ANTICIPATION BY Mabel Dove Danquah

THE ELEMENTS
           
Ø  CHARACTERS       
·         Nana Adaku II- the Omanhene of Akwasin, and was celebrating the twentieth
anniversary of his accession to the stool of Akwasin, the man who has 40 wives.
·         Effua- One of the 40 wives of Omanhene
·         Linguist- the trusted person of the Omanhene
·         Men of Akwasin- are wearing tokota sandals on their feet and rich multi-colored
velvet and gorgeous, hand-woden .
·         Women of Akwasin with golden ear-rings dangling, with golden chains and bracelets.
Looking dignified in their colorful native Attire.
           
Ø  SETTING(S)
·         Nkwabi, the capital of Akwasin.
Ø  Conflict
Man vs. Society- the character in this story became the victim of its own society, of its
own tradition.
Ø  POINT OF VIEW
Third Person Point of View- it is being told or narrated by a person who doesn’t have an
actual participation in the story.
THE THEME
Sometimes the things that we anticipate are already there. It’s just that we fail to
appreciate them and only see them when we don't have any options or when we simply
got bored.

THE PLOT DEVELOPMENT

Ø  Exposition
The Omanhene was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his accession to stool of
Akwasin. He then arrived in a palanquin in the state park where the Odwina was to be
staged. As the drum beats on the women performed the Adowa dance. One dancer
capture his attention because of its beauty, he then threw a handful of loose cash into
the crowd of dancers. The particular dancer mad no sign but instead keeps on dancing.
Ø  Rising Action
Realizing that he was neglected by the dancer, he turned to his trusted linguist.
He told him to get fifty pounds from the cashier and gave it to the dancer’s relatives. The
linguist then starts his investigation about the woman.
Ø  Climax
Nana went back to his place. He then fell asleep after he had taken a bath.
When he woke up the young woman was kneeling by his feet. There he gave the
remaining 50 gold sovereigns to Effua to complete the offer of 100. After receiving the
amount the woman gave it to his parents and went back to the Omanhene.

Ø  Falling action
 There they talk casually inside the Omanhene’s room. Omanhene appreciated
the beauty and charm of Effua while he was playing the ivory beads lying so snugly on
her bosom.
Ø  Denouement
Effua stands and look in the mirror.  As she came back and sit, she then revealed
that they were already married two years ago, that he also paid her 50 pounds before.

THE CRITICAL INSIGHTS

The best approach to this literature is Sociological Approach. This story shows
concrete details on how the culture, economic, and political context affects the flow or
the outcome, character’s actions, and the story as a whole. Perhaps these three
aspects indeed play a vital role in the story.

In the story the society views marriage as an assurance for a better life.  This is
evident on how the women are being portrayed. They are marrying a rich or noble man,
to the extent that they disregard the fact that the man is already been married on the
first place. This action that we consider deviant has been tolerated by the culture and
the society in the story. The economic status also has something to do with this
practice. Nana Adaku is an Omanhene in his town. Here we can deduce that he is rich
and powerful, giving him the rights to practice this polygamous act, since the only
ground for it is that the man should have the capability or as long as the man can
support his wives and his families.