A Short Summary
The “Dilemma of a Ghost” by Ama Ata Aidoo is a drama about a young Ghanaian graduate (Ato) whose arrival with his fiancée (Eulalie) in Africa causes problems that would later put him in a dilemma.
The constant confusion between Ato’s family and Eulalie is a result of cultural differences and societal expectations of how a wife should behave.
This is the shortest possible summary I could give on the play. However, if you want a more detailed summary, continue with the article.
The drama starts with a prelude followed by 5 ACTS thus, ACT 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Characters in the Dilemma of a Ghost
Ato: A Ghanaian graduate and the main character.
Eulalie: African American Woman (Ato’s fiancée)
Esi Kom: Mother of Ato
Monka: Ato’s sister
Nana: Ato’s grandmother
Akyere: Ato’s elder aunt
Mansah: Ato’s younger aunt
Petu: Ato’s elder uncle
Akroma: Ato’s younger uncle
1st woman and 2nd woman: Ato’s neighbours
Boy and Girl: Two children in Ato’s dream.
Summary of Prelude
The prelude begins with a poem that seems to arouse our interest in what the reader is about to experience.
Next, In a dialogue, Ato (a young Ghanaian graduate) and his fiancée Eulalie (an Afro-American graduate) have a lovely discussion with each other.
They seem to be in love and are planning to move to Africa to live there. Eulalie cannot wait to meet Ato’s people and have the African experience.
Her only concern is with her plan to postpone childbirth until she’s ready but Ato assures her it wouldn’t be a problem.
Summary of Act (1)
Two neighbours in Ato’s village, 1st woman and 2nd woman discuss the topic of childbirth while returning from the river.
They later change the topic to talk about the arrival of Ato from abroad and other matters relating to Ato’s family.
As usual, Ato meets with the whole family after his arrival to discuss family matters, but issues get out of hand.
When Ato announced that he was married to a woman from another land, all the family members were surprised and displeased with the news. Nana particularly was unhappy about Ato’s choice of life partner.
Summary of Act (2)
Act two begins with 1st woman and the second woman debating on the topic of childbearing, where 1st woman laments her inability to give birth.
Later, Esi Kom, Monka and Ato became the topic of discussion. They commented on Monka’s (Ato’s sister) inability to get a good husband.
Their next discussion was on Ato’s refusal to marry a native but rather a stranger.
Moving on, Ato and Eulalie are having a good time in Africa as they have a chat about outdated cultural practices such as witch-hunting.
Near the end of Act 2, Eulalie brings up the topic of childbirth again but Ato brushes it off and says they should stick to their original plan of postponing childbirth.
Summary of Act (3)
{Ato and Eulalie come to spend a weekend in the village}
In the Ato has a strange dream while having a siesta. In his dream, he saw a Boy and a Girl singing a song about a ghost.
Next, Petu ( Ato’s Elder Uncle) comes to visit Ato where they talk about Ato’s dream. Esi Kom and Monka were the next to visit Ato.
Things go very wrong when Eulalie throws away the snails Esi Kom brought for Ato, describing the snails as horrible creatures. This creates an unpleasant tension between Ato, Eulalie and Esi Kom.
Esi Kom complains bitterly about how unfairly she was treated when she visited Ato in Accra.
Summary of Act 4
{Another 6months later, Ato and Eulalie visit the village once again}
It starts again with 1st woman and 2nd woman discussing about the sprinkling of stools in the village.
Again, they switch topics to Ato’s family matters. They hint that even though Ato is back from abroad Esi, her Mom still lives a poor life.
They are concerned that Eulalie uses modern equipments which they refer to as “machines” to do all her house chores.
They even suspect that Eulalie might be barren.
1st woman comments, “If it is real barrenness, then, oh stranger-girl, whom I do not know, I weep for you.”
Later, the family visits Ato to ask him why his wife has not given birth. They even suggest bathing Eulalie stomach with a medicine to help her give birth.
However, they left the place very upset because Ato insisted there was nothing wrong with his wife. Eulalie was frustrated because Ato refused to tell his family about the real reason why they hadn’t started a family.
Summary of Act 5
The following morning, Ato and Eulalie are supposed to go to a thanksgiving service but Eulalie refuses to go.
Ato is not pleased that Eulalie is drunk on a Sunday morning but Eulalie shows no concern.
Eulalie in her drunken state insults Ato’s people calling them bastards and savages who lack understanding. Ato gets angry and slaps Eulalie on the cheeks.
Eulalie leaves the house and is nowhere to be found. Ato goes all around searching for her.
Ato in his search finds himself knocking on his mother’s door. Ato explains to his mother that Eulalie is gone.
He also reveals that, Eulalie is not barren and that they had planned to postpone childbirth until they were ready.
Esi Kom upon learning this secret blames Ato for all the confusion and misunderstanding they had with Eulalie. She then had empathy and understood Eulalie better.
Fortunately, Eulalie made her appearance In the middle of the conversation. Esi Kom upon seeing how miserable she was, took her inside the house.
Ato was then confused as to where he went wrong. In the end, he was in a dilemma because he didn’t know what to do. Should he follow them or should he go to his room?
End of the Drama
Credit to: {John. A. Sackey and Lawrence Darmani}
Thanks for reading to the end. I would love to hear your thoughts on the play.
Pingback: Questions and Answers on the Dilemma of a Ghost
thanks for the summary. it is as if I have read all the art. why can’t I find this style in other literature writing.
@Obeng, Nowadays, it’s rare to see platforms genuinely interested in literature. That is why I created this blog in the first place. To find like-minded people. Thanks for the visit!
It helped me got the understanding better
Good one✌️
I love this story Soo much
Indeed it a great one 💯
What are some possible questions that can come in the JHS 2 third term examination
Literature aspect or on all aspects?
Oliver twist
The dilemma of a ghost
and ripples are possible targets on the literary aspect
Thanks
🤗
Please briefly describe the characters in the story above
✅✅ the story is so good 👍👍
This is a good summary. I now have the graspecal understanding of the Dilemma Of A Ghost. I am a student and in about 13 days from now I will be sitting for the BECE. Thank you very much ❤️
Good luck in your upcoming exams✌️
Are you anonymous from Fortnite
Oo good!
The Dilemma of a ghost is a very nice story.
Indeed it’s an interesting one✌️
Thank you very much because your summery of act 5 in the dilemma of a ghost held to do my group work thank you God Bless You 🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤.
Bless you too. Have a nice day ❤️
this summary has helped me very much to do my homework
Always a pleasure!
I like how the questions were given with their answers but kindly summarise the story as a whole not in any chapter
Okay man. I will keep that in mind.
You are very lazy and ungrateful. After all this hard work done , you still want him to summarize it as a whole. After all this summary given ,if you can’t learn on your own , then go to hell.
Patience 🙏
I love you man. Doing great🎉✊🏽
Sending the love back bro!
next time put the full stories
Thanks for the feedback
How does Eulalie
What is the name of the dramalist of the t
Ama Ata Aidoo
Questions for dilemma of ghost
Right on it !
well it seemed very concise and clear, it gives room for better understanding of the text. but id like to know if Ato was really in a dilemma whether or not to follow his people or side with his wife ?