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EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu                                                                                                                                 Page 132 
 

THE COMMUNITY AND CHARACTER FORMATION OF THE 

YOUTHS IN THE EMEKA NWABUEZE'S LACHRYMOSE 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu 

Department of Theatre and Film Studies, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka 

E-mail:aghameluhelen@gmail.com 

 

Abstract 

Most social vices displayed by youths are traceable to poor character 

formation. Since this group of the citizenry are also regarded as the greatest 

asset of any society, it is necessary that the right set of values are inculcated in 

them early enough to ensure that they display good character. Character 

formation is a holistic role that needs to be performed at every developmental 

stage of an individual. However, it is also observed that character formation is 

a product of many variables within the environment of the individual. In line 

with the foregoing, this, paper highlighted the role the community can play in 

forming the character of youths within its domain, as represented in the play, 

Lachrymose by Emeka Nwabueze. Using content analysis method, the paper 

discovered that the community is a formidable force in this quest and 

recommends that the community, through its various agencies should see it as 

a duty to direct or re- direct the youths towards a positive character display. 

Keywords: Youth, Character, Community, Character formation. 

 

Introduction 

Playwrights since time immemorial have adapted the medium of play as a tool 

to express their thoughts and beliefs pertaining a given issue in a society. 

Thus, plays reflect contemporary issues within a given society. Lanre 

Adenekan and Ogakason Rasheed assert that “the contemporary Nigerian 

playwright bears a mark of ideological commitment and patriotism in his 

plays”(69).Drama is a presentation of life actions. The dramatist, through his 

works attempts at presenting a better understanding of the human nature. 

Nzebunachi thus observes that “elements of drama the audience to experience 

solidarity and commitment to basic values which in turn impacts their ethical 

fiber “(15). Every dramatic work therefore has a function to perform because 

as H.L.B. Moody observes, “ a drama speculates not only  on what is bad but 

on what ought to be or what must not be”(31). Drama therefore is an effective 

means of creating societal awareness because it has a unique way of 

presenting events in a vivid and realistic manner. 

 

Emeka Nwabueze is a Nigerian playwright that has used his plays to expose 

his commitment to the needs of the society by using “his art to make his 

audience conscious of the short comings of the society “(163).His reflections 

on art and the society in general are quite constructive. The choice of the play 

Lachrymose in this paper is based on the playwright’s unique manner of 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu                                                                                                                                 Page 133 
 

presentation of the subject matter and his subtle manner of using characters to 

animate the character display of youths. To this end, this paper examines the 

approaches highlighted by Nwabueze that the community can adopt to ensure 

that the youths are inculcated with the right character so as to contain social 

vices among them. This study, therefore focuses on the impacting role of the 

community in directing or redirecting the youths in their character displays as 

is represented in the play Lachrymose by Emeka Nwabueze. 

 

The Community and Character Formation of Youths 
Character is the behavioural quality that distinguishes an individual from 

others. It is a reputation that differentiates one person from another. A 

dictionary definition of character states that it is “the stable or distinctive 

qualities built into an individual’s life which determines his or her response 

regardless of the circumstances. “Character therefore is not different from 

behaviour which is defined by Uba Emmanuel as “the exhibition of 

sensibility, attitudes, beliefs, skills and dispositions that render an individual 

morally matured”(42).  Character formation therefore is the grooming of 

quality/qualities of behaviour that are either positive or negative. Character 

formation is a result of competing influences around the individual. 

 

Psychologists such as Sigmund Freud Jean Piaget, Albert Bandura, etc, 

believe that character formation is influenced by many variables which must 

be closely observed in relation to the character of the individual. The 

environment/community in which the individual domiciles is one of such 

variables. 

 

The community is literally defined as a group of people who live together 

within a geographical location. Every community has the characteristics of 

providing opportunities for the youths to explore, express, learn etc, through 

such avenues as families, neighbours schools, religious centers, recreational 

centers etc. This gives it a good position in the character formation of its 

members. According to Hobson and Spanglar, “the religious and spiritual 

activities available in the community could be means for positive youth 

development as they enhance association among community members… and 

provided sustained sources of activities for youths”(15).  

 

Youths are believed to be highly influenced by the opportunities or constraints 

available to them in the community. This is because every community has 

rules and regulations that guides its behaviour. Detecting deviant or positive 

character is therefore possible because these behaviours are categorized by the 

community as either on the positive side or on the negative side. A community 

needs to view itself as being responsible for the moral growth of its young 

generation by encouraging them to adhere to accepted norms and values. This 

can be encouraged by monitoring and observing the character development of 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu                                                                                                                                 Page 134 
 

the youths and either direct or redirect them as is deemed necessary. A 

popular African proverb states that “it takes a whole village to train a child“. 

This witty saying sums up the importance of the community in the character 

formation of youths. 

 

Brief Synopsis of the Play Lachrymose 
Lachrymose is a play that vividly x-rays the erosion of moral values in the 

society. Through the family of Ezennia and Ochiora, Nwabueze makes vital 

comments on the various influential factors on the behavioural display of 

youths. He uses the characters to capture the variables responsible for youth 

behaviour with particular emphasis on the family, the government, the peer 

group and the community in general. Using such themes as corruption, 

intergenerational conflict, deception, greed etc, Nwabueze creates a play that 

touches every member of the community. 

 

Set in a contemporary Nigerian town, the play opens with the rehearsal of a 

dance meant to be used to welcome the dignitaries that are coming to aid the 

victims of flood disaster that has recently ravaged the town. The women use 

the gathering to voice out their opinion on some issues concerning the 

community. In the course of the discussion, the women realize that they are 

not sure of equitable distribution of the funds meant for the victims of the 

flood disaster, due to corruption. To abate this, some women decide to visit 

Ochiora to intimate her on the character of her daughter, Nkechi, which is 

affecting the entire community negatively. In addition to this, some pensioners 

also decide to effect change by embarking on a business aimed at remixing 

some popular philosophical musical tunes in order to redirect the thinking of 

the society especially the youths. However, their effort is thwarted by the 

kidnapping of Ezennia, one of the major contributors to the project. Nkechi 

and Ikenna are later arrested for the offence and handed over to the law.  

Nwabueze in the play presents community as an influential factor that plays 

an observatory role in the character formation of youths. 

 

The Community and Character formation of youths in the play 

Lachrymose 

 The playwright through the activities of the women portrays a community 

which regards the character display of their young ones as a communal affair. 

Three major communal responsibilities are brought into focus in the play. 

These includes establishment of rules, observation/monitoring and redirecting. 

The three women that paid Oçhiora a visit demonstrate this spirit of 

observation/monitoring..It is this observational spirit of the community that 

the playwright uses to avail the women the opportunity to discover the 

negative character of Nkechi and their resolve to redirect her by informing her 

mother, whom they expect to take positive action. This is seen in the 

conversation below: 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu                                                                                                                                 Page 135 
 

OCHIORA: You are welcome my sisters… 

OCHEZE:  ..Ochiora umu-agbala, we are here on an important 

errand. We’ve come to speak to youabouta very 

important matter that pricks our hearts…(18). 

OMELOGO:  … We are friends not enemies, and our mission is a 

friendly one. 

BEATRICE:  …The art of being wise is the technique of knowing 

what to overlook and what to amplify (19). 

The conversation above is used by Nwabueze to prepare Ochiora on the 

seriousness behind the visit. Though the information may not be palatable, the 

women feel that there is need for their observation to be made known to the 

mother of the offending youth. 

The playwright also uses the visit of the women to emphasis that character 

building is a communal responsibility and should not be left for the parents 

and care givers alone. This is also revealed thus: 

BEATRICE:  The wisdom of being a Christian mother is the ability to 

stand beside your colleagues in periods of stress and 

difficulty. It entails one being ones sister's 

keeper…(19). 

OCHIORA:  I’m waiting. 

BEATRICE:  We have come to talk to you about your daughter, 

Nkechi… You have an only daughter, Nkechi. Her 

waywardness is shameful and it is our duty to call your 

attention to it if you are not aware…(20-21). 

OCHEZE:  we are Christian mothers and it is our duty to protect 

the integrity of our colleague’s daughter (23) 

 

The above reveals that the women, after observing the direction Nkechi’s 

character is going decide to embark on this task because they perceive it as an 

obligatorycommunal function that will help the young lady, Nkechi, to re- 

trace her footstep and desist from the observed negative character display. The 

women therefore use the opportunity to demonstrate their communal concern 

in the character formation of Nkechi, 

The women’s visit was initially resented by Ezennia and Ochiora but having 

realized the communal obligation and importance of the visit, Ezennia soft 

pedals on his stand and tries to convincehis wife to give the women a listening 

ear. 

Ezennia:  Mydear, take it easy, let’s hear them out… 

Although Ochiora is shocked by her husband’s decision to listen to the 

women, Ezennia further stresses this need with  the following proverb: 

Ezennia:  My dear, whoever sees a fowl shuffling over faeces 

should drive it away for no one knows who will eat the 

fowl’s leg…(26). 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu                                                                                                                                 Page 136 
 

The need for communal responsibility in character formation of the youths is 

emphasized by Nwabueze in the above proverb. He is suggesting that the 

character display of every child, in the long run, affects every member of the 

society, hence the need for all to have a sense of obligation to be part of their 

character formation. This means that the community should be free to 

exercisesome form of commitment in nurturing the young generation towards 

positive character formation. As Ezennia further states: 

Ezennia:  …one finger alone cannot catch a louse from the 

head.(26). 

 

The proverb above also gives further insight into the sentiment Nwabueze 

shares regarding the role of the community in the character formation of 

youths. It vividly supports the idea that it is the combination of the efforts of 

people around the child that actually contribute to the shaping his character. 

Raising a child in the traditional African society is therefore a collective 

responsibility. It is not left alone for the parents to shoulder. It is worthy of 

note that detecting negative character display is only possible when the 

characters are categorized by the community as either being acceptable or 

unacceptable.  

 

Nwabueze is able to effectively establish through the characters that for the 

community to succeed in the character formation of youths, there should be 

set down rules that govern the character of the youths. It is in this aspect that 

the playwright offers an appealing dimension that the community should have 

established norms and values that are acceptable by all within the community. 

Thus some norms and values in the community are emphasized by the women 

in the play. 

 

In order to stress the communal abhorrence of promiscuity associated with 

having indiscriminate sexual relationship with different men, the playwright 

weighs this with the communal acceptance of sticking to one sex partner even 

if it means eloping the person. Thus Omelogo explains to Ochiora: 

OMELOGO:  …It is better to concentrate on  one man…than to jump 

from one man to another which constitute your 

daughter’s behaviour.(23).  

 

The women emphasize the community’s preference of Nkechi eloping with 

one man than having indiscriminate sexual relationship with many men.  

On the issue of abortion, Nwabueze reveals through the women that the 

community would rather prefer a girl having a child outside marriage than 

engage in indiscriminate procurement of abortions as Nkechi is observed to 

engage in. Beatrice informs Ochiora thus: 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu                                                                                                                                 Page 137 
 

BEATRICE:  … To have a baby at home is better than aborting it. 

Abortion is murder. And that is the stock-in-trade of 

your daughter and her friends.(23) 

 

Nwabueze uses the conversation above to highlight some vices that are not 

acceptable in the community which Nkechi is observed to be displaying. 

Close monitoring enables the community to detect any form of anti social 

character display amongst its youths. 

 

Members of the community should therefore be very vigilant and make the 

observation early enough to be able to reverse such unwanted character. The 

community is also presented by Nwabueze as an advisory agent for immediate 

family in the characters formation of the youths. Because most of the 

characters of youths are displayed outside the family, the community should 

see it as its duty to advice the immediate family of the youths on what should 

be done to keep them on the right track by playing some advisory role. Thus 

Ugodie advises Ochiora: 

Ugodie: you should teach your children to listen to elders and comply 

with their directions…(12) 

 

Beatrice also emphasizes her displeasure with Ochiora in the following words: 

Beatrice:…We are disappointed that your philosophy crumbles when one 

weighs it with the actual situation of your family(20) 

 

The women also observe that Nkechi is also involved in corrupt practices. 

Beatrice informs Ochiora that Nkechi also “colluding with the officers of the 

committee to streak and sell materials donated to the flood victims”(25). All 

these information are necessary to help Ochiora to bring her daughter to order 

in order to avoid eventualities as Ocheze warns: 

OCHEZE: you may not know it but ashes are known to fly back into the face 

of the one who throws them…(25). 

 

The above is to remind Ochiora that once the community, as represented by 

the women, is done with its duty; it is left with the immediate family to adhere 

to the advice given and to take positive action regarding their children’s 

character formation. Failure to do so, they should be ready to face the 

consequences. This prophecy is later fulfilled in the play as Nkechi is later 

arrested for masterminding the kidnapping of her own father. 

 

Conclusion 
The study is an attempt to give some insight into how the community could 

contribute in the formation of youths’ character. The community is presented 

in the play as a vital force in shaping the character of youths. This can be 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Dr. Helen Udumaga Aghamelu                                                                                                                                 Page 138 
 

achieved through their monitoring ability, insistence on adherence to set rules, 

and their ability to advice the immediate family of the concerned youth. 

 The paper therefore advocates that all hands should be on deck in the 

character formation of youths since the resultant effect of the youths’ 

character affects the whole society either positively or negatively. It therefore 

re-echoes the proverb “whoever sees a fowl shuffling over faeces should drive 

it away for no one knows who will eat the fowl’s legs” (Nwabueze,26). 

 

 

The Cited Works 
 

Adenekan,Qasim, Lanre and Ogakanson, Rasheed.“Counter Terrorism in 

Yerima's Pariand Osofisan's Morountodun”in  Nigerian Theatre 

Journal, 19.2(2019):68-80. 

 

Hobson, H. and Spangler, K. Resources for Youths and Community 

Development in Isolated Communities: Stories from Ten Communities. 

1991.  

 

Moody, H. L. B. Literary Appreciation. Essex: Longman,1987. 

 

Nwabueze, Emeka. Visions and Re-visions. Selected Discourse on Literary 

Criticism. Enugu: ABIC Books, 2011 

 

………………………. Lachrymose Enugu: ABIC Books, 2014. 

 

Nzebunachi, A. I. Current English for Junior Secondary Schools2.Nnewi:Mis-

Fav publishers, 2012. 

 

Uba, Emmanuel, E. Psychology for Beginners. Onitsha: Sumex Media Ltd., 

2002. 

 

 

 

 

 


