The Rain Child
Margaret Laurence
Introduction (Stephanie)
◎ Margaret Laurence
1926 Born in Neepawa, Manitoba on July 18
1944 took a scholarship at Winnipeg’s United College
1947 married Jack Lawrence
1950 move to Africa
1957 Gold Coast received its independence as the State of Ghana
◎ Margaret Laurence
＊Her early work revolved around her African experience
E.g. 1945 A Tree For Poverty
1960 This Side Jordan
1963 The Tomorrow Tamer
1963 The Prophet’s Camel Bell
＊1964 The first Book of the Manawaka series was published
＊Recurrent themes in Lawrence’s earlier African stories:
1. Recognizing the power of tradition
2. Examining the nature of change
◎ Ghana
＊The major ethnic groups in Ghana include the Akan, Ewe,
Mole-Dagbane, Gune, and Ga-Adangbe. The shared attributes
contributed to state formation in the precolonial period.
＊Ethnicity is one of the most potent factors affecting political
behavior In Ghana.
＊No part of Ghana is ethnically homogeneous.
a. Urban centers-ethnically mixed
b. Rural areas-traditional population distribution
South: Money economy Western education , Christianity
North: Islamic influence
Theme (Phyllis)
◎ Migration
＊ Differences in culture, language, identity
Diaspora
＊ Rain Child
1. Origin
2. Meaning
First Generation (I) (Karina)
◎ Hilda Povey
＊ Contrast to Nedden
Fail to adapt herself to Africa, remains English-centered
in her mind→ Outsider
E.g.
-- African parents unenlightened to her (273)
-- angry about Nedden’s turning to teach Akan poetry (274)
-- growing zinnia in her garden (276)
-- not allow students join Odwira (284)
◎ Violet Nedden
＊ More open-minded than Povey in some way
-- give up teaching Daffodils and turn to teach Akan poetry (274)
-- growing jungle lily in her garden (276)
-- go along with the girls to join Odwira (284)
＊Her English-identity does not disappear from her mind
-- the garden chair→ sign of Sceptre→ King / Queen
-- sense of superiority over Africans
＊Her relation with the Children
-- Ruth
-- Kwaale
-- Ayesha & Yindo
First Generation (II) (Lynx)
◎ Clare Mackie vs. Miss Nedden
＊ Physical difference
Quick / efficient (282) vs. Slow / lame
＊ Position difference
Manager vs. Missionary
＊ Psychological difference
Colonizer vs. Diaspora
◎ Dr. Quansah
＊ Double (split) identity
Western — food, dress (274), language (279~280)
African — resents Europeans’ racism (283)
＊ Diaspora
1. In London (283)
2. Returning home (284)
3. Anywhere hereafter (288)
Second Generation (I) (Sheena)
◎ Ruth
-- In class
-- Her relationship with classmates
-- The transfer of power (ex: toffee)
-- Ruth’s changes from the beginning to the end
-- Ruth in Bible
◎ Yindo
-- Background
-- Chameleon (280)
-- Helpless (287)
Second Generation (II) (Cicily)
◎ David
David – Ruth (relationship) (282~283)
David – first person
David’s denial (286)
◎ Ayesha
-- Diaspora (in Africa)
-- Experience (279)
-- Self –protection (278)
-- Ayesha & Yindo (language) (280)
-- The search of Ruth (286~287)
◎ Kwaale
-- influence from first generation  father (277)
-- ritual (285)
Conclusion (Dana)
Q1
Compare Abeng and “Sugar Cane Alley” with
The Rain Child.
Q2
What does the last sentence
“…I think of that island of grey rain where I must go
as a stranger, when the time comes, while others
much remain as strangers here.”
mean?