Humphrey Dibia is a Nigerian writer who x-rays the society he knows very well. The society that is ridden with corruption, bribery, exploitation and marginalization among other vices. It is evident that Dibia’s work yields itself readily to the sociological approach to criticism. True, the sociological criticism of literature justifies itself in the relationship between society and art. Art, it should be noted is not created in a vacuum. It is the outcome of not only a person, but also an individual who lives in time and place and is responsible to the community of which he is an important member. The society of Dibia’s art is depraved, sick, corrupt, sordid, putrefied, materialistic and crisis ridden. He had portrayed this in the twenty-seven chapters of his novel A Drop of Mercy. The title of the novel is significant and emblematic. To this end, this essay will x-ray the thematic preoccupation of the novel with regard to social, political and economic issues in our society. The story revolved around Miki and Jordana. Miki is a poor, intelligent, handsome and ambitious person whose background provides no opportunity for him to climb to the top of who is who in the society. Miki’s father is Corporal Ikeji, a war veteran who works in the railway cooperation as headman of his gang. He died inspecting the rail lines on his beat after a heavy downpour.
Miki was just twelve years old when his father died. The family was subjected to abject poverty and deprivation. With five other siblings to look after, Miki vows to be a “big man” after school and provide a better accommodation and education for his poor mother and siblings away from the crumbling old house in which they all lived at Malu road in Ajegunle. Miki is depicted to be focused, ambitious and hardworking. His intelligence is displayed when he negotiated his way to get bursary allowance. This helped him immensely to take care of his siblings and as well his own education at the university. When he met Jordana the daughter of the Arab business tycoon, Hosinial Fatal, he smartly befriends her. Jordana is described by the author as an “elegant Afro-Arab lady; smart, cool detached, and very chick” (12). Jordana grew up under the domination of his autocratic father and mother who, at best could be described as passive. Jordana is depicted as a strong willed woman whose inclination is to live independently. She was able to secure a Bursary award and a grant under the government’s loan scheme for students like Miki the hero of the novel. Both of them met at the University Bursary office. They were there to negotiate with the corrupt Bursar on how to maintain the Bursary award and students’ loan scheme simultaneously. Jordana was a smart “classic” girl who knows how to maneuver her way into the heart of people. This, she did effortlessly with the fat clerk at the accounts office. Even though, it is impossible for a student to benefit from the bursary allowance and still get a government’s student loan scheme but this two “smart genius” bribed the official and had their way. It was one of the long quell at the Bursary that he encountered Jordana. Miki whose poor background made him to be smart and reasonable saw the opportunity to woo Jordana and they became friends. The novel depicts the university as a place where all manners of social vices exist. This includes bribery and corruption, sexual gratification, immorality etc.
The accounts clerk and the cashier are symbols of bribery and corruption in the novel. They perpetuate corruption through their offices. Likewise, Miki and Jordana are representatives of individuals, and students who offer bribe to government officials to get what they want. It is significant to know that the society in which the writer describes is a society of the very rich and very poor, a society ridden with desolation, hardship, exploitation, materialism and subjugation. Thus, the character of Dr. Gamar Eteng as a socialist is remarkable. The author creatively deployed him in the novel to be the voice of the masses. He is vociferous to the social inequalities in the Nigerian society, through his symposiums, seminars and campaigns, Dr. Gamar made a lot of students’ followership. His boldness to speak out against the social injustice that exist between the “haves” and the “have not” in the novel is because of the growing tendency of moral and social depravity in Lagos/Nigeria. He is a refined scholar, a Marxist persuasist, and a distinguished political scientist in Nigeria. His eloquent speech in his symposium is captivating and revealing. Thus, he says “unless we galvanize our huge human, economic and socio-cultural resources now, unless we channel them all to confront the challenges of these times, we must resign ourselves to remaining forever the object of self-degradation, the pitiable recipients of cast away gifts, the sad personification of a message to the world’s industrial races that a nation can be a dismal failure even with all its potential..” Gamar’s comment in this regard is apt and insightful.
It is pertinent to know that the novel’s profound thematic reality is the social and moral decadence in the Nigerian society. In this vein, the narrator attempts to expose the dangers of drug trafficking, bribery and corruption, sexual gratification, sorting etc. Through the characters of Miki and Jordana, the author brings to the purview of the negative consequences of drug trafficking. Miki, who graduated from the university, with a second class upper hoped to get a good job that will secure his future, immediate family, and keep his girl friend happy. Unfortunately, the decent and lucrative jobs are meant for the children of the super rich. After his NYSC service in Kaduna, he faced the harsh realities of living in Lagos.
This apathy captured the narrator’s voice “No one offered free lunches in naira-greedily Lagos”. The author clearly captures the rottenness and level of decay in the environment through imageries and metaphor: “It was also fool-hardy to take government jobs other than the contract-awarding ones. It wasn’t as though elsewhere there were no extra pickings. There are certainly were, thanks to “kola” “your-file-is missing sir, clear light robbery with smiles.” (45)
The above passage suggests that the society is corrupt and everyone in one way or the other is culpable of the ills in the society. Top government officials were looting the common wealth, converting public property to one’s personal assets while those who were not opportune to loot money accept kickbacks, as “Kola” etc. The situation Miki found himself as a low cadre civil servant left him a prisoner of “epa and boli” and a victim of “paye.” It should be noted that out of frustration to satisfy the needs of his girl friend Jordana, and his family, Miki is lured into the ruthless drug trafficking business, which led him to acquire so much wealth and property.
However, on his path to wealth, he lost his humanity; so many innocent and unsuspecting young people are callously used, and tramped upon in the quest to acquire wealth. It is therefore evident that the novel explores what goes on in our society. The writer, no doubt x-rays the Nigerian society of the military era. The detail description of the events in the novel is pungent. Miki’s ill-gotten wealth attracted so many people to him. At last, he and Jordana paid dearly with their lives. In “A drop of Mercy”, hoodlums, miscreants, and outlaws who acquired wealth by all means are worshipped and held in reverence. They swindle, intimidate and brag about their wealth and carried out eye-service philanthropy. This is clearly seen in the character of Amadi, a wealthy semi-literate man. He is one of the very successful contractors who display charity with hypocrisy.
It is instructive to note that Debia portrayed the typical Nigerian society where greed, corruption, unbridled acquisition of wealth, duplicity, aberrations of all calls and degrees held sway and beclouded the orderly progress of the citizens towards some better future. Virtues such as integrity, honesty, chastity, truthfulness, and hard work are trashed into the dustbin in the quest of survival. Social values, order, common sense, decorum and positive vision of great depth are thrown overboard. Everything is money. Honesty and integrity in ministries, offices is replaced with “Kola” as Kick back and dubious award of contract to greedy contractors. The omniscient narrator who sees all and as well knows all even the thought of the characters narrates the events of the novel by telling the extent of decay in the society. Thus, the author records that honesty has gone to the winds, hard work, gone to the drains. It is now a society conscious of money, money, just make money; people will appreciate and celebrate you. The themes of the novel are socially relevant because it explores the social and moral issues that act as clog in the wheel of society progress and development. It is significant to note that Dibia’s craft is exquisite. This he achieved, through projecting a topical issues with a colourful blend of simple English language, French and Spanish. He also, extensively used figure of speech, flash back and suspense. His plot is simple, his diction is impressive and enthralling. This style of writing has come from a socially committed writer whose aim is to use literature to teach, educate and criticize the society for development.
It is, therefore important to note that the author has eye for details especially in the descriptions of scenes, sceneries, harsh conditions of life in Lagos, experiences etc. The author deployed the use of Spanish in the novel to achieve a certain purpose; however, this could pose a threat to his reader. Moreover, it serves as a literary instrument, which enhanced the creativity, cadence and aesthetic of the novel.
Again, his use of suspense is phenomenal. His characters portrayal follows a psychological pattern and his setting authenticates verisimilitude. His characters are true to type. In this regard, a sociological critic is concerned with the social, economic and cultural issue that is inherent in the novel. Thus, the characters are portrayed to reflect the social, political and economic realities of the society.
In conclusion, it is the considered opinion of the essayist that any piece of literary work, whose background is anchored on the sociological criticism, be it novel, poetry, or drama clearly sets out to interpret the socio-political, economic and cultural realities of the society. Among other things that are considered in the analysis of such literary works is how the characters experiences are portrayed to reflect the prevailing social realities and as well provoke thought from readers while recreating the mind through the exposition of human follies.
It is therefore, interesting to note, that Dibia’s “A Drop of Mercy” has succinctly captured how corruption, inefficiency, bribery, greed, materialism etc has eaten deep into the fabrics of the human society using the Nigerian society as a clear example. The Philosophy behind his craft is couched in poetic justice. Thus, man’s tendency to acquire wealth in dubious ways is disastrous. Thus, it is a truism that the reign of evil is temporal and destruction awaits any greedy, corrupt and selfish individual whose ill-gotten wealth improvised, oppressed, maim and destroys innocent souls. The novel is didactic. It is creatively enriched with moral lesson. It is therefore apposite to say that, the novel underscores the sociological theory that articulates the social, political, economic and cultural issues of the society.
WORKS CITED:
Burke, Kenneth “literature as equipment for Living” Critical Theory. Since Plato. Harcourt Brace Jovanoich, New York: 1971 p. 43. http//www.jestro.org.
Humpherey, Dibia: A drop of Mercy. Learn Plc Lagos. 2016.
Kanu, Kenneth: A Hand Book to Critical Theory/Practical Criticism with a Glossary of Literary Terms. Cel-Bez Publishing Co.Ltd. 2008.
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Chidiebere Enyia is one of the brightest rising author, poet and essayist in Nigeria. Born in Owerri Imo– State. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in English and Literary Studies Imo – State University, Owerri. He is a member of Association of Nigerian Authors and the coordinator of Owerri writers’ forum (OWF). Chidiebere writes prose fiction, poetry, short story, drama and critical essays. His published works include, Sometimes in Hardship (2011), Once Upon A Hard Time (2013), Chants of A Messenger Poet (2019). He has been published in National and International Journals, Magazines, anthologies and Newspapers. His poems appeared in ANA Imo Ogele, ANA Review, African Drum (Kenya), Ebedi Review etc in 2018, his short story titled Tears of a Biafran Child was long listed in K & L Prize Organized by a Nigeria-born Zealand writer. Chidiebere has participated in etisalat flash fictions, farfina creative workshop etc.