WAEC Literature in English 2018 Theory — Question 2

Model answer

Sodom and Gomorrah, as the name suggests, connotes vices. This is typical of immoral and sinister acts that are common in the place. Sodom and Gomorrah is an enclave around Agbogbloshie. It is a dwelling place of prostitutes, thieves and all kinds of vicious people who are products of parental irresponsibility and a decadent society. Sodom and Gomorrah becomes populated 'with the increasing influx of migrants from the north', and the acts of some irresponsible parents result in children leaving home to live on the street. The prevalent activities in Sodom and Gomorrah are sex, prostitution, theft and other vicious acts resulting from suffering, helplessness, ignorance and woes. Sodom and Gomorrah is an enclave with its own rules and regulations. Fofo attests to this: 'one can do anything and everything in peace here so long as one follows the rule.' This confirms the fact that Sodom and Gomorrah is governed by its own rules. In fact, there is a hierarchy: there is a street lord being served by the lieutenants. The activities in Sodom and Gomorrah are nocturnal. The inhabitants operate in the night and sleep in the day. This is contrary to what entails the other domains in Accra. In their visitation to Sodom and Gomorrah in the day, Sylv Po is surprised to find the place quiet, serene and normal. He is surprised at the absence of the prostitutes, the drug traffickers and the thieves who are said to be prevalent in the place. Kabria also sees in Sodom and Gomorrah some evidence of innovation and initiatives that could be of benefit to the rest of Accra. Sodom and Gomorrah is home for the likes of Fofo, Odarley, Baby T, Poison, Macho and others who are products of parental irresponsibility. They represent the street children phenomenon both in Ghana and in the world at large. Sodom and Gomorrah brings to memory the shanties, ghettos and favelas and the lives that entail there. People live in cruelty and fear, and life is brutish and nasty. The likes of Poison and Macho and the street lieutenant are the oppressive forces, while the likes of Fofo, Odarley and Baby T are the subjects of their cruelty. In Sodom and Gomorrah, horror begets horror, and vices and immorality are on the increase. Their actions result from their experiences at home. Poison unleashes terror based on his experience as a child from the unfair treatment by his parents' pitches Fofo, Baby T and Odarley against their parents. Immorality continues as children think they have freedom to live on their own: 'Boys and girls slept together, stripped together, and did things together with each other, many times under the influence of alcohol.' The females get pregnant at will and abort at will. The females are also subjects of sexual rape in the hands of the street lords and the lieutenants. Baby T's death results from her refusal to perform her sexual role and in the first chapter, one is introduced to the bestial nature of Poison as he attempts to forcefully rape Fofo. There is also oppression, bullying and influence from the likes of Poison, Macho and the lieutenants. Poison single-handedly sponsors the Kayayoos through the direct order from their head to spread fake news concerning Baby T's death. The mystery that surrounds Baby T's death is the handiwork of poison. Poison also uses his influence to frustrate the activities of MUTE and Sylv Po in their efforts to unravel the mystery around Baby T's death. Despite the cruelty that characterizes the activities of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, there is still a spirit of friendship demonstrated by Fofo and Odarley.