3.2 TYPES OF SETIING
3.2.2 TEMPORAL SETTING
3.2.2.1 SYMBOLIC FEATURES OF TEMPORAL SEITING
Ntuli uses time or temporal setting not only to indicate when the events in the play take place, but also as symbolism for the course of events in the play and the fate that will eventually befall the characters. Sunrise, for instance, is used by Ntuli to symbolise the rising of the characters' hopes in the play. In liekiphothi KaKhisimuzi, sunrise coincides with the return of Mandla who had earlier on in the play attempted to commit suicide because of his failure to resolve his marital problems. His return signals a fresh start forhimand his wife. His mother is also filled with immense joy:
MASIBIYA: (Ememeza) Ake nibheke empumalanga bantabami.
Niyabona ukuthi ilanga liphuma Iilihle kanjani ngalo Khisimuzi?
MASIBIYA: (ShOllting) Just look at the east, my children. Do you see how beautiful the sun is as it rises this Christmas?
We believe that sunrise as the time during which events take place in thi~ scene symbolises the start of a new life for the characters. This makes us agree with Mathenjwa (1999: 191) who says:
When the sun emerges to start a new day, it opens a window of opportunity to new happenings and incidents.
. Sunset, on the other hand is used by Ntuli to symbolise despair, hopelessness and even death of some characters. In Isando, the setting sun symbolises the imminent death of Zikhwili who has been hit by a truck after trying to murder Vusi. In Ucingo. sunset is a source of despair to Magwaza:
MAGWAZA: ...Bheka manje seliyashona. Bekuvele kukhona okungangiphathi kahle ngalolu cingo.
MAGWAZA: ...Look, the sun is going down. There was indeed something that worried me about this telegram.
The time at which the play takes place has symbolic importance to Ntuli. Most of his plays take place at night time. Night time is therefore used to symbolise problems, conflict, danger and anxiety. In most cases Ntuli uses night time sound effects to indicate this or make his characters refer directly to the time of the night. In Umtitilizo.
Ntuli uses night time to symbolise a crisis in Dolly's life:
Imisindo yasebusuku
DOLLY: (Ekhuluma Yedwa) Ewu, sekusebusuku ngempela manje.
NameWo aseqala ukubaba nje. Noma ngifunda akusangeni kahle.
Kodwa ngizokwenzenjani ngoba kusekuningi nje engingakakufundi?
(Ntuli, 1983:67) Night sounds
DOLLY: (To herself) It's night time now. My eyes have started aching.
I can't absorb what I am studying. What am I going to do because there is still a lot that I haven't read?
Night time seems to complicate Dolly's problems and makes us realise that Ntuli has used the night not only to indicate the time of the day but to denote the intensity of
Itis also remarkable that most ofNtuli's plays start at night and end the following morning. Dawn in this case is used to indicate the dawn of hope in the characters' lives. In Ucingo, Nduduzo, whose parents have given up hope of his arrival after a night-long wait, arrives in the morning. This symbolises the start of a new life for Nduduzo. The same can be said of the morning time as used in Isithembu. The conflict in the play starts at night when Nomusa announces her intention to marry a married . man. Mthembu is against this and it is only on the following morning that he decides to let her daughter marry Sibanyoni. Morning time inthis play is used to symbolise a new way of thinking, a willingness to start afresh, an opening up to new challenges and possibilities on the part ofMthembu.
Ntuli also uses certain times of the year in a symbolic -manner. In Isiphosiso, events occur during Christmas, the time of the year associated with celebrations, joy and merriment. To Mkhize and his wife, this times symbolises the fulfilment of their dreams to have a child of their own. This is evident in that at the end of the play, they get a wonderful present in the form of a child they have wanted for so many years.
InIsipho SikaKhisimuzi, however, Christmas period symbolises grief and pain to Xulu:
XULU: Into embi nje ngukuthi nalo Khisimuzi uzowudla kabi ngigula.
Ngangethemba ukuthi ngeke kungiphinde ukugula ngalesi sikhathi.
Sengiyabona-ke ukuthi yisabelo sami. Sekufana nesipho engamukeliswa sona njalo ngoKhisimuzi.
(Ntuli, 1988: 83)
XABA: The bad thing is that you will spend this Christmas while I amill. I was hoping that I wasn't going to beill again this time.
But now I realise that it is my destiny. It is like a present that I am given every time on Christmas.
NtuIi also uses examination time to symbolise challenges and anxieties. In Umtitilizo Dolly is faced with a huge challenge of writing final examinations. She does not seem to possess intelligence that can secure her a pass. This leads her into temptation to buy examination papers. -In Elamanqamu, Thoko wants to sit for her exams. There are, however, death threats to those who defY a call for a stayaway. Thoko has to make crucial decisions: must she sacrifice her future by heeding this call or must she
endanger her life by defying it and writing her final exams? We are convinced that Ntuli chooses this time of the year to symbolise the debate, dilemma and anxiety that people are sometimes faced with in life.