EXPERIENCE OF WAR BY ANIEFIOK IDIONG

Udo was the protagonist in the text, “Experience of war”. He had the character of independence. Udo, a boy not markedly separated from childhood, was about thirteen years old when the Nigerian civil war started. Udo was very strong at a tender age to face greater task above his age and shoulder responsibilities for his family during the war.

He was very observant and had the characteristics of remembering things. He noticed how their new house was built and the processes that were involved in building it.

Udo was a good listener, he heard the news of the war in his elementary class four when two teachers, were discussing one day on break time. Also when people, came to their house to listen to radio, in their discussions, Udo could pick names of towns that were not familiar to him.

As the text progressed, in chapter six. Udo, the protagonist was seen as an adviser. When his father learnt of the re-arrest of his son by Biafrans, he decided to confirm it. Udo advised him against it, he adhere to the advice and was eventually arrested.

Udo was smart. He was able to escape from the armed soldiers who arrested the father. Udo was responsible. When things became tough, he took responsibility for the family and sold some items to cater and provide food for them.

He had the characteristics of gratefulness. At several times, he gave thanks to God. He was thankful to God for his step sisters, who were alive.

He was thoughtful. He thought about what death was like and he defined it as a “dreaded event to the living which is favoured most by the dying because of the forces standing by them with promises of better and everlasting existence where suffering of any kind, resulting from war, hunger and diseases, has no place”.

Udo was brave and courageous at different occasions in the text. He acted as a father, brother and everything, even at his young age. Especially during the funeral ceremony of the mother. He was brave and courageous enough to survive the impediment the war brought.

Hatred and revenge is a character in the play that the protagonist possess. After a Biafran soldier confessed how he killed Udo’s father. Udo harbored a feeling of hatred against Uche (Biafran soldier) who had committed the worst sin against humanity. Udo promised that Uche would definitely pay clearly for the abominable crime. However, he plotted to kill the soldier by complaining to Akpan to get rat poison, as rat was disturbing. He tried to poison Uche, but did not succeed in his plight, as he was caught and accused of stealing. He confronted Uche for being responsible for killing his father. Uche was sorry and he was forgiven.

In summary, the character of the protagonist has contributed to the plot development of the text in that he was the narrator of the events associated with the Nigerian/Biafran civil war of the late 1960’s. He narrated the situations he experienced and the negative things that happened.