AFRICAN DRAMA; Joe De Graft Sons and Daughters Discuss the character and role of Hannah in the play.

Answer Details

In Joe de Graft's Sons and Daughters, Hannah is the sympathetic schoolteacher who serves as the voice of reason and enlightenment in the family conflict. Though not a member of the Ofosu family, she plays a crucial mediating role and represents the values the play endorses.

Character. Hannah is intelligent, understanding and compassionate. As a teacher she is educated and progressive in outlook, believing that young people should be free to develop their natural talents rather than be forced into careers chosen for them. She is patient and tactful, able to speak frankly to James Ofosu without antagonising him. She is also honest and principled, standing in clear contrast to the scheming, greedy Lawyer Bonu. Her warmth and good sense make her a trusted confidante of the Ofosu children.

• Mediator between father and children. Hannah's central function is to mediate in the conflict between James Ofosu and his artistically inclined children, George and Maanan. She helps the father to see that George's gift for painting and Maanan's love of dance are genuine talents worthy of respect, not idle or shameful pursuits.
• Voice of the play's values. Through Hannah, de Graft articulates the theme that individual talent and self-fulfilment matter more than money and social prestige. She champions the idea that children should be allowed to follow their vocations.
• Foil to Lawyer Bonu. Hannah's integrity throws into relief the corruption of Bonu. Where Bonu manipulates the family for material gain, Hannah acts selflessly for the children's welfare, so that the two characters embody the opposing moral poles of the play.
• Agent of resolution. Hannah contributes to the change of heart that allows the play to move toward a happier resolution. Her counsel helps soften Ofosu's rigidity and encourages a more understanding relationship between the generations.

Significance. Hannah is important beyond her individual scenes because she embodies the reconciling wisdom the play recommends. She bridges the generation gap, defends the value of the arts, and exemplifies honesty in a household threatened by greed. As an educated woman guiding the family toward tolerance, she also reflects de Graft's belief in the civilising power of education.

Conclusion. Hannah is a compassionate, principled and enlightened figure whose role is to mediate the conflict between James Ofosu and his children, to voice the play's endorsement of talent and self-fulfilment, and to stand as a moral contrast to the greedy Bonu. She is, in effect, the conscience of the play and a key agent of its hopeful resolution.