Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumAnalysis of Prescribed African Prose Texts

In Ferdinand Oyono's prescribed novel *Houseboy*, why does Toundi Ondoua become a target of relentless hostility and persecution from the colonial authorities?

  1. He possesses intimate knowledge of Madame's adulterous affair with Monsieur Moreau.Answer
  2. B
    He is caught stealing church funds intended for Father Gilbert's mission project.
  3. C
    He publicly denounces Father Gilbert's religious teachings during Sunday mass.
  4. D
    He leads an organized labor strike among indigenous domestic workers in Dangan.

Answer

Toundi Ondoua becomes a target of persecution because he possesses intimate knowledge of Madame's adulterous affair with Monsieur Moreau.
In Ferdinand Oyono's *Houseboy*, Toundi's downfall is primarily caused by his position as an eyewitness to Madame's extra-marital affair with Monsieur Moreau. The colonial rulers cannot tolerate an African servant holding knowledge that shatters their pretense of moral superiority, prompting Moreau and the Commandant to treat him with extreme brutality.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Toundi's role in the Commandant's household in *Houseboy*.
Toundi serves as the houseboy and closely observes the private behavior and secret dealings of the white colonial master and his wife.
Understanding his proximity to the main characters reveals why his presence becomes threatening to them.
2
Identify the key conflict involving Madame and Monsieur Moreau.
Madame engages in an extra-marital affair with the prison director, Monsieur Moreau, while the Commandant is away on tour.
Toundi becomes the silent keeper of this scandalous secret.
3
Evaluate why the colonial figures turn brutally against Toundi.
Because Toundi knows about the affair, his presence constantly reminds Madame and Moreau of their moral hypocrisy, leading Moreau and the Commandant to scapegoat, arrest, and torture him.
In colonial narrative dynamics, an indigenous servant knowing a master's secret strips away the master's pretense of authority.

Key Concept

Analysis of character conflict and thematic exposure of colonial hypocrisy in prescribed African prose.
Rate this question

Topics

Analysis of Prescribed African Prose Texts

More questions from this topic