Bill in Second Class Citizen is a Canadian man who works with Adah and Peggy at Chalk Farm Libray. This trio feature prominently in Chapter 12 of the novel.
Mr Barking, who also gets a mention in Chapter 12 is a rather obscure character. The narrator dismisses the character of Mr Barking in very few words. Mr Backing has a daughter that he always thinks about.
Then there is Fay, the Mulatress who does not consider herself to be black. There is more about the character of Fay in Second Class Citizen in a separate post.
Just to let you know that my focus in a different post is on Peggy, the other working colleague of Adah’s.
Here, all we want is to say as much as possible on the character and role of Bill in Second Class Citizen.
The Character of Bill
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Before coming to England, Bill worked as a radio newscaster in his native Canada.
Bill and Adah are abviously very close to each other. And Adah is very fond of him. In fact, of all the other characters Adah has been close to, Bill is the only one that the narrator describes as her “friend”.
Bill was the first real friend she had had outside her family. She had a tendency to trust men more because her Pa never let her down.
He is a six-footer – very tall and handsome.
Bill has been married for two years. He and Eileen, his wife, have a child and are expecting a second one.
He had earlier run away from Canada to England to escape his mother “organizing” a wife for him only to meet Eileen in England.
Bill lives in a very small flat with his pregnant wife.
The Role of Bill in Second Class Citizen
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We can look at the role of Bill in Second Class Citizen in at least four different ways.
- Contribution to the Development of the Character of Francis
- His Role in Helping Adah Progress toward her Dreams
- How he Helps Develop the Theme of Dreams
- Bill’s Contribution to the Development of the Plot of Second Class Citizen
Theme of Dreams/Ambition and Plot Development
Bill, the Canadian, shares the same literary interests with Adah. This is to say both love books and reading.
Thus, Bill plays a significant role in keeping Adah’s literary dreams alive. His readiness to discuss and to read Adah’s manuscript gives Adah the kind of motivation and support Francis fails to offer her.
Therefore, just like Peggy, Bill helps to develop both the theme of ambition or dreams and the plot of the novel.
Comparing and Contrasting the Characters of Bill and Francis
The above is one way that the character of Bill contrasts with that of Francis in Second Class Citizen. Whereas Bill serves as a motivator to Adah, Francis only knows how to dampen her spirit in every way possible.
Again, Bill, unlike Francis, is a responsible husband who is working to take good care of his wife and kids.
Thirdly, while Francis is an immigrant who has come to England (long after marrying Adah back in Nigeria) to study, Bill actually came to find work and has ended up marrying there.
Some Similarities Between Bill and Francis
Both Bill and Francis are married men.
Like Francis, Bill is a father.
Bill is good-looking, just like Francis. Perhaps their only point of departure is that Francis is not someone who enjoys taking good care of his physical appearance.
Possible Questions Related to the Character of Bill
- Who is Bill in Second Class Citizen and what makes him an important character?
- Examine the friendship between Bill and Adah.
- Would you say that Adah is emotionally attracted to Bill?
- What role does Bill play in the life of Adah in Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen?
- Compare and contrast the characters of Bill and Francis.
- Describe the character and role of Bill in Second Class Citizen.
- Highlight Adah’s experiences at Chalk Farm Library.
- Compare and contrast Adah’s experiences at North Finchley Library and Chalk Farm Library.
- Why is Bill considered Adah’s first true friend outside her family?
Final thoughts
Now that you have a fair idea of who Bill is in Second Class Citizen, I urge you to consider writing essay answers to some of the above questions on Bill. See here more quizzes and mock tests designed to assist you prepare effectively for your Literature-in-English and other test papers.
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