Synopsis

The lands where the people live have always been lush with vegetation, figs
and berries, flowering plants, and trees. Water has always been available to
quench the thirst of the people and travellers alike. But all this changes, a
seven-year drought casts its spell and soon the lands where the people live
become dry. The moisture in the earth is absorbed by the immense heat of
the blazing sun. There is no rain, and the people’s hope is dashed and they
become desperate. The people plant their crops and wait for the rain to fall
but there is no sign of the rain. They are driven by the despair, desperation
and fear to do irrational things. In their desperation, Mokgobja reveals a
tribal practice that would make the rain fall. The other adults soon perform
the ritual to please the rain god to make the rain fall.

Summary
The fertile land
Before 1958, the people enjoy the fertile land and water is available at
various places for them to quench their thirst. The land is covered with
trees, flowing plants and vegetation. Wild figs and berries are available to
be plucked as and when the needs arise.

The barren land

But all this changes after 1958, as a seven-year drought seize the land. The
landscape, which looks green and fertile, changes forms to become an open
dry-land and the places providing water vanish. The land transforms into
thorny bushes, withering trees and barren grounds. The seven-year drought
changes everything, rain becomes a rarity.

The beginning of the seventh year of drought, the people experience the
real torture of drought. With no rain the air becomes dry and moisture-less,
burning the skin when in contact with it. There is no way of escaping from
the intense heat.

The changes that the drought brings cause people to react in very peculiar
ways. Some men walk out of their homes and hang themselves from trees.
The people also seek the advice of charlatans, incanters and witch-doctors,
who they confide in to help overcome their problems. They hope that these
people would be able to help them by providing them with talismans and
herbs that would yield crops to grow for a good harvest, and the rain to
come. The ordinary people depend on the crops but efforts for the past two
years have gone to waste, as there is no sign of growth.

The falling rain

The people hope for a good down pour, but only slight rain comes in
November. However, the rain helps to loosen up the earth and a green layer
of growth covers the land for animals to feed on.

The peoples of the land are summoned to Kgotla, to hear the official
announcement on the start of the cultivation season. The people start to
go to the lands with their family members to plough.

Mokgobja, an old man over the age of seventy, his two little grandchildren
Neo and Boseyong, his daughter-in law Tiro, Tiro’s unmarried sister, Nesta,
and his son Ramadi, leave to start ploughing the land.

Ramadi and the two women clear the land of thorn-bush and fix hedges to
ward off the goats they have brought, from feeding on any of the growing
crops. Ramadi uses two oxen to loosen up the earth with a hand plough. The
land is ploughed and the family waits for the crops to grow. At night, the
land is alive with the activities and sounds of the insects in their search for
food.

The family waits for the crops to grow but by the middle of November, the
rain disappears. There is no sign of rain-clouds and the sky is empty, except
for the scorching sun. The sun is cruel and each day passes with the sun
sucking up the moisture from the earth and leaves it moisture-less.

Waiting for rain to fall

The family is left in despair, waiting for the rain to come, and the crops to
grow. In the beginning, they have high hope as the goats have started to
produce milk, which they mix with their porridge. Now they have only plain
porridge to eat without the milk. Nothing grows without water and so it
becomes an impossible task to plant crops like corn, maize, pumpkin and
water-melon.

The adults in the family just sit in the hut and become depressed. Both Neo
and Boseyong, on the other hand, are happy in their own world, which is
exciting to them. They behave in their childish manner, playing the game of
making houses and pretend to be their mother, often scolding or beating
dolls, which they make out of rag and stick. They chatter in soft voices and
the scolding of the dolls is heard all day long.

The other family members are too engrossed in their own world, hoping for
the rain to fall. They do not pay any attention to what the children are
doing. They are in despair waiting for the rain and they are at their
breaking-point with intense emotions building in them. There is nothing in
their mind except for the rain to fall. They wait for the rain desperately. All
other things are irrelevant and unimportant to them. Their animals are all
almost sold except for two goats. They are sold to buy food for the family.

Coping with uncertainties

The emotional intensity grows and the womenfolk let out the signs of
coming to their breaking-point. The two women cannot control themselves.
Every night they wail in frustration that builds up to frenzy behaviour,
stamping their feet and shouting, as if, to show their insanity. Their actions
are the cause of the death of the two little girls.

The men are also affected by the absence of rain and the trying conditions.
They suffer in silence and are still in control of their emotions. They exercise
refrain and try to maintain their composure. They do not want to let their
emotions out but hide them inside as it is important for men to behave
steady and exercise self-control. But, the truth is, they are also stretched to
the point of breaking. They know too well that starvation is the cause for all
this.
Finding a solution to the problem
Mokgobja, who is a seasoned and experienced old man, recalls a past event.
He recounts a ritual he has witnessed. He explains the ritual of a rain-
making ceremony based on an old practice. He tells the other adults of the
act and how rain would fall after the ritual, when a certain rain god is
pleased. The rain god only accepts the sacrifice of children.

Mokgobja talks with great confidence of the act and soon convinces the
other adults. Ramadi, too, is affected by the wailing of the two women. The
four adults start to conspire. The adults are determined to make the rain
fall. They perform the ritual and the two children are sacrificed. Their bodies
are spread across the land but the rain does not fall.

The family returns to their village

The rain does not fall even after the children are sacrificed. At night, there is
only total silence. During the day, the sun reigns to blaze and devour heat.
The family decides to return to the village.

The villagers start to ask the family of the two girls as they are not around.
The family tells them that the two girls have died. However, the villagers are
not convinced. They notice their faces which show tragic and fear. They
realise that something is wrong. It is not possible for the two deaths to
occur at the same time. The villagers become very suspicious that
something is wrong with the sudden death and burial of the two girls.

The police investigate

The police start to investigate. They question the family members. The
family members tell the police the same thing they have told the villagers.
The police ask them to show their graves. The mother of the two children is
not able to hold on any more and tells the truth. They have sacrificed the
two little girls to the rain god.

The murderers face the Consequences

The story of the children’s tragic death is the talk of the village. The law is
very clear about ritual murders and the sentence is the death penalty.
Ramadi and Mokgobja are both charged and sentenced to death for
committing ritual murder. The court rejects the excuse of the miseries and
sufferings the family members have gone through. They have behaved
irrationally. Those who have undergone miseries know that they too would
have done something like that, they would have also killed something to
please the rain god to make rain fall!

Setting
Setting in a short story refers to the place or geographical location where
the story takes place. Setting also relates to a particular time that is
referred in the story. Setting includes the environment or physical space, the
atmosphere or situation that causes an event to take place, and the socio-
cultural contexts of the people involved or portrayed in the story.

The story “Looking for A Rain God” is set in the village of Kgotla and the
surrounding areas, Africa. The story is set in the periods before and after
1958. Before 1958, the land is rich with trees, flowing plants and vegetation.
Wild figs and berries are available to be plucked as and when the needs
arise. But all this changes after 1958, as a seven-year drought seizes the
land. The drought changes the natural landscape. The land transforms into
thorny bushes, withering trees and the grounds become barren. This is the
physical setting and the changes to the land before and after 1958 are
visible.

The setting tells us about the people in the story based on their socio-
cultural or economic activities. It also reveals information of their socio-
cultural practices and beliefs. The people also rely on charlatans, incanters
and witch-doctors to help overcome their problems with the crops. The
actions of the people show that they believe in soothsayers, witchcrafts, and
live a primitive lifestyle. The use of the donkey as a mode of transport and
oxen to plough the land also show that the people live a traditional or
primitive life.
The people in the story live in an agrarian society, planting crops and raising
livestock. Thus, their economic activities depend on the rain.

Plot
Plot is the sequence of events in the story. Plot is seen as the structure of
the actions or events which are ordered to give meanings to the story. The
events or incidents that take place in a story are developed based on a
particular structure. The structure of the plot entails the 5-stage
development in the short story “Looking For A Rain God”. The 5-stage
developments are:
1. The Introduction or Opening Stage (Exposition)
2. The Rising Action Stage
3. The Climax
4. The Falling Action Stage
5. The Closure or Ending (Resolution)

The Introduction or Opening Stage (Exposition):

The story unfolds with the description of the land which is fertile and rich
before 1958. The people enjoy the fertile land and water is available at
various places for them to quench their thirst. The land is filled with trees,
flowing plants and vegetations. Wild figs and berries are available to be
plucked as and when the needs arise.

But all this changes after 1958, as a seven-year drought hits the land. The
landscape, which looks green and fertile, changes forms to become an open
dry-land and the places providing water vanish. The land transforms into
thorny bushes, withering trees and the grounds are barren. The seven-year
drought changes everything, rain becomes a rarity.

The Rising Action Stage

The people experience the real torture of drought. With no rain the air
becomes dry and moisture-less, burning the skin. There is no way of
escaping from the intense heat. The people hope for a good down pour, but
only slight rain comes in November. It helps loosen up the earth and then
the rain is gone. The sun is cruel and each day passes with the sun sucking
up the moisture from the earth and leaves it moisture-less.

Mokgobja, Ramadi, Tiro and Nesta are affected by the prolonged dry spell.
They feel despair and become desperate with the fear of starvation and the
rain not falling. The emotional intensity builds and the womenfolk let out the
signs of coming to their breaking-point. The men are affected by the wailing
and actions of the two women

Mokgobja recalls an ancient act to make the rain fall. He manages to

convince the others of the effect of the ritual and rain will fall. The others
agree with him.

Climax
They perform the ritual and the two children are sacrificed. Their bodies are
spread across the land.

The Falling Action Stage

There is still no rain. At night there is total silence. During the day, the sun
reigns to blaze and devour heat. The family decides to return to the village.
The villagers suspect something is wrong as the two girls are missing. The
family tells them that the two girls have died. However, the villagers are not
convinced as it is not possible for the two deaths to occur at the same time.
The police question the family members. The mother of the two children is
not able to hold on any more and tells the truth. They have sacrificed the
two little girls to the rain god.

The Closure or Ending

Ramadi and Mokgobja are both charged and sentenced to death for
committing ritual murder. They have to face the consequences of their
actions.
Character
The main character in the short story is Mokgobja who is than seventy years
old. The other characters (minor) are:
- Ramadi
- Tiro
- Nesta
- Neo
- Boseyong
Mokgobja, Ramadi, Tiro and Nesta are adults, while both Neo and Boseyong
are children.

What we can tell about the characters

Mokgobja
- authoritative
- emotional/sensitive
- impractical ( believes in dogmatic practices)
- unwise
- irresponsible
- irrational
- insistent
- determined
- selfish, self-centred
- disillusioned
- inhuman

Ramadi
- unrealistic/impractical (down-to-earth)
- irresponsible
- disheartened
- conspirator/ accomplice (in murdering the two children)
- inhuman
- irrational
- determined
- sensitive
- desperate
- feels despair
- insecure
- sensitive
- hardworking
- easily to be convinced or influenced

Tiro
- unsympathetic
- impractical
- inhuman
- unwise
- not assertive, emotional
- disillusioned
- determine
- guilt-conscious
- easily to be convinced or influenced

Nesta
- unsympathetic
- impractical
- inhuman, conspirator in murder
- unwise
- not assertive/ follows blindly/ emotional
- disillusioned/ feels despair/ feels desperate
- determined
- selfish, self-centred
- easily to be convinced or influenced

Neo and Boseyong

- innocent, naïve
- playful
- childish
- happy
- excited
- obedient
- living in their own child-world

Symbolism
Symbols are used in literary works for particular effects. In the short story
“Looking For A Rain God” symbolism is used to put the message across. The
two young children symbolise innocence and helplessness. They also
represent the future generation. The sun and rain are symbols of life. They
are important sources of life for people to live and carry out agricultural
activities.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Figurative language refers to language that provides more than its literal
meanings. This includes the use of words, phrases and expressions that are
rich in meanings. In the short story “Looking for a Rain God” the writer uses
figurative language:

“catch the rain in a cup it would only fill a teaspoon’

‘earth was alive with insects singing’
‘the sun danced dizzily in the sky’
‘the rain fled away’
‘the rain-clouds fled away’
‘the sky bare’
‘The sun sucked up the last drop of moisture out of the earth’
‘hung like a dark cloud of sorrow’
‘deathly silence at night’
‘devouring heat of the sun by day’

The writer makes some of the elements of nature behave like a person. This
can be seen in the following phrases
‘earth was alive with insects singing’
‘the sun danced dizzily in the sky’
‘the rain fled away’
‘the rain-clouds fled away’

The sun behaves like a person as shown in the sentence below:

‘The sun sucked up the last drop of moisture out of the earth’

IRONY
Irony is a literary element or device which is often presented through careful
and selected choice of language by writers and poets. Irony refers to the
meaning of something which is of the direct opposite. The irony in the story
is that both the children, Neo and Boseyong, are murdered brutally by the
people who are supposed to love, care and protect them. It is an irony that
the older generation ends up killing the younger generation; just to ensure
that they continue living.

Another element of irony is the sun which is supposed to be an important

source of live. But in this story, the sun is cruel and causes people to kill
themselves because of the intense heat. The sun sucks all the moisture in
the earth and all hope is lost.

Theme
Theme is the central idea running throughout the story. There may be more
than one theme in a short story. There are a few themes in the short story
“Looking For A Rain God”. The themes are:

The Forces of Nature

The theme deals with the forces of nature. Man is not able to control the
forces of nature but on the other hand, the forces of nature control and
affect man. In the story, the forces of nature are powerful and are able to
affect people’s behaviours. The sun is a great source of life but it is also a
great blazing ball of fire. It burns the skin when in contact, and absorbs the
moisture from the earth. The intense heat is unbearable. The rain is a
source of water for the people. It is a source of life as it is important for
living and the people depend on it for their agricultural activities. However,
the seven-year drought changes everything as there is no rain. The people
seek the help of charlatans, incanters and witch-doctors to make the rain fall
and to boost their confidence. The people have expected a downpour but
only slight rain falls in November. The forces of nature reign and cause the
people to suffer endlessly.

Irrationality
The theme of behaving irrationally is also depicted as a theme in the story.
People behave irrationally as a result of the unbearable heat. Some men just
walk out of their house and hang themselves. The two women, Tiro and
Nesta behave very irrationally and are almost losing their sanity. They fear
of hunger and are in a state of despair. Mokgobja becomes very irrational
when he tells Ramadi, Tiro and Nesta of a way to make the rain fall. The rain
god will be pleased with the sacrifice of children, and rain will fall. The most
irrational act in the story is the sacrificing of two innocent children to please
the rain god. Irrationality is seen as a theme throughout the story through
the actions and thoughts of the characters.

Humanity
The theme of humanity is also present in the story. Humanity is about caring
for one another, and protecting the innocent from troubles and dangers.
Humanity is against the killing of children or any person. Human sacrifice is
the thing of the past and is not practical in modern times, as there is law
and order. Moreover, it is morally and legally wrong to kill someone. Human
rights and laws provide for the protection of children and individuals. There
is no excuse to kill others in the name of sacrifice.

Despair and Desperation

The story relates to despair and desperation as a theme. Despair refers to
losing all hope and desperation is the drive to do anything without thinking
much of the consequences. The adults and the majority of people in the
story become despair. They do not see any hope and have given up on life.
They become desperate. The people become desperate and turn to
incanters, charlatans and witch-doctors to make their crops grow and make
the rain fall. A few men walk out their house and commit suicide because
they see no hope and are desperate. The two women act irrationally each
night by wailing on a mournful note that builds into frenzy. They are
desperate and fear of hunger. In despair and desperation, the adults kill the
two children to please the rain god to make the rain fall.

Life is precious
The theme also deals with suicide and tribal murder. The moral issue on life
is; no one has the right to take his or her life. Similarly, no one has the right
to take other people’s life too. Life is the gift of God and it is precious. In the
story, a few men walk out their house and commit suicide. The adults
murder the two children in a ritual to please the rain god. The value of life is
discussed as a theme in the story.

Protecting the younger Generation

The elder generation needs to protect the younger generation. This is one of
the themes in the story. However, this is not the case in this story. The elder
generation does the opposite; they kill the two children so that they may
continue to live. The protection of children is a theme in this story.

Tribal Practices versus Modernisation

The story deals with the theme of tribal practices which are unacceptable in
modern-day context. In today contexts, the world in changing and some of
the older tribal or cultural practices are not relevant and impractical. With
modernisation and education, tribal practices that are morally and legally
wrong are phased out. The punishment for tribal murder is being sentenced
to death. Law and order, which is practised in modern society, punish wrong
doers. Some dogmatic practices that are considered illegal based on law are
seen as irrelevant and impractical.

Moral Values
Moral values are important. The story teaches us some moral values.

1. It is important to appreciate the gift of life

The story teaches us to appreciate the gift of life. The gift of life is divine. As
humans we have a moral obligation to protect life and not to end it by
committing suicide. It is also against the law to take one’s life or to kill
others. In the story, two innocent and precious lives are lost because of an
irrational act of sacrificing children. It is also a brutal act. Life is too
precious. Mokgobja and Ramadi are sentenced to death for murdering the
two children. The sentence is a stern reminder to others that it is against the
law to carry out cold blooded murder in the pretext of tribal customs, rituals
and cultural practices. The story teaches us to appreciate the gift of life.

2. It is important to discard cultural or tribal practices that are

irrelevant
The story teaches to be realistic in life and discard tribal practices that are
irrelevant or that bring harm to the people. The tribal practice of making
rain by carrying out human sacrifice is irrelevant and against the law. The
customs of the land during the earlier days are different from that of present
time. In the story, modernisation and education have made way for law and
order. The court and police are present to uphold law and order. In the story,
the people believe in charlatans, incanters and with-doctors to help
overcome their problems. The people use talisman and herbs to make their
crops grow and the rain to fall.

3. It is important to be practical and act rationally

The story teaches us to be practical and learn to solve problems carefully.
There is a need for us to be realistic in life. It is important for a person to be
able to handle situations even under trying conditions. This is the reality of
living in a society. In the story, the adults are not practical and act
irrationally. They think it is fine to kill the two innocent children. Mokgobja is
over seventy years old and decides to take the lives of the two children to
make the rain fall and for the adults to continue living. There is a need for
us to find solutions to problems by thinking rationally and practically.

4. The Need for Proper Planning to Overcome Problem

The story teaches us that the forces of nature are powerful and that man is
under their mercy. There is a need to overcome problems that are caused by
the forces of nature. The story teaches us to be forwarding looking and to
anticipate any calamities. There is a need to plan and have ways to
overcome problems such as droughts or other natural phenomena. We
cannot stop the forces of nature, but we can prevent them to cause serious
damage.

Language
The writer uses a narrative style to tell the story. The writer uses the
narrative style to share the experiences the characters undergo. The writer
uses language and other literary elements or devices effectively. The other
literary devices or elements are imagery, symbolism, irony and figurative
language.

IMAGERY
Imagery is chosen words or phrases that involve our five senses. These
words and phrases give us a picture-like experience in our mind. The writer
also uses words that work on the five senses of the readers. This provides a
wholesome experience to the readers. In “Looking for a Rain God” the sense
of sight, the sense of hearing and the sense of touch, are clearly notable
through the use of words and phrase.

The Sense of Sight

The use of words and phrases to relate to physical objects and elements of
nature such as rain, wild flowers, figs, sun, cup, teaspoon , talismans,
herbs, rags, porridge, milk, rag-dolls, bodies, village, thorn-bush, and
water. These objects are visualised by the readers as they read the story.
These words relate to the sense of sight as these physical objects and
elements of nature can be seen or visualised.

The writer describes the places and the experiences, giving a vivid picture of
the geographical locations and the landscape. The phrases below show the
fertile land before 1958.
‘vast clearings in the bush ’
‘wells to quench their thirst’
‘shady watering places
‘lush tangled trees’
‘delicate gold-pale and purple flowers’
‘wells to quench their thirst’
‘shady watering places’
‘soft green moss’

The writer describes the places and the experiences, showing the
transformation from the lush fertile land to indicate the opposite. This is the
landscape after 1958.
‘dismal as the dry open thorn-bush country’
‘leaves of trees curled up and withered’
‘the moss become dry and hard’
‘ground turned a powdery black and white’

Sense of hearing
The writer uses words and phrases that refer to sound such as rain, hear the
proclamation, insect singing, rustling, chattered, soft tones, scolded, high-
pitched wailing, low mournful note, frenzy, whispering, deathly silence,
murmur, and broke down. These words make the readers experience the
events in the story in specific contexts.

Sense of touch
The sense of touch is also important. These words and phrases are used to
relate to the sense of touch; burned the skin, devouring heat of the sun, the
air was so dry, moisture-free, and escapes the heat.