Explain the Ways the Poets have portrayed the issue of oppression and show the relevance of these poems to your society
| Use two poems “ A freedom Song” by Macgoye M.O and “Song of Lawino” by Okot to explain the ways the poets have portrayed the issue of oppression and show the relevance of these poems to your society. Provide three points for each poem. |
Oppression is the prolonged cruel or injustice treatment by the authority or is the state of being subjected to oppressive treatment. Poets have portrayed the issue of oppression in many ways. This can be verified by the poems “FREEDOM SON” by Macgoye M.O and “SONG OF LAWINO” by Okot who have show the issue of oppression and its relevance to the society.
To start with FREEDOM SONG the poetess has shown the issue of oppression as the following:
The poetess has discussed the issue of child oppression through child labour. A child is a person who is bellow eighteen years. The poetess has used Atieno to show child oppression through child labour where Atieno is overworked by her uncle while she was eight years old. She has to do all domestic work and wake up early. The poetess says:
Atieno washes dishes, Atieno plucks the chicken, Atieno gets up early,
Beds her sucks down in the kitchen, Atieno eight years old
Atieno yo.
This proves that, there is child oppression in term of child labour and still exist in our societies since many children are working in small industries and fishing sectors.
The poetess has portrayed the issue of child oppression through exploitation. The poetess has shown how Atieno is being exploited by her uncle and Aunt by doing all domestic chores without any pay. This proved when the poetess says:
“Since she’s my sister’s child Atieno needs no pay
While she works my wife can sit”
This proves that, there is oppression of children in term of exploitation. This problem is also common in our societies since there is exploitation in the family level where they have to do all domestic work and no pay.
The poetess has discussed the issue of child oppression in term of lacking of parental care. The poetess has shown Atieno is being oppressed because the has no parents who will teach her what is right. The poet says:
“That girl stays too long at market Who will teach her what is right?”
Therefore, the above proves that, there is oppression to the children whose parents have died and this is more common in our societies where many children are oppressed by their relatives when their birth parents died.
Coming to the Song of Lawino by Okol the issue of oppression has portrayed as follows:
The poet has portrayed the issue of women oppression in terms of being considered valueless by their husband. The poet has shown how Lawino is complaining that her husband compares her with the rubbish in the rubbish pit. The poet says:
“He compares me with the rubbish In the rubbish pit….”
Therefore, the above proves that, women are oppressed by being considered valueless. This problem is also common in our societies which makes women inferior.
The poet has discussed the issue of women oppression in terms of not being sent to school. The poet has shown Ocol abuses Lawino because she has never been to school and she is not westernized. The poet says:
“He abuses me in English And he is so arrogant”
Therefore, the above proves how women are oppressed by their husband because are not being sent to school. This is more common among african educated elites who mistakenly think that the western education they received elevated them higher and gave them the right to look down upon those uneducated.
The poet has portrayed the issue of women oppression through stigmatization. The poet has shown how Ocol stigmatizes Lawino because of her traditional adornments/decorations. He claims that adornments are old fashioned and unhealthy. Due to this social stigma, Lawino wonders whether she is suffering from a ‘don’t touch me disease’, she says:
“He says I soil his white shirt If I touch him
My husband treats me As if I am suffering from
The don’t touch me disease”
Therefore, this proves that the women are oppressed by being stigmatized by their husband and other relatives because of old fashioned adornments. This is more common in our societies especially to those affected by colonial education and globalization.
Conclusively, the government should teach its citizens to eradicate all forms of oppression so that people can live happily in the country and which can also help to form a stable nation without conflicts.
