In the novel “A Grain of Wheat” by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, the character of Mugo undergoes a number crisis’ throughout the novel. His presentation in these situations is critical to the reader’s interpretation of him and adds to the impression he leaves them with. His situation in the passage is one of remembrance. This theme runs strongly through the novel and contributes to its overall effect upon the reader.
The passage begins with the statement, “Mugo went out.” This statement has a sense of finality to it and suggests that he won’t return the same person as he went out. “As he walked through the night, many scenes flashed across his mind; he would be frightened, thrilled, repelled in turns at each succeeding scene.” This suggests Mugo’s insecurity and his fragileness. He goes through his life reliving momentous moments that he has experienced and feels their effect for a second time. In this situation it is especially significant because of the “cold air and anonymous night” represent those feeling’s in reality.
The inclusion of the bible is particularly significant because they represent his feeling’s regarding the current situation. “He shall judge the poor of the people; he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. The words tickled something in him, the disturbed a memory” The memories that these words disturb are memories of obvious discomfort for Mugo, they are of the Whiteman. “Whenever he thought of the Whiteman, he always pictured a man smoking a cigarette and a standing train that vomited out smoke.” In Mugo’s mind this image could be one of oppressiveness, and proving of the Whiteman’s continued dominion over him. This image contrasts severely with the surrounding environment, which is one of growth, fresh fields, the sun burning his “bare black torso pleasantly.” “As he disturbed the plant stems, dewdrops on the leaves would break and melt away.” These images conjure the fresh vitality of the natural world and indicate to the reader that there is more to Kenya than that of the lazy Whiteman.
The Essay on Tactile Image Jarrell Reader Poem
Many of the great poems we read today were written in times of great distress. One of these writers was Randall Jarrell. After being born on May 6, 1914, in Nashville Tennessee, Jarrell and his parents moved to Los Angeles where his dad worked as a photographer. When Mr. and Mrs. Jarrell divorced, Randall and his younger brother returned to Nashville to live with their mother. While in Nashville, ...
In the passage, Ngugi portrays the Whitman as the hot sun that evaporates the moisture, drop the crisp leaves and cause a lessening of the goodness that the greenness signifies. In this situation he describes Mugo as enjoying the brief respite from the days toil during the hot noonday sun, but also states that during this time Mugo experiences voices. Voices that tell him of coming change. The voices appear to lure him away to be lost in his past, but before he can recognize the vague source of the voice he is jolted back to the present and left with only the god sent gospels of Moses and his wish to be heard by the lord. Mugo considers himself to be that of Moses in the present day. He waits and hopes for the burning bush that can justify his cause.
The situation represented a moment of great change in Mugo’s life and he describes it as the climax of his life. For after that moment “D.O. Robson was shot dead and Kihika came into his life.
In conclusion the passage involves Mugo in a series of testing and trying situations. It brings forth the horrors of his past and the lusts of his future. In my opinion it is Ngugi using Mugo as a vehicle for his theme of God and that of the past influencing the future.
