Comparative Analysis of Fidelis Okoro's Quagmire and Emeka Nwabueze's A Parliament of Vultures
A comparative analysis entails
the comparison of one thing to the other. Based on this, we shall compare both
texts under survey in a bid to bring out the similarities and differences in their
structural framework.
When comparing these texts, one is sure to
take a critical examination of them which comprises their faults,
inappropriateness in relation to language usage and thematic structure, and
their specifics as regards the sociological perspective upon which is the scope
of this study.
In comparing both texts, the
profound similarity in them is political incorrectness. Both texts explore into
the fact that politics in Nigeria lacks the required democratic and diplomatic
standards seen in a well established society-conscious government. Quagmire
as well as A Parliament of Vultures suggests that state power in the
country is seen as a means of production for the leaders – a means through
which they gather and store wealth for personal aggrandisement. On one hand,
that is, Quagmire, commissioners award contracts to themselves and
embezzle money as though it were an established routine in the country, and on
the other hand, that is, A Parliament of Vultures, it has become a
deliberate discussion in the parliament that embezzling of money is a most do
thing. Madam Omeaku exposes the level of corruption in the parliament thus:
Madam: what have I achieved?
Because I now live in my own fifty acre estate, completed three buildings in
Commercial Avenue, and set up an import and export business for my husband to
manage, you think I’ve achieved much? I feel I’m too slow. So far, I’ve been
able to purchase only three different models of the Mercedes, one model of BMW,
and a Lexus, and sent my children to study in America (sit. Six)
Her argument,
however, is that she has not achieved enough and still needs to achieve more.
The exposition is the callousness which exits amongst politicians in the
country. In a bid to understand the political society of the country, one can
refer to the text as Plato referred to the plays of Aristophanes in
understanding Athenian society. Both texts underline the fact that politics is
a serious business in Nigeria and that the sole aim of politicians is to get
rich and power.
In this comparative analysis,
other similarities abound. Quagmire has employed the character of George
Ide George, while A Parliament of Vultures employs Dr Parkers and Mr
Otobo. These characters in both texts share a common sense of development,
change, and advancement in the polity of the society. Dr Parker returns from
the USA after 15 years, while George returns from the same country after 30
years. Parkers and Otobo in A Parliament of Vultures are against the
corruption in the parliament, while George in Quagmire thinks he can use
his office of the executive governor to transform the country. As both texts
attack the corruption of the president of the country, one should be right to
support the argument that every man must be corrupt in Nigeria. Both Dr. Parker
and George Ide George represent a situation in the country where the good are
excoriated and the bad exonerated; a situation where the society is harsh and wicked,
and constrains one who tries to move forward for achievement.
Couple of argument have been raised that
one can’t survive in this part of the world without one being callous and
cruel. Based on this near fact, the society becomes so hostile that the highest
form of achievement especially politically can’t be met with if the one involve
is not hostile, corrupt, and cruel as well. The politics of Nigeria is such
that everything speaks of corruption insomuch that people become corrupt to get
what they want. If not so the hostility in the society swallow’s you up and put
you in jail. This expression is directly explained by both lets in the
character of Dr Parkers and Mr Otobo in A Parliament of Vultures and
George Ide George in Quagmire.
The infidelity in the characters
of Madam Omeaku and Elsie can also be compared as a similarity. However, the
difference is that the former’s infidelity is based on her influence and power
in the family – as a chief breadwinner who does whatever she wants, while the
latter’s is based on her supposed loneliness and inability to control her sex
urge.
Though the texts are compatibly
similar, certain differences abound. In contrast, A Parliament of Vultures
suggests that the solution to the corrupt political system in the country is
revolution. A group of students, after the conspiracy by the parliamentarians,
to arrest Dr Parkers and Mr Otobo, resolve to revolt against the government.
While Quagmire concludes that the situation has no solution. George Ide
George is overpowered by his commissioners who decide to join opposition party,
and the state is thrown into chaos after a state of emergency was declared by
the federal government.
Given the similar use of
language in the texts in that Madam Omeaku, as well as Chief Otakampi, uses the
Pidgin English as the case be in her educational status, the difference,
however, in both texts is that A Parliament of Vultures, sometimes,
accords Madam Omeaku good English in contrast with Chief Otakampi’s stark
illiteracy and continuous use of the Pidgin English in Quagmire.
Meanwhile, the trouble with
these texts is their flavour of the West. Dr Parkers and George Ide George both
return from the USA and while George incessantly brags to have attended Havard
and was Barrack Obama’s classmate, Dr Parkers keeps suggesting professor Dogon
Turenchi of the University of Songhai for an appointment, this action driven by
his belief that someone based in Nigeria cannot be trusted with political
power.
These actions suggest that both
texts are in league to capture the superiority of the West over Nigeria, and that
anything good comes from that part of the world.