Everyone praised Marcus Ibe, elderly people considered him as their son, he earned the reputation of a good man. Earlier he was a missionary school teacher. He had wisely joined politics and acquired two cars, a big house in a very short time. But he remained devoted to his people. He had installed a private electricity plant to power his new house 'Umuofia mansions' and had entertained the people of Umuofia by feeding them five bulls and many goats at its opening ceremony. So, the people of Umuofia praised Marcus, for offering them such a feast.