Discover the complete summary of “The Voter” by Chinua Achebe, specially tailored for 2nd PUC students. This detailed guide covers the plot, major characters, central themes, and the underlying moral message, making it ideal for academic preparation.
The Voter Lesson Summary By Chinua Achebe
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Summary of The Voter 2nd Puc By Chinua Achebe
Introduction
This story by Chinua Achebe touches the depths where the honesty of the common man and the corrupt nature of the system clash with each other. The story “The Voter” does not just show the election process, but it also highlights the mental, moral and social conflict that has become a part of the life of a common citizen.
In this story, the author presents politics and the real face hidden behind it in a very satirical and lively manner. The special thing is that the story not only fits perfectly in the context of Africa, but also seems equally relevant in the politics of today’s India and other countries.
Start of the story: Umuofia village and the character of Roof
The story begins from Umuofia, a small village in Nigeria, where there is an election atmosphere. The streets of the village are bustling with activity, people are talking politics and drinking, and politicians are busy campaigning. It is in this atmosphere that the author introduces us to Roof – an educated, smart and clever young man who is very popular among the villagers.
Roof used to teach in a school but has now made politics his career. He is a campaigner for the local candidate Mark and is working hard to get him elected. The special thing about Roof is that he mingles with people as if he is their old friend. There is a friendliness in his speech, there is also cunning – and this helps him win people’s trust.
The political situation in the village and the battle between the candidates
In Umuofia village, two candidates are face to face for the elections:
Mark – Roof’s candidate, clever and influential
An opposition candidate – whose name is not mentioned in the story, but who is ready to use every trick to get power
The real battle between these two is for votes. The villagers are not strong enough to bring about major political changes, but leaders are made and broken by one vote—and that is why their votes matter.
The first blow to Roof’s morality: The offer of bribe
The turning point in the story comes when a representative of the opposition candidate quietly meets Roof. He tries to buy his vote by offering Roof money. At first Roof becomes angry, he feels insulted that someone is trying to buy his integrity in this way.
But as soon as he sees the bundle of notes in his hand, his conscience starts wavering. The author depicts the turmoil going on in his mind very vividly. This is the story of a common man—when his integrity is on one side and his greed on the other.
He takes the money. But along with it, his self-respect also starts wavering.
The inner battle: The day of voting and Roof’s confusion
The day of the election comes. The people of Umuofia are excited and heading out to vote. Roof arrives at the polling booth. He knows he has a crucial decision to make — who he will vote for.
Roof has campaigned for Mark. The villagers trust him. But he has taken money from the opposition, which means he has sold his vote.
As he enters the booth with the ballot paper in his hand, he remembers a simple but profound truth:
“A person can cast only one vote at a time.”
The story stops there.
The author does not reveal who Roof voted for. Did he vote for Mark or the candidate he took money from? This question remains unanswered — and that is what makes the story even more powerful.
Meaning of the story and underlying symbolism
This story has many symbolic elements hidden in it:
Roof himself represents the common man – who is educated, intelligent but is forced to succumb to economic conditions and social pressures.
Voting here is not just a democratic right, but also a moral responsibility.
The election process shows that the structure of democracy is present, but the foundation of morality on it has been shaken.
Relevance: Importance of the story in today’s context
“The Voter” is not just the story of an African village. It is a global story – in a country like India where money dominates elections, where people are influenced on the basis of caste, religion or greed, this story works to show a mirror.
Even today there are millions of voters who want to bring change in politics, but their voice is either bought or suppressed. In this story, we are also forced to think that just voting is not enough, but only conscious, moral and honest elections can strengthen democracy.
Conclusion
“The Voter” is a short but very deep story. It effectively raises issues like man versus system, integrity versus greed, and morality versus temptation. Chinua Achebe has very simply shown how the people who bring change sometimes become slaves of the very system they wanted to fight.
The biggest question of this story is this – is a vote just a vote, or much more than that?
And the answer is – a vote is a responsibility.
Amazon Link : – Chinua Achebe Famous Books
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