A GRAIN OF WHEAT

A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o

“A Grain of Wheat is a complex, powerful novel exploring the
psychology of a haunted man – haunted by an act of treachery to a hero of
Kenya’s freedom movement.” The title, A Grain of Wheat is taken from the
bible in 1cor 15: 36, 37:
“thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it dies, and that
which thou sowest, that sowest not the body that shall be, but bare grain. It
may chance of wheat, or of some other grain.”
Thus, Ngugi seems to depict the message of the text in his works. In
the grain of wheat, someone has to die, as a grain to produce wheat. Such
death would be the implantation of the grain that “may chance of wheat or
of some other grain.”
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, a novelist of the Gandhian message, was born in
1938 in Kenya. Ngugi was educated at the Makerere University College,
Uganda and the University of Leeds. He has been a journalist and a
teacher having edited Pen point and Zuka worked on the Sunday Nation
and taught at Nairobi, Makerere and Northwestern Universities. His
committed works reveal the evil of colonial injustice imperialism and the
need for education in the African societies. His triology: Weep Not Child,
The River Between and A Grain of Wheat reveal the darkness in colonial
imperialism and foreign rule.
In his book A Grain of Wheat, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o reflects the evil of
colonialism or foreign rule. In Thabai village, the central setting of the novel,
the colonial master, Europeans, oppress the Kenyans, in Kenya’s land. The
story weaves around the life of Mugo, the protagonist. Mugo lives an

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isolated and quiet life in the society. He is rather seen as an introspective
introvert. He lives his aunt who maltreats him. Despite the humiliation he
receives from his aunt, he misses her when she dies. According to Ngugi:
“Mugo missed his aunt. Whom would he now call a relation? He wanted
somebody, anybody, who could use the claims of kinship to do him ill or
good....He would labour, sweat and through success and wealth, force
society to recognize him.”
Mugo walks towards achieving his dream. But this dream and aspiration
is interrupted when Kihika comes into his life. His first meeting with Kihika
is at night when kihika kills Robinson. Kihika runs to Mugo’s house and
urges him to join the underground Mau Mau revolution to revolt against the
Europeans who have taken their (Kenya) lands. Mugo considers this a
hindrance to his dream and a risk to his life. For selfish safety, he betrays
Kihika to the Europeans who have placed a high sum of money for Kihika’s
capture. Kihika is captured, tortured and subsequently hanged at Rira
Camp to send a warning message to other forest fighters. His death marks
the second implantation of grain. The first was Waiyaki, the first Kenyan
who rose against the Europeans. He was captured and buried alive.
The guilt of his betrayal haunts and makes Mugo an introvert who
dwells in taciturn. His quiet nature is mistaken as a sign of nobility. On an
occasion, Mugo rescues a pregnant woman who is being flogged by a
soldier at the trench. The news of his remarkable bravery during the state
of emergency spreads across villages but leads to his detention in a
detention camp. In the detention camp where he is imprisoned with other
prisoners, he maintains his silence even when he is tortured publicly by Mr.
Thompson. The silence is mistaken by others to mean courage and
boldness which they think should be imitated by every other prisoner.
Despite all the courageous heroic acts, he is still haunted by his evil past.
On the eve of the Uhuru Celebration which everyone has looked forward
to seeing, several Kenyan speakers are invited. The speech which brings
so many people across ridges is Mugo’s awaited speech. Everyone wants
to see and hear Mugo, who has now gained recognition in the society as a
hero, speak on the day of the celebration. General K. and Lt. Koinadu
during a speech talk, urge the traitor of Kihika, the ‘Moses’ of Kenya, to
come out and plead his cause if he would be pardoned. To everyone’s
bewilderment, the hero becomes the villain. Mugo walks up to the platform
through the crowd and declares:

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 “You asked for Judas. You asked for the man who led Kihika to this tree,
here. The man stands before you, now. Kihika came to me by night. He put
his life into my hands, and I sold it to the White man. And this thing has
eaten into my life all these years.”

Mugo then disappears from the life of Thabai. He has eased himself of
the guilt which stood as a heavy load on his shoulders. He has also lost his
desired dream when he is close to achieving it. “Ngugi uses dramatic irony
to contrast Mugo and Karanja. Mugo is the man chosen for crowning on the
Independence Day who turns out to be the betrayer of Kihika. Karanja is
the man who has been condemned by public opinion and is to be
humiliated at the ceremony, who then turns out to be innocent. Ngugi uses
this device to “warn his society against any over-hasty processes of setting
up heroes to worship and traitors to prosecute.”

A grain of wheat also weaves around the lives of other characters.

Gikonyo, a married and dedicated carpenter, is separated from his beloved
wife and cherished mother when he is detained in a detention camp. He
betrays the oath of ‘fight for freedom’ by confessing, so he might be
released. When he returns, he finds his wife, Mumbi, with his rival’s child.
“When Gikonyo and Mumbi discover that Mugo, the man whom they have
been looking as exemplary in the society, is the traitor, they are forced to
re-examine their attitudes and realize that men cannot be categorized into
saints and villains.”
John Thompson’s plan to establish the European imperialism theory
fails when Europe hands power to the Kenyans. He, as well as other
colonial officials, has to leave Kenya before the Uhuru Celebration:
“Thompson’s imminent departure and the independence tomorrow night
brought back in their heart the man who had been at the centre of scandal
at Rira. Thompson was therefore a martyr, had been so received at
Githima, was regarded now on the eve of his departure from a country he
had served so well”
Thompson’s last words are: “we are not yet beaten. Africa cannot, cannot
do without Europe.”
THEMES

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Colonialism: this is the dominant theme in most of Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s
works. The Europeans colonized the Kenyans and established a foreign
rule in the country. Kenya, according to the Europeans, is a desolate land
inhabited by ‘sheep without shepherd.’ But according to Ngugi and other
African writers such as Chinua Achebe, Africans had their system of
rulership. Mumbi and Gikonyo were good couples united by love but the
evil colonialism divides the couple. Colonialism as depicted in the works of
Ngugi, not only divides a united family but also damages it beyond repair.
In Weep Not Child, the ever-loved polygamous family of Ngotho which lived
peacefully was divided by colonialism. Also in the grain of wheat, not only
did colonialism separate family members, it also distances them beyond
reach of their family and loved ones. Ngugi emphasizes the theme of
colonialism in his works to reflect the evil of colonial or foreign rule.
Betrayal: this is another dominant theme that exists also in all of Ngugi’s
works such as: The River Between, Weep Not Child, Trials of Dedan
Kimathi and Petals of Blood. In A Grain of Wheat, there is a recurrence of
the theme of betrayal through the novel. The uniqueness of Ngugi’s view of
betrayal is reflected in the class of people who are betrayed, notably: the
Europeans, the upper class and the lower class. Ranging from the lower
class, Mugo betrayed Kihika by handing him to the Europeans; Gikonyo
betrayed the oath by confessing it for his safety; Mumbi betrayed her
husband by having an affair with his rival, Karanja; Karanja also betrayed
the oath by clinging to the Europeans. From the upper class, the blacks in
authority betrayed the masses by using their power against them. M.P
bought the land which Gikonyo and others have contributed money to buy.
Europe also betrayed her officials by handing power to the Kenyans.
Ngugi’s primary message is that betrayal is a stigma that exists in all men,
especially Africans. As regards blacks who betray blacks, Ngugi narrates
through a comment: “it shows that black men will never be united. There
must always be a traitor in our midst.”- (Weep Not Child,60)
The difference in blacks’ betrayal is reflected in their imitation to be like
the whites or acquire a possession from them. “No matter how long a wild
rat stays in water, it will never become a crocodile.” In a grain of wheat,
Karanja clings to the Europeans because of their long arm and the
authority he would gain. As a friend of kihika before clinging to the
Europeans, Karanja doubts the ability of the blacks against the whites,
because the whites have ‘bombs.’ Thus, Ngugi presents betrayal as a
major stigma that exists in Africa.

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Land: in most of Ngugi’s works, there is an importance attached to land. In
Weep Not Child, Ngotho believed strongly in the prophesy of Mumbi-
Gikonyo (Adam and Eve). The land was his source of hope. In The Trials of
Dedan Kimathi, Kimathi struggled for the land of Kenya. Most noticeable
among others is depicted in A Grain of Wheat. The reason the Mau Mau
revolution was set up was not because of the existence of the Europeans in
Kenya. Rather, the Europeans invaded and forcefully acquired the land
which belongs to the Kenyans. “The supreme importance which the kikuyu
attach to their land has been described by Jomo Kenyatta in his
anthropological treatise, Facing Mount Kenya, where implications go
beyond merely economic:
“As agriculturalists the Gikuyu people depend entirely on the land. It
supplies them with material needs of life, through which mental and
spiritual contentment is achieved. Communion with the ancestral spirits is
perpetuated through contact with the soil in which the ancestors of the tribe
lie buried. The Gikuyu considers the earth as mother…that feeds the child
through lifetime; and after death it is the soil that nurses the spirit of the
dead for eternity….”
When the ever cherished possession of theirs has been ‘publicly stolen’
from them, the Kenyans took to revolution.
Unity: this is another similar theme that is found in the works of Ngugi.
Being unified help the Kenyans stand against the Europeans. The Mau
Mau revolt was established to achieve one particular aim – ‘fight for our
land and freedom.’ Despite the death of Waiyaki and Kihika, the other
forest fighters still maintained their stand. They continued fighting to the
last. “United we stand, divided we fall.” Despite the unity that exists, some
of them were divided. But in unity, Kenyan got its independence in 1963.
Oppression: this theme is not only found in Ngugi’s works but also in other
African works. The blacks are always oppressed by the whites. This theme
is depicted in Ferdinand’s Oyono’s Houseboy, Richard Wright’s Black Boy
and notably, Africans poems, notably “The Sun on this Rubble” by Dennis
Brutus. As depicted in A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, the whites
oppressed the blacks economically, politically, socially and in other spheres
of life. ‘The class between the Europeans and the Gikuyu community
appears essentially economic. It starts when the settlers begin to acquire
lands and does not end until the invader has been defeated.” Economically,
the Europeans oppressed the blacks by paying them little wages after a

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hard labour. Despites the little wages earned, the blacks were forced to pay
tax. Politically, the Europeans governed the blacks in blacks land; torture
the blacks brutally; force them to work to enrich themselves; and at worst,
detain and kill anyone at their disposal.
Socially, the Europeans separated the Kenyans from their family.
Gikonyo was separated from his wife and mother. Severally others were
detained in several detention camps which scattered through the land.
During the state of emergency, the Europeans restricted the hours which
the Kenyan’s were to be out. The blacks, owners of the land, were allowed
only two hours to spend outside their huts, in their land. This time was later
reduced to an hour, and later, they were not allowed to go out anymore.
Scarcity of food was at its peak. Children cried every day until they adapted
to the situation. According to Ngugi, ‘a seed of beans was shared among
children.’ The whites were also separated from the blacks. The whites
occupy the fertile land, leaving the infertile lands to the black to soil and toil.
Huts were also burned, leaving the villagers homeless but allowing the
strong and agile to build a new well- structured hut that befits the new
European regime. Others were enslaved and tortured. The memory of the
events cannot be neglected as it dominants most African works.
Love: Ngugi Wa Thiong’o is not a romantic novelist whenever he writes
about areas of love, he is specially unique. In Weep Not Child, Njoroge and
Mwihaki are two lovers who cherished their love but love according to
Ngugi, ‘does not change the circumstances.’ In A Grain of Wheat, Gikonyo
and Mumbi reflected the theme of love in the society. Love “is a deep
feeling for someone or something” but according to Ngugi, it is not just a
deep feeling, it is the possession of a force that pushes one beyond one’s
expectation. Gikonyo and Karanja, two best of friends became worst of
enemies because of love for Mumbi. Mumbi choose Gikonyo over Karanja,
happily. Love for Mumbi made Karanja confess his oath so he could be
powerful enough to win back Mumbi. During Gikonyo’s absence, Karanja
ceased the opportunity by having an affair with Mumbi. While at the
detention camp, love for Mumbi and the urge to see and be with her made
the strong Gikonyo to be feebly weak. He confessed the oath, so as to be
released but found Mumbi with his rival’s child. Wambuku and Njeri are
also two genuine lovers of the hero, Kihika. Kihika choose Wambuku over
Njeri but preferred his love of politics to his relationship. Whenever
Wambuku talked about love, Kihika talked about politics. When Kihika left
for war against the Europeans, Wambuku could not control herself. She
became open to any man except one –a soldier. The soldier tortured her
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because she did not allow him to have her. She died with her three months
baby as a result of the torture. Moved by loved for Kihika, Njeri, who was
strong enough to fight both sex, went to the forest to fight alongside Kihika.
A bullet touched her in a retreat. She died three days after Kihika was
hanged. Ngugi uses the theme of love to depict the feeling that exist among
all Africans. But one thing that differentiates Ngugi’s theme of love from
other writers’ is that his never end happily. In Weep Not Child, Njoroge
and Mwihika did not end happily because of their new responsibility to take
care of their family. In A Grain of Wheat, Gikonyo and Mumbi’s relationship
did not end happily because of the misunderstandings that exist between
them.
Death: this is another universal theme that is found in Ngugi’s works. In all
his works, the theme of death is a minor theme. What message does Ngugi
pass across through the recurring theme of death in his work? In Weep Not
Child, blacks were killed without any just cause. In The River Between,
Muthoni’s death resulted from her disobedience to her father and new
religion. In A Grain of Wheat, emphasis was placed on the death of Waiyaki
and Kihika. Thus, Ngugi uses death to depict sacrifice. Thus the death of
Waiyaki and Kihika is necessary for the germination of wheat
(independence) in Kenya.

Freedom: there is one motive that inspired the blacks against the whites
despite their oppression. Freedom. Ngugi is known as a novelist of the
Gandhian message because the story of Gandhi of India is his source of
inspiration. The Kenyans, as depicted in Ngugi’s A Grain of wheat,
struggled for their freedom against oppression and foreign rule. In their
struggle for freedom, Waiyaki was captured and buried alive; Kihika was
captured and hanged publicly; other blacks were disposed without trial. So
many blacks were restricted of their freedom:
‘‘the soldiers beat them with truncheons…. Manyan (detention camp) was
divided
into three different compounds: A, B and C. Every compounds was then
subdivided
into smaller units, each enclosing ten cells. One big cell housed six
hundred men.’’

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To estimate, thousands of Kenyans were restricted of their freedom.
Conflict: the novel pictures several conflicts between the Europeans and
the Africans. Politically, the Europeans governed Kenya and send most of it
inhabitants to several detention camps. Hence, while the Europeans were
detaining and killing many Africans such as Waiyaki and Kihika, the
Africans killed Mr Robson and other brainwashed Africans who betrayed
the nation. Socially, conflicts arose from separation of a person from his
family. The Europeans alienated many Africans by sending them to
detention camp, whereas those who are left behind are forced into hard
labour. Gikonyo, who has been separated from his family, confessed the
oath to return to his family but on his return, Mumbi already has a son for
Karanja. Economically, the Africans were exploited. The Europeans subdue
the fertile lands, leaving the infertile lands to Kenyans. In the fertile lands,
the blacks were dehumanised. They work so hard and were given little
income. They were also forced to pay for taxes out of such little income. All
these oppression led to the conflicts in the novel. These conflicts led the
continuous struggle of the Kenyans against the Europeans. Hence, Kenya
fought for their human rights.
Corruption: despite the colonization, corruption was not abolished. Ngugi
pictured two policemen who stopped a bus. The bus was discharged when
a little settlement of money was given to the policemen. Ngugi also pictured
a corruptible M.P who secretly bought a huge plot of land that Gikonyo and
some others have made plan for.
Role of Women: Ngugi Wa Thiong’o presented the role of women in
several aspects. Women took care of the family. Mumbi took care of
Gikonyo’s mother and her[Mumbi] son in Gikonyo’s absence. Women were
also perceived as a link between the people in the village and the freedom
fighters in the forest. Wambui, on an occasion, took a gun to the forest
fighter. Women also played a role of worthless people. Soldiers selected
any women of their choice and harassed them sexually. Dr. Lynd was also
sexually harassed by Lt. Koinadu.
CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERISATION
Mugo: Mugo is a symbol of leadership. Like every other main characters in
Ngugi’s work, when he was close to achieving his dream or aspiration, his
past action countered him. The guilt of betraying kihika haunted him. Not
only did the guilt haunt him, it fed on him daily all time. His inner conflict
was between the innocent Mugo who has to move on hence no one in the
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community knows the secret and Mugo the traitor who will be punished for
betraying the people’s hero, kihika. Throughout the novel, Mugo did not
change. He maintains his introspective lifestyle and continues to dwell in
the society despite his guilt, therefore he becomes a flat character. The
only change that occurred to him was minor emotional change. First was
depression when he lost his aunt and secondly, ease, when he made his
confession before the crowd. Mugo’s relation with other characters is few.
He loved no one nor talked to anyone except when someone demands an
answer from him. Contrastively, other characters in the novel considered
him to be a hero. A quiet hero who should be imitated but unfortunately, the
hero was also a traitor. Some scholars still upholds Mugo’s actions. He can
still be called a hero, a tragic hero. Although he was of a poor background,
he not only aspired to be great and recognized, he worked towards
attaining his aspiration. When he was to be crowned the village chief, thus
achieving his dream of authority and recognition, his selfish past deed
sabotage his dream. Furthermore traits of a hero were still found in him. He
did not hide or escape his judgement. He was bold and courageous to
continue his life in the village rather than run away. He therefore is a tragic
hero because his “ability to take responsibility for his deed and mistakes
and acceptance for his punishment with measured integrity as
consequences for his sin.” Although Mugo is bold, courageous and strong,
he is frightful and selfish. He betrayed kihika for his selfish safety and
allowed the fear of being suspected in a society he wishes to be recognized
with. Ngugi description and narration of Mugo provokes reader’s judgment.
“whom would he now call a relation? He needed somebody, anybody….”
“He left the crowd. It was as though a huge burden has been taken off his
shoulder.” Mugo’s characteristics are similar, as aforementioned, to other
main characters in most of his Ngugi’s works. In Weep Not Child, Njoroge
was determined to save Kenya through his education. He as well as others
in the community hoped for the fulfillment of the dream. But the dream, like
Mugo’s, was sabotaged close to its achievement by Jacobo, a traitor.
Similarly in The Trials of Dedan Kimathi, Woman made illegal contact with
some persons to smuggle a gun to Kimathi the cell but this plan was
sabotaged by several factors which some considers spiritual. What
message does Kimathi passes with the recurring incidents of his main
characters? Axiomatically, he posits that all humans have a weakness.
Gikonyo: Gikonyo is a symbol of the inflected masses that look up to their
leaders. He earned his living through carpentry, a profession he cherished
so much. Like Mugo, he has his inner conflicts. Although poor and timid, his

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love for Mumbi made him rich emotionally and bold publicly. He struggles to
win his rival, Karanja, over the love of Mumbi which he succeeded. A
change in his life began when he returned from the detention camp to his
long missed mother and wife only to find his wife with his rival’s child. This
change affected his relationship with his wife negatively but increased his
wealth and hard work. Although he was mocked for engaging into a woman
business, he ignored the mockery. Through his hardwork, he became
wealthy. Thus as a symbol of the masses, he was hardworking. He was
also not only betrayed by his wife but also the M.P. The M.P used his
position of authority to possess a large plot of land that Gikonyo as well as
others contributed money for the oppression he received even from fellow
blacks made hi utter a poignant statement to Mugo:
“…now, whom do we see riding in long cars and changing them daily as if
motor cars were cloths? It is those who did not take part in the
movement….At political meetings you hear them shout: Uhuru, Uhuru,…
they were uncircumcised boys, they knew suffering as a word.”
He is a dynamic character who changes as events change in the story.
Another time he changed was when he realized that the same man who he
considered a hero was the traitor. This discovery changed his mentality of
human generally.
Mumbi: she is also a symbol of the inflected masses. Although a decent
lady from a good family, she commited adultery. She, her step-mother and
son starved during the emergency. she were not allowed to go out. To be
able to provide for her family, she gave in to Karanja who has been bringing
gifts to her. As a woman character, Ngugi uses her to portray women in the
society – their roles in the family, the society and the world. According to
Ngugi, when a husband is away, a woman should be the next to take over.
She was also a victim of colonialism. Her brother, Kihika, was killed. The
brother was captured and hanged him publicly. Thus, Ngugi uses her to
represent the great number of people who have lost their loved ones and
beloved property. She is a round character in the novel.
Karanja: he is a symbol of traitors amidst heroes. He was the first in the
novel who confessed the oath he swore to the freedom fighters. He
confesses so as to be delivered and protected from ‘the long arm of the
whites.’ He clung to the Europeans. He betrayed his race and caused
commotion among the blacks. Whenever kihika talked about the struggle
for independence, karanja countered by doubting anyone’s ability to

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overpower the whites. His relationship with other blacks was limited. His
relationship even with the whites is limited. Everyone in the society
believed he betrayed kihika. But he was innocent of such charges. Thus,
Ngugi contrasts the character of Mugo to that of Karanja. Mugo was
popularly viewed as a hero in the society. Contrastively, Karanja was
viewed or believed to be a traitor. Thus, Ngugi posits that in every hero,
there is a flaw or weakness and in every villain, there is a virtue.
Kimathi: Kimathi, in A Grain of Wheat, is a symbol of heroism and
sacrifice. He represents the black heroes who fought against the
Europeans during colonialism. As a character, he is flat. The supremacy of
the Europeans over the blacks infuriates him. He joined the Mau Mau
revolution because of the recurring exploitation and oppression of the
blacks by the whites. He is considered a hero by everyone, even Mugo who
betrayed him. Kimathi was determined, courageous and strong. The story
of Gandhi was is his inspiration. He believed that he can make up Kenya’s
freedom history that would be hand down to generations.
John Thompson: he is a symbol of colonialism. he is one of the British
officials who served at several regions. The achievements of the
colonialism in the other regions motivated and inspired him. As created and
presented by Ngugi, he believed that the blacks are ‘second-class humans’
who deserve to be colonized. He initiated the idea of colonial imperialism to
exploit the Kenyans into forcefully accepting their colonial masters. ‘He is
obsessed by the paranoia of turning the British Empire into a great moral
idea. This obsession blinds him to many realities which surround him in the
strife-torn society of Kenya’ that He was unaware of his wife adultery with
another man. Furthermore, when Britain handed over power, he considered
it a betrayal. he laments: ‘we are not beaten yet. Africa cannot do without
Europe.’ Ngugi therefore posits from such comment that ‘the conflict
(between the Europeans and Kenyans) is about to assume a different
aspect’ rather than colonization.
General k. and Lt. Koinadu: they are friends of Kihika who fought
alongside him in battles. They were with Kihika when he said he wanted to
go meet someone alone. They believed that Kihika was betrayed by
someone. They suspected Karanja but to their bewilderment, it was the
tacit Mugo who they both consider a hero of the people. They are flat minor
characters.

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Wangari: a single-parent who takes care of the only son. Despite the fact
that her husband abandoned her, she was determined to be train up her
only son to be a grown respectable amn. She performed a husbandry
responsibility when the husband abandoned her. In addition to mumbi,
ngugi uses wangari to exhibit feminist prowess in the society. As a mother,
she resolved the misunderstandings between the young couples; as a
member of the society, she adapted to the political situation off Kenya
during the state of emergency.
Wambuku: she is a symbol which represents the inflected i.e those who
were affect by colonialism negative in one way or the other. She could not
maintain her spouse’s love. She struggled with the idea of politics over her
husband but was defeated. Her lover, Kihika, chose politics over her. The
event changed her decent life to a horrible life of prostitution. Thus,
colonization not only took her husband-to-be away but also took away her
dignity and virtues.
Njeri: she is a symbol of the inflected youth during colonialism. Driven by a
force called love, although covert, she went to the forest to fight alongside
kihika, her dreamed lover. She considered her best friend Wambuku too
weak to fight for what she loves. So to prove her ideal love, she took to
arms. In the society, she is friendly to everyone and approachable. Thus,
her death at the forest means the loss of a heroine in the community.
Warui: a village elder who during his youth fought alongside Waiyaki.
Wahuriu: Gikonyo’s father who married many wives. He is lustful. “he got
new brides and complained that the thighs of the first wife, Wangari, was
not warmth anymore. He beat her hoping she would leave. Wangari stuck
on.”(pg. 67)
SETTINGS
The setting of the play is pre-independence Kenya. The actions of the
novel took place in the village of Thabai, a village in the centre of Kenya.
the village of thabia was inbatited by whites and blacks. Thus through the
setting i.e colonization, we could deduce that the whites oppressed the
blacks. The setting also affected the thought and mood of all the characters
in the novel. It is either the characters are oppressed by the colonization or
wish to be with the blacks in Nairobi who ‘knew suffering as a word’
because they collaborate with the Europeans. Historically, the settings
reveal the past events that occurred during colonial administration. Thus,

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the novel is like a re-enactment of the events during the pre-independent
Kenya. Symbolically, the novel represents the social relation among the
people during foreign rule. All the relationship in the novel – mother and
daughter, father and son, husband and wife, lovers and youth ended sadly
because of the settings of the play, colonial administration.

NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
In A Grain of Wheat, the narrator employed the omniscient point of
view or the third person narrator. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o sees all thing that
revolves in the novel. ‘He sees from the mind of the characters. He takes
the reader into the life of each character.’ He is ubiquitous. He sees what
goes on in mugo’s hut and what happens in Gikonyo’s chamber. He knows
Mugo’s prevalent thought and guilt that hunts him, although all other
characters were ignorant of this. he helps readers to give a better judgment
of each character by taking the reader into the lives of the characters.
Ngugi employs this method or technique to convince his readers that he
has enough information about the events of the people of Kenya, his
hometown.
He also employed the flashback narrative technique to solve the
puzzle and suspense that has been created in the minds of the readers. It
was through the flashback device that the real narration of Kihika’s death
was made overt. Most of the events are revealed through flashbacks.
Ngugi uses this to create suspense. According to Shatto Arthur, the novel
has a ‘cumbersome narrative technique which…produces a certain amount
of lackness.’ Ngugi use of suspense in the novel sometimes reduce readers
interest rather than increase the interest.
LANGUAGE AND STYLE
Ngugi’s use of language is simple and easy to comprehend by any
individual. The words are not exoteric but simple.
Ngugi’s style of writing is uniquely different from most African writers.
One major style of Ngugi is his use of characters. His characters are
always of the low class and usually the masses. He uses this style to
‘express the suffering and the aspiration from’ the masses. He uses
characters of low status in the society. Mugo, Karanja and Gikonyo are
symbols of the poor masses or peasants in Kenya. Gikonyo was a
carpenter, Karanja was a messenger and Mugo was a petty farmer. In
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weep not child, Njoroge and his family were considered low because they
lived in the villages. They lacked certain modern gadget and inventions,
even electricity. Yet, this lowly people aspire to be great. Ngugi also
presents the rich and wealthy as wicked or partial e.g. the blacks who
resided at Nairobi in A Grain of Wheat; Jacobo, the traitor in Weep Not
Child.
Another style of Ngugi Wa Thiong’o is his uses of Gikuyu, an indigenous
Kenyan language. In all his works, he uses songs, words, proverbs and
idioms from Gikuyu. Sometimes these words are translated but in most of
his works, they are best written in Gikuyu. Another style of Ngugi is his use
of figurative expression in all of his works. His words are highly figurative.
There are similar themes and characters in his works. His works often
depict themes of colonialism, the main theme; love; oppression; death and
the role of women. His characters are also symbolic. All his works are
similar structurally.
PERSONAL JUDGMENT
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o is uniquely different. The titles of his works and use of
diction are what I appreciate majorly in his works. His style is also genuine
as a writer. His use of language, selcection of characters and use of
flashbacks add to the subject matter of his work, the evil of colonialism.
Reference
Ngugi, T. 1967. A Grain of Wheat.London: William Heinemann Ltd
Mpagazedenis.blogspot.com/2008/01/grain-of-wheat.html?m=1
Shatto, A. 1977. The Novel and Contemporary Experience in Africa:
Heinemann educational books ltd.

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