Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written as a response to Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. Which we get after each unit. In this blog, i am going to discuss about part one of the novel 'Petals of Blood' by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. Also going to discuss about characters of the novel.
About Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan author and academic. Mainly he writes in Gikuyu and formerly wrote in English. His original name is James Thiong’o Ngugi. He was born in January 5, 1938.Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o considered East Africa's leading novelist.His popular Weep Not, Child (1964) was the first major novel in English by an East African. He received his bachelor's degree from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, in 1963. He served as a lecturer in English at University College, Nairobi, Kenya, and as a visiting professor of English at Northwestern University.
His work includes novels, plays, short stories, and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children's literature. He is the founder and editor of the Gikuyu-language journal Mũtĩiri. His short story The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright, is translated into 100 languages from around the world. He also received numbers of awards like,1) 1963: The East Africa Novel Prize, 2) 1964: Unesco First Prize for his novel, Weep Not Child, 3) 1973: The Lotus Prize for Literature, 4) 1992 (6 April): The Paul Robeson award, 5) 1992 (October): honoured by New York University by being appointed to the Erich Maria Remarque Professorship in Languages, 6) 1993: The Zola Neale Hurston-Paul Robeson Award, for artistic and scholarly achievement, awarded by the National Council for Black Studies, in Accra, Ghana, 7)1994 (October): The Gwendolyn Brooks Center Contributors Award,8) 1996: The Fonlon-Nichols Prize, New York,9)2001: Nonino International Prize for Literature, 10) 2008: (October, 24) Grinzane for Africa Award etc.
He wrote numbers of works including novels like, 1)Weep Not, Child (1964), 2)The River Between (1965), 3) A Grain of Wheat (1967, 1992), and 4) Petals of Blood (1977) etc. His Plays includes 1) The Black Hermit (1963), 2) "The Wound in the Heart", 3) The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (1976) etc. He also wrote Short stories,Memoirs,Children's books and other nonfictions. Let me here discuss about his famous novel, 'Petals of Blood'. Watch the video given below to learn more about Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.
About 'Petals of Blood'
Petals of Blood is a novel written by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and first published in 1977.The novel begen in 1963. Flashback technique are used by author in this novel. Petals of Blood was Ngugi's first novel written whilst not in full-time education, instead written over a five-year period. The novel Set in Kenya just after independence, the story follows four characters – Munira, Abdulla, Wanja, and Karega – whose lives are intertwined due to the Mau Mau rebellion. In order to escape city life, each retreats to the small, pastoral village of Ilmorog. As the novel progresses, the characters deal with the repercussions of the Mau Mau rebellion as well as with a new, rapidly westernizing Kenya.
Ngugi was inspired to write the novel as a way of synthesizing the notion of a postcolonial nation, and a willingness to portray the agents of social change present in Kenya's change from its colonial past. Petals of Blood was the last of Ngugi's novels to be written first in English. The novel largely deals with the scepticism of change after Kenya's independence from colonial rule, questioning to what extent free Kenya merely emulates, and subsequently perpetuates, the oppression found during its time as a colony. Other themes include the challenges of capitalism, politics, and the effects of westernization. Education, schools, and the Mau Mau rebellion are also used to unite the characters, who share a common history with one another. (Wikipedia)
Major themes of the novel are,
1. corruption,
2. Capitalism,
3. Land,
4. Education
Major characters
1)Munira - School teacher.
2)Wanja - Barmaid, Prostitute.
3) Abdulla - Shopkeeper.
4) Karega - School Teacher.
5) Nyakinyua - Grandmother of Wanja.
6) Kimeria - Businessman.
7) Chui - School boy.
8)Nderi wa Riera -MP, Politician.
9) Mzigo - Education Officer
10) Joseph - Son of Abdulla
11) Inspector Godfrey - An officer in charge of the murder investigation.
12) Mwathi wa Mugo - Ilmorog's local diviner.
13)Mukami - Munira's sister.
14) Ezekieli - Munira's father.
15)Mariamu - Mother of Karega
16) Cambridge Fraudsham - A strict, Christian headmaster.
There are many other characters in the novel. Click here to read about all the characters of the novel.
Watch video about 'Petals of Blood'.
Question - Answer
Write a note on the first chapter of the novel (Interrogation of all characters)
The entire novel is divided into four parts and all the parts are divided into chapters. First chapter includes six chapters. Let take a look chapter by chapter.
Chapter 1
The novel Begin with the description of main characters like Munira, Karega, Wanja and Abdulla. The novel is in the flashback technique. There are three murder of Kenyans. Two businessman Kimeria and Mzigo and an educator Chui. And the person who accused for murder is Munira. Munira is in police station and police inquiry is happening about murders when the novel begin.
Abdulla is also blamed and he is locked in the police station. Wanja is injured and is in the hospital. While Karega is asleep when police bring him to the police station. People often think that he is arrested because of his divisions about strike, he taken at last night but police declared that it is about murder case. At last in the first chapter we find the headlines reads that Mzigo, Chui, and Kimeria, African directors of the Theng’eta Breweries and Enterprises Ltd., were burnt to death last night, and murder is suspected. Chapter one ends here.
Chapter - 2
The story goes into flashbck technique. Twelve year ago. Munira came to Ilmorog to teach, but everyone was surprised that why he came here to teach when all eles are leaving the place one by one. Here the story introduced us a character of One mother, Wambui, who questioned him that why he has came here to teach when All the young men and women usually leave the village. Abdulla and his donkey is also new to the village. In between everyone eles surprise Abdulla opened a shop. His little son Joseph is also with him. Abdulla has stump leg. Later we find that The old men reported their findings on Munira to Nyakinyua, a respected old woman,concluding he was all right. It is hard for Munira to adjust himself in this village but at last he is satisfied that he is no more working in Limuru under the shadow of his father’s success.
Later Munira visited Mzigo. Who is the Education Officer there and ask for help to develop school and in between Munira's surprise he agreed. Munira spent almost his entire life in Limuru. His brother and Father both are successful in their field. Munira taught at several places before he came to Ilmorog. Here, in the novel we find reference of Munira's sister Mukami who recently committee suicide. Munira's father Ezekieli, was tall and austere and holy. A wealthy landowner. There is a women working in their farm named Mariamu who later fired by Munira's father because he came to know that the women has some connection with the Mau Mau rebellion but in reality she was unaware about it and just know that her son may have been a guerilla. Because of the guilt for what happened with that women Munira left the place and States himself in Ilmorog. For that he wrote that,
“like his first conscious act of breaking with this sense of non-being”
Ater visiting Mzigo, Munira settled back into teaching. People also started accepting him and helping him, bring things which he need in teaching. The character who help him the most is Mwathi wa Mugo, Munira now spending his most of the time at Abdulla's shop and forget about his past guilt and fear. Mostly they discuss about Colonialism and about a person Nderi wa Riera-aa who is local MP. Abdulla and Munira both are happy now.The rains came and everyone was busy. In very short time of six months Ilmorog became Munira’s “personal possession: he was a feudal; head of a big house or a big mbari lord surveying his estate”
One day a child said he saw a flower with petals of blood, and Munira told him blood was not a color. The children began asking him questions about God and laws and nature and he was uncomfortable, as he tried to avoid such thoughts. He decided he will not take them outside again.
One day Munira met a girl who is very friendly to him but Munira doubted thet might Mzigo sent her to spy on him. But later he visit to Abdulla's shop and found that women there whose name is Wanja, and she is the granddaughter of Nyakinyua. Though Munira and wanja are unknown to each other they started wandering around. Munira told Abdulla and Wanja about Siriana. And The most impressive student was Chui. Chui was smart, intelligent, stylish and star of everything. Who is Also headmaster of the school, the white Rev. There is one more character in the novel that is Hallowes Ironmonger who like Chui.The Ironmongers left the school eventually, and a Cambridge Fraudsham came to the school. Who is strict Christian headmaster. So students now compulsory has to salute British flag every morning and sang songs to God. But Chui led strike against it and Munira joined. When Munira done with sharing his experience, Abdulla told Joseph to serve more beer. Wanja suggested that she will work here and let Joseph study as he is just seven year old.
Wanja started working in shope of Abdulla and became one of them but Wanja is still mystery for all. One day she disappeared and returned after some days with her things. Munira is also started being attracted towards Wanja. Village people also started facing problem of failure of the crops and the harvest. One day Munira go to Wanja's home and found Abdulla there. Wanja began to share his past story with both of men. She said that she was in love with a boy name Ritho, who wanted to become engineer. But when Wanja's parents came to know about it they beat her because the boy was not Christian and poorer than them.
One man came to town who later became very good friend with Wanja's father and eventually he became intimate with Wanja, Wanja got pregnant out of it. Her parents was so angry and upset with it.She also had to leave school. When she goes to the man and told him about her pregnancy, he said she could be a second wife. But she don't want this so she go to her cousin and her cousin suggest her to be barmaid because she was not educated. She conclud with the statement that, That's the reason why she always wanted childrens to be educated. Munira and Abdulla listed her carefully.
Chapter 3
The story get back into present from flashback. Munira is telling this story of wanja to police officer but police officer is frustrated and thinking that the story has nothing to do with present. Munira was imprisoned and when very next day he came out of the cell he turned into totally different man with expressionless face. There is a Inspector Godfrey, who is inquiring today with Munira and he wanted to know about the general mental state and movements of Abdulla, Wanja, and Karega on the night of the murder, and even the weeks before.
Munira began to tell about Karega that how he meet him and his some past shadowing connection with Karega.Munira had been coming home from the headquarters in Ruwa-ini and encountered Karega who help him to carry iteams in and Munira unwillingly offered him tea. While talking Karega remind Mariamu from his father’s land. And said that he was from Limuru. While talking about poor peasants, Munira's mind flickered to Wanja and his child. Karega later told about his brother and death of his brother that he himself came to know from Mukami, but Munira is confused that how Mukami and Karega are connected.Karega asked question after question of Munira about his time at Siriana—about Fraudsham, about Chui. Munira felt like the past was being resurrected but he felt that Karega saw him as a fraud. Further in the story we find reference of Ndinguri who is brother of Karega. Further we also find Munira’s stomach tightened when she mentioned Dedan Kimathi, for he had not taken part in that period of war and felt guilty. Later Munira and Wanja take a walk.
During walk Munira asked Wanja that what happened to her child but Wanja told him nothing and they returned back silently. When they returned to Abdulla's shop they saw that Karega had gone. The story again jumping to present. Munira speaking to Inspector Godfrey.
Chapter 4
In the beginning of the fourth chapter the narrator discussing about Kenya's history. As per narrator the history of Kenya does not begin with imperialism and colonialism but it's a long and wondrous past. The story moves further. Abdulla is now more cheerful because Joseph doing good at school and his business also going well.People said it was because of Wanja. Wanja was part of the village now. She enjoyed gossiping with the women who asked her about city men. That year there were poor harvest and no rain. Wanja's behavior suddenly began to change. She one day burst out of Munira that she hated Ilmorog and dirty village area and in very next moment she started laughing. She also blame Abdulla for not paying her enough. Suddenly after it she stood and began to dance faster and faster, with an expression of pain and ecstasy on her face.
Now Munira started looking towards Wanja lustfully. Abdulla offer her partnership in his business but Wanja denied. Next day Nyakinyua came to them and informed that Wanja left but may be she will return as she left her some of the things here.
Chapter - 5
A year passed after Wanja left. Problem of less rain is still there. Munira is trying to shift his focus into teaching and try to suppress his memories and love for Wanja. In many ways Ilmorog changed and the things are not same there. Abdulla was also changed. he cursing Joseph more often. Village people are worried about rain. And the center of focus is Abdulla's donkey who is eating too much grace. When one older men concerned about it with Abdulla, Abdulla got angry. Also Joseph is afraid that he would not be able to go to school and he missed Wanja. Eventually school opened and Munira decided to go to Mzigo to ask for more teachers but before he go, two special things happened. One is a tax officer came in a Land Rover with gun-carrying men. And all the men of village were vanished. Then more men came and said they were from Nderi wa Riera. Then with this things in mind Munira goest to Mzigo who told him that he himself will be the new headmaster of the school and he would like to help Munira. Mzigo gave Munira envelope, The envelope suggests that KCO inviting Munira and his staff for tea at Gatundu. Munira is happy decided to go to home Limuru as soon as possible so that he can gave this good news to his wife.
When he reached to Limuru, he saw that the land is more fertile here than Ilmorog. Now the sory moves on and Munira started thinking about his father who was at that time known as Waweru. His father and grandfather driven from land and the land encroached by the “red stranger”, Munira's father was so memorized by the power of that strangers accepted Christianity, he joined the Christian church and became Ezekieli. Later in life he became very rich, landlord and wealthy Churchman. After returning from Gatandu, Munira's wife Julia was disappointed. Munira started seeing his father in more positive light and decided to talk him. When Munira talk to his father his father told that he is disappointed with his brother (Munira's brother) and want him to look after the land he holds. Munira also asked him about his sister Mukami, But all he received in answer is she kept a bad company. Munira and his father also discussed about Mau Mau and KOC, but both are disagreed with each others views. When munira came back he found Wanja there.
After living Ilmorog, Wanja met Somali whom she liked, and she suggested going back to her place, which she never did. When They both got there, Wanja found someone is trying to trap them both and she was terrified and returned back to Ilmorog. Now Wanja, Munira and Karega set together and drink whole day, they also shared a common pain and hope.
Chapter 6
After returning to Ilmorog. Wanja was telling herself this would be a new beginning; she would break with her past. Karega was unsure what to expect but felt grateful that Munira had told him he could be a teacher at the school. When they returned to village, Abdulla and Joseph were there with Nyakinyua. They are discussing about donkey, elders wanted to kill the donkey so that it could not drive the plague.
April came but still there were no rain. The elders went to Mwathi wa Mugo, who said the donkey and a goat must be sacrificed. Due to lack of rain, karega suggested that they could go to their MP Nderi wa Riera and tell him they were members of the KCO and needed help. Wanja and Munira also joined this plan. They convinced villagers. This seemed like a war, a new kind of war. The journey began.
Part one ended.
Watch some interesting video by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o on various subjects.
Videos - 6
Images - 1
References
