SCATTERED BY THE WIND

                                                                    

Available first semester of 2014 at the UPNG Bookshop, University of Papua New Guinea.

About the book

 

Scattered by the Wind remains today one of the most popular plays in Papua New Guinea. It has been produced several times by notable directors such as Peter Trist, William Takaku, Arthur Jawodimbari and Sophie Naime. The social and religious sentiments felt in this play are those of Papua New Guinea of the 1950s.

Set in the remote villages of Pem and Tototo the play deals with the theme of change and this is reflected on the lives of a traditional and religious family whose head is a simple Anglican priest, Father Ronald Keda. The focus of the play is Father Keda’s and his wife Anna’s anxiety on the effect of change on their children—Ben, James and Eulalia. Free-spirited James shuns the religious beliefs, obedient Ben follows his father’s footsteps and confused Eulalia eventually takes after James.

Looming at the background is the village of Tototo and all its norms of traditional livelihood and existence. Christian beliefs and traditional norms come into loggerheads ultimately, and what ensues is a tragedy that the parents had never imagined.

About the author

Russell Soaba was born in Tototo, Milne Bay Province, in 1950. He received his education in Papua New Guinea, Australia and the United States of America. He teaches literature at the University of Papua New Guinea.