Veronica – Why Doesnt Veronica Leave For The City?
The city is an elegant place to live. It calls to the people from the inferior village life. The
well led life followed by the city people offers many opportunities compared to the
hopelessness of village surroundings. It offers hope, the chance to be independent, the
chance of a job. In the story Veronica by Adewale Maja-Pearce, Okek* the ever lasting
friend of Veronica is drawn by the attraction of the city for the opportunities he sees for
himself. Veronica on the other hand does not desire to leave their decomposing village for
the city. She decides this for a number of reasons.
One of the reasons why Veronica decides not to go to the city is due to her lack of
education. She feels that the city has nothing to offer her and her place is the village. She
says,
What will I do when I get there, I have no qualifications not even a standard six
She is aware that she needs qualifications to succeed in the city and without them, she sees
no point in going.
Another reason associated with this is to do with Veronicas expectations. If Veronicas
expectations were not so low, she may have gone to the city with Okek*. Veronica says,
They are my family that is enough
This line is an example of Veronicas low expectations. She feels her family is enough and
she needs nothing else. Another example of Veronicas low expectations is when Okek*
comes back after ten years to find Veronica with a child a husband. Another example is,
