Camila Gurmendi
Teacher: David Frankenberg
Answer the following question in essay form:
Explore the ways in which the author vividly describes a lonely woman in a dreadful relationship in either Samphire, by Patrick O’Brien, or A Stranger from Lagos, by Cyprian Ekwensi.
I choosed A Stranger from Lagos.
Essay:
“A Stranger from Lagos” is a story written by Cyprian Ekwensi that deals with issues of oppression. Ekwensi’s purpose is to expose how objection and oppression of a person that transmits claustrophobia and frustration leads to loneliness. This sense of loneliness is lived by a woman called Lilian through a dreadful relationship. In order to describe it Ekwensi uses symbolism, external and internal conflicts, and the way which the story ends.
Ekwensi uses symbolism to emphasize the oppressive nature of Onitshan society, “In Onitsha town there were eyes on the walls”. This sentence is a metaphor that conveys a sense of no privacy. The symbolism of the word “eye” transmits Lilian’s feelings of loneliness through claustrophobia. Another quote that demonstrates this symbolism of the word eye is, “In the compound, eyes. In the streets, eyes. Such a small town, and so small-town-minded.” This claustrophobia is felt because in this quote the word eyes is repeated a lot and this shows the tension that is provoked by the town, which controls whatever move Lilian does. Another feeling the small and traditional town that incites Lilian to be lonely is frustration, frustration of not even letting her talk to a stranger. All of this dreadful relationship Lilian has with the town demonstrated by the symbolism of the word eye rouses oppression because they don’t let her nor act nor breath.