Lerionka agreed. The modernity reveal through Livingstone‟s characteristic trustworthy, he‟s identity as a Maasai who is educated and he is trustwothy.
Livingstone kept his promise to Lerionka. When Lerionka arrived in Arusha, he was then allowed to enter a school with the help of Livingstone.
5. Control
The fifth one takes to the issue of „control‟. The characteristic of modern
society is that people are meant to have control over lives, but they cannot have too much choice because this threatens the stability of society. So choice exists
but it is within boundaries. Once people are free from tradition, their choices are always of concern
for the governing elites. But still people are meant to control over their lives.
a. Lerionka
In the beginning of the story Lerionka was under the control of his father. His father is like Olaiguenani which means chief. what he says is final, he is the
one controling Lerionka‟s life. When he decided to send Lerionka to Arusha
instead to school, but when Lerionka try to explain to him that if he is not send to school. The white men will take the cattles,his father was furious.
„What is wrong with today‟s children is that they know to much. Let me tell you, i do not want your knowledge at all. I want you to follow this
way of life. I am going to slaughter an ox for you to take some soup. After that you will go to your uncle at Arusha. Do you understand?
p.38.
In the above quotation, shows his anger that his son thinks he know so much about life. Lerionka‟s father want his son to follow the Maasai way of life,
and not the life of the white men. It appears that Lerionka was so much in control
that even his father does not want to listern or understand what his son wants. For Lerionka there is only one choice and that is the Maasai way of life.
The modernity reveal through Lerionka‟s characteristic is caring, he
cares deeply for his father. There is a sense of respect towards his father Kariankei, that is the reason he does not want to argue with his father. Lerionka‟s
careness towards his father is strong he has no choice but to be control by his father.
b. Kariankei
One of Kariankei‟s characteristic is discipline, he controls the life of his son Lerionka. He wants his son to follow the Maasai way of life. He believes they
are wealth living the Maasai life since they have the cattles. The cattles give them meat and milk which is enough for them to survive.
“Of course i know that you do not like school. I know you are forced to go. We have all the wealth a person needs. If you follow what those
askaris said, that after school you will be employed and then you will buy more cattle, you will be lost
” p. 37. In the quotation above Kariankei wants his son to undersand that
following the ways of those will be get him no where. He told him that he will be lost, going to school then gets employed later buying cattles.
The modernity reveal through Kariankei‟s characteristic is discipline, he discipline his son Lerionka inorder for him to obey and behave the ways of a
Maasai.
c. Livingstone
