Themes in The Samaritan Act 2 Scene 3

The Samaritan Act 2 Scene 3 Issues and Thematic Concerns

1. Conflict

There is a conflict between the Mayor and Ramdaye and his group. Ramdaye mobilizes councillors to oust out Mossi from power. The Mayor organises and orders criminals to cause violence that will prevent such a meeting from happening and keeps his position (P. 74).

2. Determination 

Hon, Ramdaye, Hon. Seymour and Hon. Ted are determined to remove the Mayor Mossi from power by mobilising the entire municipal Council to pass the vote – of-no confidence motion against him (P. 75). 

The whole team goes ahead and talks to their rivals opposition chief, Hon Basdeo to join them (P. 80).

3. Role of Media

Basdeo is opportunistic and hopes to use the media networks and have the rally popularised and that their alliance unbeatable (P. 88).

4. Violence

The group that attacks Seymour, Ramdaye, and Ted burnt mattresses, tyres, appears sacks and team gas smoke (P.75).

The hooligans who attacked them almost hit Ted with a stone, hence they had to run so fast (P.74).

Mossi-oa-Tunya is known to be the smoke that thunders (P.75).

5. Corruption and selfishness

Hon. Ted says political entrepreneurs are very keen in making money. They vote with the stomach so as to speak. That means they will vote the side that gives more money (P. 77).

Hon. Ted also says that they need to pursue or buy a few members in order to meetthe two thirds majority required to remove the Mayor in office (P. 80).

6. Nepotism

Basdeo says that all the municipal funds are meant to develop the wards occupiedby members of Mossi’s ethnic groups (P.82).

7. Propaganda and Deceit

Basdeo testifies that politics is not about the truth, instead they have to evoke the emotions of the people (P.82).

Basdeo says they should be creative and divide Mayor Mossi’s ethnic groups from other races by emphasizing the difference. They should claim they have a smell of a beetle unlike other people who do not. They also believe in Obeah! (p.84).

They aim to set people against Mossi by finding speakers who are articulate in inciting people and will indicate how much Mossi is not development minded. They will mention his failure to build roads too (P.81-82).