Are you interested in knowing the major characters in the Life Changer (JAMB Novel)? Or you are among those searching online who is the protagonist in The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli? If yes, this article will guide you. So, in this article, we shall see the protagonist and other major characters in the 2023 JAMB novel.

It is important for us to briefly look at what protagonist is all about so that you will understand fully what you are looking for.

Brief introduction to the term “Protagonist”

A protagonist is the main character of a story. The protagonist is the major character around whom the whole story revolves. His/her decisions in the story affect the plot, primarily influencing the story. One outstanding feature of a protagonist is that he/she faces the most significant obstacles in the story.

One may ask, can there be more than one protagonist in a story? The answer is no. There can only be one protagonist. However, there may be other major characters who perform significant roles to enhance the role and actions of the protagonist.

A character who opposes the protagonist is called antagonist. The antagonist is also a major character. But he acts to suppress the protagonist and his decisions sometimes determines the actions protagonist as he (the protagonist) also works to overcome the suppression of the antagonist.

This means that, “one or more major characters can exist in a story but only one protagonist can exist in a story“.

Who is the protagonist in the Life changer?

The protagonist in The Life Changer is Salma. Salma is used in the novel to represent the University student’s life, a life full of freedom and it’s come back.

Ummi, being the narrator, focuses on Salma’s experiences in school and how she later changed for good.

At first, Salma was captured in a queue of students who came for registration. A lecturer interrogates her and she rudely describes the nature of lecturers in the Nigerian Universities as corrupt who can accept as little bribe as 2,000 – 3,000 Naira. While she said all these she doesn’t know the young man who interrogates her is a lecturer in the university. After her registration, she joins three other girls, Tomiwa, Ada, and Ngozi, in a room.

Salma also showcases her pride by giving her roommates number to Habib.

Habib, a rich honorable, proposes to Salma to date him, Salma turned down the proposal not because of any other thing but just because she wants to be seen as a high class girl and also gain respect from other university girls.

Tomiwa, Salma’s roommate ends up dating Habib, the rich honorable. Salma begins to show jealousy because Tomiwa accepted to date Habib.

In another development, Salma involves herself in Examination Malpractice (EMAL) which prompted her to be expelled from the University.

Salma falls back in the hands of Habib as she seeks for help from him. She wants Habib to help her restore her admission in the university. Habib intervenes. But in the process of his intervention, Salma suffers other tragedies as she was robbed of the money given to her by Habib to give to the chairman of the EMEC as the first step to the restoration of her admission.

Finally, Salma turns a new live after all her misfortunes in the story and she becomes a good friend to Ummi.

From the briefing above, the story revolves around Salma. Her decisions affect the flow of the story.

Also Read: Moral Lessons from The Life Changer

Further Explanation

Although, the story didn’t start with Salma, she still appears in most parts of the story. In other words, of all the characters who appeared in the novel, Salma appeared the most.

Her decisions or qualities affect the flow of the story. Now, see it.

First, her replies in an interview during her registration shows she is a proud type. So, as a proud type, she will definitely not be bent to all the rules of nature which will affect her.

Her decision to gain respect as a high school girl also caused her to turn down Habib’s proposal outrightly.

Her decision not to date honorable Habib caused her to give her roommates number to him instead of hers. This particular event made Habib to date Tomiwa. Tomiwa accepting to date Habib causes misunderstanding between Salma and Tomiwa.

In another development, Salma’s involvement in examination malpractice causes her expulsion. Her expulsion causes her to fall back to Habib for help which led to other tragedies in the course of the help.

Generally, her misfortunes made her turn a new live.

Well, the major reason Ummi told this story was for her children to learn from it. That it why she used Salma as the major character because Salma’s actions portrays everything she wants her children to learn.

Other major characters in the Life Changer

• Ummi – the narrator of the story.
• Bint – Ummi’s last child
• Mallam Salihu – Bint’s teacher
• Mr. Esquire – Ummi’s husband
• Omar – Ummi’s first child who got admission to study law.
• Dr Sam John – Ummi’s HOD
• Talle – the silent one
• Habib – rich honorable
• Tomiwa, Ada and Ngozi – Salma’s roommates
• Zaki – Habib’s thug
• Dr Debo – Salma’s level coordinator who made uncalled for advances at Salma.
• Kola – the one who provides answers to Salma during Moral Philosophy examination.
• Dr Kabir – the one who claims to be the chairman of the EMEC.

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