Friday, May 4, 2012
Houseboy By Ferdinand Oyono
Why do you think that the novel is full obscenities? Ironically it is the priests, Father Gilbert and Vandermayer who are described by Toundi to speak obscenities, in their sermons and also dreams. Why is Toundi's Diary full of obscenities and sexual innuendo? Post your thoughts in no less than 100 words, with reference to at least one quotation from the novel.
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The novel is full of obscenities due to the fact that the author wants to portray the extent to which the Europeans abused the locals. The fathers preaching obscenities signified that even the most pure people of this Earth were impure in the White society. Through the use of obscenities, the author demonstrated the behaviour of the Whites and he ridiculed the Whites through these obscenities. Toundi's diary is full of obscenities for two reasons: one that the author wants to portray the extent to which the Europeans abused the locals and the second reason being that the author wanted to contrast the cultures. For instance, in the black society, being circumcised meant that the person was a man and this was the reason why Toundi lost his respect towards the Commandant. He talks about this when he says, "A great chief like the Commandant uncircumcised. He had seemed to me more naked than my fellow Africans who strip unconcerned and wash at the water channel in the market place...I should never be frightened of the Commandant again." The whites in the book are shown as not having any self values and self esteem. Oyono shows this cultural contrast when Madame says, "You don't know? Contraceptives: contraceptives. Go on, tell everybody. What a subject for all the houseboys in Dangan to talk about. Go on. Get out.'" Through this we can see that even the usually hidden sexually relationship is being made public and Madame does not have any self values when she lets Toundi know what the rubber bags" are.
ReplyDeleteThus, it is apparent that Oyono used obscenities in order to bring out to light the impurities of the Whites and the contrast of culture between the Black and White societies.
Obscene means offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of morality and decency. I think that Oyono uses obscenities in the novel to show particular aspects of both the African and the European culture that were disgusting that were hidden behind false promises like the French assimilation policy. By using obscenities in the novel the author Oyono strips them of this cover up and ridicules this disgusting part of both cultures in a satirical way in order to educate the reader to avoid making the same mistake. For example Toundi no longer fears the commandant because he is not circumcised. ‘He seemed more naked than my fellow Africans who strips unconcerned and wash...It killed something in me.....I knew that I should never be frightened of the commandant again.’ Here Oyono has shown that the Europeans were not to be feared. They were no better if not worse off than the Europeans. This is ridiculing the Europeans in a humorous way. The readers also understand that the Africans have power which they seem to have suppressed simply because they ignorantly believe that the white man is superior without question.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel we see that even in his death bed Oyono claims that he is a Maka by his mother and not a Ndjem by his father. Furthermore he say, ‘...Father Vandermayer in his atrocious Ndjem was in his innocence embarking upon a sermon full of obscenities...’ I found it intriguing that the author never mentions that Father Vandermayer preaches in bad Maka which sounded like obscenities. However looking back at the history of Toundi and his father we as the readers see that this was justified. Toundi is driven into the arms of the French by a gratuitously cruel father who seems to take pleasure in battering and starving him. He uses obscenities to ensure he punishes Toundi. I deduced that the author was ridiculing the African culture of physically assaulting children and women in the pretence of punishment and correction.
In conclusion the author uses obscenities to show the true nature of both the Africans and the Europeans and to ridicule the disgusting aspects that are found in both cultures for example a father physically assaulting the family members in the pretence of correcting a mistake.
G.A.
Indeed the author expresses his disgust towards both the European and African. It is interesting that Toundi's father’s insults suggest incest and sodomy. In t he African context, how would these acts be perceived? Consider the mood that he is in, and the reason for his insulting his son. What has Toundi done and why is he being disowned? His father states, 'Your way back into the house will pass through my anus'. What does he mean by this?
DeleteCaleb Munyasya’s Response
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that the text is full of obscenities to mock the European’s language. Since the image of a priest is a holy one, for them to use vulgar language would be completely against the standards that they are supposed follow. When we look at the novel, there is a point in which one of the characters wants a priest to pray for her dog. The novel states “When we fetched a priest to save his soul, he told him to fuck off.(page 3)” Even though priests might not believe that they are able to pray for animals, the fact that a priest uses such language to reject her request in uncharacteristic. Oyono therefore does this in order to emphasize that the priests are not ‘proper’ and show that they act in a disdainful and hypocritical manner.
Such obscenities are used in Toundi’s diary, however Toundi himself does not directly reflect on how he reacts to this, emphasizing his naivety. The sexual innuendo is also used by Oyono to mock the behaviour of the priests and essentially the French Assimilation Policy. When the novel first introduces Father Vandermayer we are told that “He loves to beat the Christians who have committed adultery – native Christians of course….He makes them undress in his office… (page 15)” From this quote we can note that, the priest is firstly beating instead of forgiving, and secondly he is being racist by only beating the natives that commit adultery.
Such traits are aberrant for a priest and Oyono uses such mannerism and such vulgar language to criticize the church and Toundi’s naivety. This ultimately mocks the French Assimilation Policy as this is what Oyono tries to establish with the text.
Such language can also add a manner of humour to the text. Even though the actions are not meant to be contemptuous, the way Oyono designates the words adds a level of absurdity for the reader and this makes the harsh text bearable. If Oyono did not add this occasional humour, the debauched actions would have seemed too harsh for the reader to keep enjoying the text.
The reader is indeed shocked when the priest utters the words 'fuck off'. Why would the author want to shock his audience? The holy men in God's service use of profanity is sacrilegious and impious bringing into question the attractiveness of the culture and the religion that they represent. Note that their use of obscene language is both deliberate and inadvertent, hence the humor.
DeleteThrough Toundi’s naïve voice, Oyono explores commonly faced issues in Cameroon during colonization, including oppression, segregation and identity crisis. In addition, the novel is full of obscenities. It is ironic that Oyono chooses Father Gilbert and Father Vandermayer to speak of such obscenities, yet typically they are supposed to be the most holy, peaceful and ethical members of any given society. Father Vandermayer, for example, “loves to beat the Christians who have committed adultery – native Christians of course… He makes them undress in his office while he repeats in bad Ndjem, ‘When you were kissing weren’t you ashamed before God?’” It is difficult to imagine a priest carrying out such an act. However Oyono depicts this act, through Toundi’s diary, in order to ridicule the French Assimilation Policy and the colonizers themselves. The French used religion as a way to dominate the natives, which is also evident when looking at the segregated setting of the church. The presence of obscenities and sexual innuendo suggests oppressive nature of the Europeans and the extent to which they can abuse those supposedly inferior to them. It also shows that the Africans were naïve and vulnerable. But an element of obscenity is also seen when Toundi’s African father abuses him brutally. From this, we can see a contrast between the two cultures, but also the fact that they both share a similarity – obscenities.
ReplyDeleteBoth cultures, as represented by the different characters share obscenities, however for what purposes? Consider the authors choice of words in his description of Father Vandermayer who 'loves to beat [naked Africans] in his office' It is implied that he derives pleasure from this act. As a celibate priest the author suggests that he finds an outlet for his repressed sexual desires through this act. What do you think?
DeleteOyono uses obscenities as a way not only to create humor for the audience but also to mock the white Frenchmen. Initially, the Africans saw the Europeans as superior and looked up to them. They would never compare themselves to the French and were willing to leave their culture behind to become “assimilated” Frenchmen.
ReplyDelete“Father Vandermayer has been down with a bout of malaria. He shouted obscenities all night.”
With Oyono associating the Europeans with obscenities, we are able to see the Europeans in a different light. In the case of Father Vandermayer and Father Gilbert we see that what they preach is immoral and doesn’t coincide with what a normal church should do. The reader begins to question whether the white Frenchmen are always right and whether the Africans should look up to them and want so desperately to become Frenchmen.
Toundi uses obscenities in his diary to contrast the two different cultures that are present in Cameroon. He uses this to bring to the reader’s attention that the white Frenchmen were as “clean” and pure as the Africans saw them to be.
Indeed satire is achieved through the use of ribald humor. Although the priest use profanity/obscenities, the Africans use them too: for example the servants at the commandants household. Why do you think that they use language with sexual overtones, especially in reference to the white's actions/ behaviour?
DeleteThroughout the novel, Toundi records the obscenities that he witnesses by his white ‘masters’. Examples of this is when the white priests and preaching in the native (Cameroonian) language and begin to speak in obscene language. This is highly unusual as priests are supposed to preach the opposite “Father Vandermayer in his atrocious Ndjem was in his innocence embarking upon a sermon full of obscenities”. Another example is when Toundi finds the condom under the Commandants bed and discovers that the Commandants wife cheated on the commandant. This is ridiculing the white culture as they pretend to honor the sacred bond of marriage but at the first opportunity she got, the Commandants wife cheated on him. This is more obscene in an African context as it is unacceptable of a woman to commit adultery. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the Europeans have sex for pleasure (which is why they used a condom), but the Africans have sex to have children, which creates a culture clash between the natives and the Europeans.
ReplyDeleteI think that Oyono includes these obscenities in the novel to ridicule the Europeans and to show the Africans that they are not as superior as they think they are.
Do you think that the detailed description of the condom was necessary/ What is the readers reaction to its vivid description. Why do you think the author's intention is in eliciting that response from the audience. Do you think Madame's adultery has already been communicated and the condom incident is unnecessary?
DeleteAn innuendo is an indirect intimation about a person or thing, especially of a disparaging or a derogatory nature that works obliquely by allusion. The intention is often to insult or accuse someone in such a way that one's words, taken literally, are innocent. Obscenities are defined as profanity, also known as swearing, cursing, foul speech, strong language, dirty words, cussing, bad words, bad language, Adult language, or simply language that shows disrespect.
ReplyDeleteI think that the author is using these literary devices to satirize the actions of the oppressors, which is why it is the actions of the priests that contain the obscenities, as they are the oppressors as the ‘whites’.
For example Father Vandermayer who derives pleasure from whipping the black Christians while they are naked. Another example is in the prologue where the dying dog tells the priest to fuck off. An African would not think of the souls of dogs where the Europeans think of their souls as those of loyal servants to be cared for in order for them to care and protect.
Later on Martin reveals that the churchmen are not as faithful to their religion as they obviously should be and the evidence for this is when he does not participate in the prayers for Father Gilbert but instead he goes to a corner and cries which shows he does not either believe heaven and thus Christianity or he believes that they are not worthy of heaven because of the clear sins and obscenities they are committing.
There is an awareness of oppression by the Africans in the book and thus there is an attempt to resist but this is done silently to the oppressors for example the ridiculing of the panther for not being circumcised. This is the author’s way of making us think about how strong the Africans may be if they were properly united.
So in your opinion, hasn't the oppression of the blacks been already communicated, for instance through the beatings? Why the profane language nad detailed descriptions of flirting?
DeleteToundi is a naïve boy who doesn’t understand the situation and events that occur in the society. We can therefore say that he learns as he goes along in the novel as a result we observe a character change through the exercise books. Toundi’s first relation with the Europeans was with father Gilbert who taught him the customs and culture of the Europeans, evidence is upholding a diary, this is not a native custom therefore implementing the European culture. Toundi’s mind is like a blank piece of paper that is gradually being infested by the teaching and behavior of the society and domination from the colonialists. The Europeans manipulated religion to colonize the natives, in other words religion served as a mask to hide the real intentions of the Europeans entering the country, for they came into the country as missionaries to spread the word of the lord and once they gained acceptance they were able to colonize the natives, since the priests are speaking obscenities and planting these obscenities in the natives minds through their sermons, it is being reflected upon Toundi’s character who idolizes the Europeans.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of sexual innuendo which is another word for implications or hints, this is in my opinion is done merely through observation, for instance on page 86 when Toundi discovered the condoms under Madame Susie’s bed, there was confusion upon his discovery showing his naivety, by calling them little rubber bags as opposed to condoms or another native name of the same nature, and further going to ask the other staff members (that is the chef and the washman) about what he had found. To sum up, I believe that Toundi’s obscenities and sexual innuendo that is recorded in the diary is a regurgitation of his observations and what he has learnt from the Europeans therefore giving a truer picture of the events, making the choice of a diary as a structure relatively effective.
Although Toundi is naive is there doesn't the choice of words used by the author and the description of the condom incident for instance not portray the authors attitude towards western culture? What do you think, Jess?
DeleteThe condom signfy the concealment of the whites immorality. they think doing immoral activities behind closed door makes people unaware of the happenings, the blacks somehow discover all the immoral activities by the whites, from sleeping around to uncircumcised and many more...
DeleteThe author's portrayal of Toundi's naive reactions towards the obscenities spoken by the whites is used to show the perception towards the whites by the blacks. Churchmen are supposed to be suave and serene, however when they speak Ndjem while giving sermons, they sound obscene. This is used to show that however highly Toundi thinks of the whites, they will still be the ignorant whites who colonized Africa and made blacks their slaves. If this is the main message of the author, then why has he made the persona such that the persona has no negative attitude towards his colonials? This is so, because Oyono wanted to give the reason why the blacks were easily deceived and colonized; the fact that they believed that they were inferior and tried to be like the whites or as close as possible, "I am now the dog of the king".
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, these naive reactions can be contrasted to the "insulting" obscenities spoken by toundi's father, "you can take your mother to bed."
This obscenity truly insult Toundi and he replies back saying that he can't do such a thing. When this is compared to the shouts he got from the Commandant for being careless, we realize that the reactions are contrasting each other. For the latter, the reaction is just accepting the fact that one cannot argue back with a white master (however, you can with your real father).
The sexual innuendos are used to further ridicule the whites by satirizing their lustful nature. This degrades their superior nature and shows that anyone can reach the level of a dog, including the whites, and the blacks can climb the power hierarchy.
In your conclusion, you state that ' the blacks can climb the power hierarchy'. Is this evident in the novel, does Oyono present the African/African culture as superior through the use of obscenities and sexual innuendo? If so, how?
DeleteIn my opinion, the author’s portrayal of sexual matters as disgusting and offensive, normally not acceptable as standards of morality or decency, plays a pivotal role in characterizing the French missionaries, especially their violent, oppressive and unfaithful nature. Let us look at Father Vandermyer, for example. A priest would usually be seen as one who performs religious ceremonies and duties, which promote morality within their society. Yet, Father Vandermyer speaks of indecent treatment of the natives and approves of violent physical abuse against them, which is, needless to say, a paradox to the normal Catholic priest. Father Vandermyer’s preaching of imposing brutality on the blacks characterizes him as an oppressor, one who is violent, and a sadist, one who gains pleasure from hurting others. This is evident, in the case where he whips the native adulteresses in one of his obscene sermons, in order to show that the Europeans have authority over the Africans, and to remind the natives that this authority should not be tested. The Commandant’s wife brings out the unfaithful nature of the Europeans, on the other hand. Her sexual relations with Mr. Morreau and her infidelity, gives the reader the impression that the Europeans are generally not trustworthy. They are not faithful to their own people, so why would they be faithful to the natives. This reflects what truly occurred during the colonial period in Cameroon because the French Assimilation Policy was nothing but a sham, the poor Cameroonians were deceived, due to their naivety, into believing that they would be treated as equals regardless of their colonization, and clearly the novel shows that the Frenchmen made false-promises. All in all, the fact that the novel is full of obscenities successfully illustrates the violent and treacherous qualities of the Europeans, both in the novel and during the actual colonial times in Cameroon.
ReplyDeleteAbbas P
In my opinion, this novel is full of obscenities because of Toundi’s age. This novel contains the major events or key events that have shaped or affected Toundi’s life and specifically his character. Toundi’s identity crisis situation, led him to adapt to a new culture, the Frenchmen, through Christianity. “I am Father Gilbert’s boy” but “I am a maka” portrays the dairy being a means for evaluating his true identity if it were possible. As a result the French etiquette and mannerisms are continuously in conflict with his morals and traditions. To further emphasis, Toundi was taught how to read and write by the French, simultaneously witnessing cruel actions e.g. being kicked and whipping of the adulterers thus having a negative influence in his writing.
ReplyDeleteAlykhan
The novel 'Houseboy' by Ferdinand Oyono is packed with obscenities. It is highly unexpected in the African culture for one to use obscene language at any time or place and when obscene language is used it only shows the sheer scale of the situation and the intensity of the emotions involved.
ReplyDeleteToundi's father shouts obscenities at him when he went scrambling for the sugar lumps that were thrown to them by Father Gilbert. Toundi's father says that the only way he is going to accept him is trough his anus. Toundi is also referred to as a drop of his fathers liquid. In this scene the obscene language works to bring down Toundi completely.
In the African culture,any form of sexual innuendo, in public was considered taboo and was therefore highly unexpected. The use of obscene language was therefore the peak of abuse.
In toundi's diary (written by a black author), obscene language is subconciously used to ridicule the white man's culture and show how unclean it actually is. Father Vandermire, a priest, preaches obscenities to the blacks in a seperate sermon. This is used to demean them as the whites see themselves as more superior. This shows how hypocritical the French are.
The sexual innuendo has been used, in a naive way, from Toundi's point of view to show emotion and attitude towards the whites.
In general obscene language and sexual innuendo have been widely used, mainly as a way of ridiculing those involved in it.
(Adams Galgalo)
The novel is full of obscenities to reinforce the idea of how the European influence towards the local mandated African colonies. The fact that the priest themselves are the ones using the obscenities shows how corrupt the church is and that they don’t even follow their own morals brought about from the bible that they are supposed to be following. There are commandments in the bible that forbid the Catholics from using such obscenities and performing them as well such as adultery. A good example in the novel is when Father Vandermayer whipping people in the church. Toundi narrates Father Gilbert and Vandermayer being the ones performing the obscenities which reinforces the idea that even the church men are corrupt and that their religion or culture doesn’t seem to be as superior the Toundi’s or any other African culture. “He loves to beat the Christians who have committed adultery-native Christians of coarse...He makes them all undress in his office”. “Sunday after mass has become a terrible time for everyone who has father Vandermayer as spiritual director.”
ReplyDeleteI believe the author uses these obscenities and the church out of all things is responsible for these actions show the discrimination of the African people and their culture. The author makes Toundi’s diary full of these obscenities and sexual innuendo to show the Europeans for whom they are and that their culture doesn’t mean their superior because the author clearly shows using the church that they don’t abide to their own rules and instead of treating the inhabitants of the country with respect and dignity.
Daryl Howai