Themes : A Grain of wheat assignment paper 14

Name : Rathod Nirali j.

Paper no : 14 African Literature

Email id : niralijrathod@gmail.com

Topic: Themes: A Grain of Wheat ( By Ngugi Wa Thiongo)

Themes: A Grain of Wheat

Unity and the idea of ‘Independence and freedom’

When kihika talks about Kenyan independence, he says that what is needed is unity. Unity is the strength of the people against the weapons and strength of the British. The novel explores the idea of unity. Extending it to include community in individuals’ personal lives as well as political lives. The opposite of unity is isolation, and focusing on the self instead of focusing on the community. Mugo ultimately destroys himself through his own isolation. He has no family or sense of an extension of himself into the community of Thabai and Kenya. Mugo only wants to be left alone. However, no man is an island. No man can exist only for himself, because he must live in the world. Mugo does not realize that he is in the same position as the other black people of Kenya. He is part of community, whether he wants to be or not. When he goes to see Thompson with the information about kihika, Mugo is confronted with the reality. Thompson sees Mugo only as one of the black men of Kenya. He sees him as a liar, trying to trick the government guards into a trap, perhaps. The moment when Thompson spits in mugo’s face is moment of revelation for Mugo. He is one of he black men of Kenya, and he has just betrayed himself.

Unity is not something Mugo has chosen; he is united with others through oppression.

Mugo and karanja both choose a path for their individual good. Instead of one for the community as a whole. This is what  Wambuku wants from kihika. She wants him to focus on her alone and not leave her, much as karanja decides to join the guards so that he will never be forced to leave Mumbi. She does not understand his need to fight, not for himself or not her but for the united community.

Confession and communication-‘ universal experience’

In ‘A Grain of wheat’ confession is the key for individuals to relieve their own minds and hearts, and also the key for individuals to make a life together and open up communication, which is a cornerstone of unity. throughout the Novel, characters are driven to confess their own experiences and truths to others, in order to ease themselves. This confession does not necessarily create a connection with another human, but it does help characters deal with their own problems. It is a first step toward understanding and ultimate unity.

Dr. Lyand confesses her traumatic experience and the death of her dog to Thompson. She does not understand what has happened to her fully, through because she only sees her own perspective. Communication with koina is completely cut off. He sees the event from  a completely different perspective. Like Gikonyo and Mumbi, koina and Lynd each hold their individual realities within themselves, and because they never communicate, they can never be reconciled. They hold their own realities to themselves, instead of confessing to each other. Mumbi and Gikonyo both confess their stories to Mugo. They not communicate with each other, and so they remain torn apart. Only at the end of the novel, when Gikonyo indicates a willingness to discuss a mumbi’s child, does the possibility for reconciliation exist. Communication is what creates this possibility. Mugo as well as, is driven to confession. He tears himself up by carrying his own guilt. when he realses himself. Confession allows him to heal. He is saved, spiritually, although he must face a punishment of death.

Culture and perspective

The characters is the novel each see Kenya and uhuru from individual unique perspectives. They, however can not fully see each other’s truth and each other’ lives. The biggest divisions that separate them are those of culture. The white upper class is British. They bring with them not only British. They bring with them not only British culture. Culture is what Thompson upon Africa, and he sees British culture as the height of human accomplishment. He does not truly understand that the Kenyans also have a culture, and he cannot accept that the culture of Kenyans could be equivalent in value to the culture of British.