Essay Questions

Explain the line "I am a man’s creation as you see’’ attributed to Betty in the first Act.

This line could be understood in two ways. First of all, it could be a reference made to the story of creation presented in the book of Genesis in the Bible. There, the first woman was created from one of Adam’s rib, especially for him. She was created to be as a companion, inferior to him and linked to him forever because she came from his own body. the line could also we understood in relation to what Clive said about Betty in the previous lines, namely how she had no value before he came into her life and molded her as he wanted her to be. In this sense, Betty may be a man’s creation in the sense she became what her husband wanted her to be, thus being shaped and becoming his creation when it comes to be behavior and personality developed by Betty after she met her husband.

Why are the women scared when they hear drums?

On one than more occasion, the women in the play expressed their fear when drums could be heard. After one such instance, one of their neighbors, Mrs. Saunders, came to stay with them because she had no husband and she was afraid. In Africa, drums were used as a form of long-distance communication, during ceremonies and different religious occasions. Drums, like bells, also became a warning sign for the rest of the population, telling them about imminent danger. In this context, because the women are afraid, it could mean that the sound was a warning sign. Also, Clive’s mentioning of the frequent battles between the African tribes supports this idea.

What is the forbidden thing which happened between Harry and Edward?

Harry is the explorer who spends some time at Clive’s residence, together with his family. Harry visited Clive and his family before, event mentioned in the beginning of the first act. Edward on the other side is Clive and Betty’s oldest son who is around 9 years old. Harry calls what happened between him and Edward as being both a sin and a crime. This description transmits the idea that when Harry visited the Clives the last time, he had a sexual relationship with Edward. It is a sin because it implied a homosexual relationship and it is a crime because Edward was a small child, and this means that Harry took advantage of him.