Exam season is coming up, which means learning about a lot of books in detail should they come up on the test. This can be exhausting as there are a lot of books to work through. Reading the books enough times to drill the information in is not fun nor is it even feasible. That’s why having a study guide like this on hand is so important. This guide is not a replacement for reading the book, it is more like a helpful FAQ to help you study.
Title of the book: The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born
Author’s name: Ayi Kwei Armah
Year of publication: 1968
Genre: social realism
Time when the action takes place: Between Passion Week in 1965 and February 25, 1966 – the day after the overthrow of Kwam Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president
Setting: Western region of Ghana
What are the themes of the book?
The overarching theme of this book is largely social pressure. The pressure to accept the bribe because of the way it would improve his life and please his wife vs pressure to do the right thing and reject the bribe. This is the most in your face example of pressure, and this pressure is shown in other characters too such as the naked man. The pressure to start a family that is ignored and the consequences of that.
What internal conflicts does the protagonist deal with?
The internal conflict of what makes something right or wrong. Is doing the right thing morally the right thing if its consequences are huge? If you have to steal to feed your family that’s wrong. You are acting immorally. But, is it worse to let them starve? Is it even immoral for your family to eat the food? Is acting immorally worth it if it prevents them from having to do so? This is an age-old question that the book touches on heavily.
What examples of immorality are shown in other characters?
Almost every character in the book does something immoral at one point or another. Whether those things are truly immoral or are just socially conditioned to be seen that way is up for debate. If the woman who smokes marijuana is breaking the law by smoking is it immoral? If yes, is it immoral in a place where it is legal? Is morality tied to law? If that’s the case, if the law changes to make murder legal is murder no longer immoral? If it isn’t immoral to smoke marijuana, why was the character punished with madness?
How is injustice presented in the book?
There are several instances of injustice. One of the most profound examples is the dockworker who lost his leg. It wasn’t his fault, yet he was the one who had to deal with it. He couldn’t take it anymore, so he killed himself. This is wholly unjust for obvious reasons. The corrupt politician is a self-explanatory example of injustice. Even something as minor as the protagonist’s wife, Estella, being angry that he did the right thing is unjust.
How was the book perceived by critics?
The book was generally perceived very well. There are some examples of it being described as too strong for the audience, but this is a matter of personal opinion. The book is very colorful in its language and imagery, and this can be quite contrasting with the harsh subject matter. The poetic description makes for a wonderful read but arguably doesn’t fit with the messages of the book. Conversely, it can exaggerate the question of morality. In the end, it all depends on your perception of the story.
Times:
- post-independence Ghana
- the masters were the white men, their language was English
- currency: pesewa
- president: Osagyefo
- the Nkrumah government
Style:
- the narrative often presents reflections (sometimes philosophical) on time / age / youth / life
- long sentences
- many details
Atmosphere:
- decadent
- dirty
- horrible
- lack of hope
Main characters:
The man:
- works for the Block (Railway & Harbour Administration Block)
- is a control clerk in the traffic Control Office at Kansawora Station
- Oyo, his wife, longs for a better life at all costs
- has three children; two daughters and one son: Deede, Adoley, Ayivi
- Koomson is his classmate in school
Joseph Koomson:
- Minister Plenipotentiary, Member of the Presidential Commission
- before joining the party was a dock worker
- represents the corrupt politician, Socialist Party
- Estella, his wife
Teacher:
- the naked man
- free from the burden of a family, but yet not free
Kofi Bill:
- dock worker
- lost his leg in an accident (a white man’s fault) – replaced by a wood-and-metal one
- commits suicides (hangs himself)
Sister Maanan:
- a beautiful woman
- finds escape in smoking wee (marijuana)
- goes mad in the end
Existential problems:
- Is the man a coward or a fool if he remains honest but as a consequence starves his family?
- The myth of Plato’s cave
- “Then everyone you know is a slave.” (p.55)
The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born is the writing on the wall that Africa has yet to cure that chronic festering wound, that deep cut, that shock, which independence left in its wake- disillusionment. I know we all would want to say: ‘better yesterday than today’; but no! That’s not the spirit. That’s not the stuff we’re made of. We gotta change it…shed it… We gotta do it!
The novel explains about the events occured in Ghana years after independence.it also explains about corrupt leaders who always embezzle public funds for their own interests..”it is really true that the beautyful ones are not yet born!”
IT IS AVIOUSLY A GOOD STORY.REFLECTS THE REAL CORRUPTED WORLD AND NOT JUST IN AFRICA. IT IS THE CASE FOR ALL COUNTRIES EVERYONE IS LOOKING FIR HIS OWN BENIFITS.I THINK THE BEAUTIFUL ONES WOULD NEVER BORN.
It’s true that “the beautiful ones are not yet born” and may be they will never born.Good choice of words; to represent what’s real going on in Third world countries. Leaders are corrupted and what they real do is to make sure that their stomach are fuller than their followers. Shame on them…
i just luve the book and the choice of words used.
The novel symbolizes the currupt leader dat they outh to av change
This novel is eye opening of what is really going on in countries after independence. It is shocking of how people protest for such things but at the end the majory ends up marginalized and in deep poverty. This novel basically portrays that picture and is so much enjoyable. it is actually quit motivating as well.
Indeed,this is a vivid and clear picture portraying the rotten nature of a corrupt African society.
The book; The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born explores the corruptible Ghana immediately after the day president Kwane Nkruma was overthrown. The book is set between 1965 and 1966 in western Ghana; Takoradi and Kansawora.
I am not surprised because this is what is stil happening in most Africa countries and nothing is done about it. can the beautyful ones be born?
AFRICA PASS ON MANY STRUGGLE IN POST PRE COLONIZATION THE BOOK REFLECT AFRICAN CORRUPTS,CULTURE AND POLETICAL DIS ORDER I LOVE IT YES THE BEUTIFUL WILL BORN BUT NOT YET IN AFRICA?
AFRICA IS THE POOREST CONTENT IT IS THE SADDEST THING FOR WE ALL AFRICA BUT AUTHORS LIKE CHINUA ACHEBE AND THIS GUNANIAN WRITER CONTRUBIT SOMETHING FOR AFRICA.THIS IS REALY INTERESTING AND MUCH IMPORTANT BOOK OF AFRICA.IN FACT MANY AFRICAN ARE NOT INTERESTING READING BOOKS BUT THIS BOOK HAS POWER TO ATRACT READERS.
It is avery gud buk,and it is recommed for students in english dept,it tells the story of a man who doesnt want to involve in corruption,and how koomson is comparing his own life to dat of d man,it also feature estella,koomsom’s wife who iz eager to have a car of her own and how shez behaving like a white woman,it shows flithy in the novel,as ai the yellow siliva and the latrine
I love the book but i wonder wether the beautyful ones will be born because those who remain good die in poverty while the corrupt get satisfied how long will this continue if only africans would decide to join forces n stop imitation of the whites the we would not have limited resources
i am doing research on the beautyfulones are not yet born please help me
the beautiful once will never be born so long as the the ugliest once still lives.
This novel should be taught at all levels of secondary education. Some other novels talk on scandals and do not seriously prepare non-corrupt leaders of tomorrow!
please can someone help me with the characterisation of the beautiful ones are not yet born?
it is a book that shows the extent in which corruption have gone deep into the minds of our leaders,