How the Different Settings Contribute to the Development of the Plot
1. The Physical Setting
The Atieg and Muabag Communities
The novel opens in the Atieg community, where we are introduced to one of the dominant themes of the novel: superstition and witchcraft. Here, we see how the people attach great importance to their traditional beliefs despite the presence of Christianity, as indicated by Father Francis. Page 92. Emade faces a lot of uncertainty and fear because of the community’s strong belief in supernatural forces.
The plot then moves from Atieg to Muabag as a result of the patriarchal norms that Emade refuses to conform to. In Muabag, her problems continue because she repeatedly violates what the community considers to be the proper place and role of a woman. Her actions, particularly her involvement in activities reserved for men, creates further conflict with the people. The Muabag community even suggests that she should return to her village if women there are allowed to perform male-reserved tasks. This is evident as Etam says:
” You have really grown a beard at Atieg. This is not Atieg. We can’t tolerate that uppishness here”.page 94
Therefore, Emade’s movement from one community to another contributes significantly to the development of the plot. Her migration does not solve her problems, as Ahone had hoped. Instead, it reveals that the different communities share similar patriarchal values. Through these settings, the author demonstrates how male dominance is deeply rooted in the society, while women are largely relegated to subordinate positions.
The Church:
The church setting further reveals the strong attachment of the people to their traditional beliefs. During the sermon, the congregation openly defends its traditions and criticises the unknown child, Ntube, for confessing to the priest that she had fallen into the Brook of the Serpent. This incident highlights the conflict between Christianity and traditional beliefs in the community.
Although Emade eventually finds refuge in Christianity, she does not completely reject the traditional practices of her community. Earlier, she performs the cleansing sacrifices required by tradition in an attempt to protect her daughter. This shows the extent to which traditional beliefs continue to influence the lives of the people, even in the presence of Christianity.
The church setting also exposes the extent to which superstition contributes to Emade’s alienation. We learn that Ntube is not the only child who has fallen into the marshy area. Other children have fallen there before, yet their experiences did not cause such alarm or condemnation and no sacrifice was performed. This is glaring in page 93 as Emade wounders
“But falling in the brook- of- the- serpent was common amongst children. The taboo had lost it’s significance. Etane,Esung, Nzole and a host of other children had fallen in the brook- of- the- serpent. Why should Ntube’s fall take another dimension?”
The question therefore arises: Why should Ntube’s case be treated differently? This suggests that the reaction towards Ntube is influenced more by the community’s superstitious beliefs and suspicion surrounding Emade than by the actual danger posed by the marshy area.condemnation. The question therefore arises: Why should Ntube’s case be treated differently? This suggests that the reaction towards Ntube is influenced more by the community’s superstitious beliefs and suspicion surrounding Emade than by the actual danger posed by the marshy area.
Tombel:
Although no major action takes place directly in Tombel, its presence contributes significantly to the development of the plot. Through Emade’s account, we learn that Tombel is richer in natural resources than the village communities. This is illustrated by Wobe, who becomes a wealthy woman after engaging in gold mining in Tombel on behalf of the Muabag community.
Tombel is also significant because it is connected to Wobe’s marriage to an Igbo man- Mr Okorie and her decision to settle there. Her marriage outside the Bakossi community and her settlement in Tombel have important consequences for her lineage. According to the tradition presented in the novel, after her mother’s burial, their family compound is closed and the key is thrown away because thier lineage is considered extinct. Thus, although Tombel is not a major physical location in the events of the novel as we see her coming from there to bury her late mother Mechane and returns there after the Ngandu- after burial ceremony is performed. It indirectly contributes to the development of the plot by influencing Wobe’s wealth, marriage, settlement, and the fate of her lineage.
No actions really takes place in Tombel but we realise that it’s presence greatly advances the plot. Through Emade’s mouth we understand that Tombel is richer in resources than their village communities. We see that Wobe appears as a rich woman because according to her, …she went gold mining in Tombel for the Muabag community. Her marrying an Igbo man and settling in Tombel is the main reason why Thier lineage is considered extinct this after burial, their family compound is closed and the key thrown away.
2. Psychological Setting:
A series of important events in Alobwed’Epie’s The Lady with a Beard develops within Emade’s mind as she struggles with fear, anxiety and uncertainty about her daughter’s safety. At the beginning of Chapter 15, Emade is deeply worried about Ntube’s life in the village. The constant gossip about her daughter makes her question her safety, especially after the villagers accuse Emade of referring to Ntube in the song latter sang during her homecoming ceremony. Her anxiety is reflected in her thoughts:
«“Why should Ntube always be on people’s lips? Was it because her beauty smote people dumb that made other mothers jealous?”»
Her constant worry becomes so intense that she sometimes talks to herself. She eventually invites Ahone to perform a sacrifice to cleanse Ntube, hoping to prevent evil people from using the accusations against her daughter as an excuse to harm her.
Emade’s psychological state becomes even more disturbed after she stubs her right foot, which she considers a foot of ill omen, against a stone on page 96. This happens after she decides to bring Ntube back from the mission because she believes that her daughter will be safer by her side. Rather than dismissing the incident as accidental, Emade interprets it as a possible sign of impending danger and begins to search for its meaning.
Her desire to understand the cause of her misfortunes takes the plot in a new direction. She moves from one village to another for more than three years in search of answers and a soothsayer who can explain her experiences. Eventually, she turns to Christianity and reconciles herself with religion in her search for peace. Thus, the psychological setting contributes to the development of the plot by revealing Emade’s inner struggles and showing how her fears, beliefs and anxieties influence her decisions and actions.