Assigments for African Literature

The Intersection of Gender, Class, and Marginalization in Petals of Blood

Introduction of Ngugi wa Thiong’o 

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, original name James Thiong’o Ngugi, (born January 5, 1938, Limuru, Kenya), Kenyan writer who was considered East Africa's leading novelist. His popular Weep Not, Child (1964) was the first major novel in English by an East African. As he became sensitized to the effects of colonialism in Africa, Ngugi adopted his traditional name and wrote in the Bantu language of Kenya's Kikuyu people.

Ngugi received bachelor’s degrees from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, in 1963 and from Leeds University, Yorkshire, England, in 1964. After doing graduate work at Leeds, he served as a lecturer in English at University College, Nairobi, Kenya, and as a visiting professor of English at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, U.S. From 1972 to 1977 he was senior lecturer and chairman of the department of literature at the University of Nairobi.

Major Works 

Short Stories 

The Fig Tree

The Wind The SecretLives(1976)

Plays 

The Black Hermit

Ngaahika Ndeenda (1977) Gikuyu.

Novels

Weep Not Child (1964)

The River Between (1965)

A Grain of Wheat (1967)

The Wound in the Heart (1976)

Petals of Blood published (1977)

Caitaani Hultharaba Ini appeared in Gikuyu (translation Devil on the Cross)

Wizard of the Crow, is written in Gikuyu.

Essays 

A Barrel of Pen (1984)

Decolonizing the Mind appeared in 1986

Brief summary on Petals of Blood 

Petals of Blood (1977) deals with social and economic problems in East Africa after independence,particularly the continued exploitation of peasants and workers by foreign business interests and a greedy indigenous bourgeoisie.

Set in Kenya just after independence. The story follows four characters; Munira Abdullah, Wanja and Karega. In order to escape city life, each retreats to the small, post colonial village of Ilmorog It is the dramatization and condemnation of the ruthless capitalist exploitation of the masses by those in privileged positions.

The novel progresses, the characters deal with the repercussions of the Mau Mau rebellion as well as with a new, rapidly westernizing Kenya.The novel largely deals with the skepticism 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.

Marginalization in Petals of Blood

Petals of Blood, a highly political novel, takes the form of what Killam calls a "detective" ("Grain of Wheat" 97). Set to small the remote village of Illmorog - a microcosm of Kenya, a metaphor for Kenya's development in the post-colonial era. Four of the main characters - Munira, Abdulla, Karega and Wanja - each from Limuru town, travel to the village. Every character comes to visit and is largely motivated by a desire to avoid the widespread malaise that plagues Kenya under Uhuru, at independence.Moreover, each illustrates a different strategy for coping with the oppressive conditions of the new black-led state. The four main characters are suspected to be three directors of Theng'eta Breweries and Enterprises - Chui, Kimeria andMzigo - who were burned alive. Police Inspector Godfrey of Nairobi was called in to solve the case. In the structure of the detective the interconnected lives of the novel's protagonists and the people around them are told through Kenya's past andpresentPetals of Blood begins with Muinra being taken to the Ilmorog police station for routine questioning. He is the man who talked about all the important events and happenings and is asked to record all those moments since the day he came to Illmorog. Then Abdullaand Karega comes to the police station, while Wanja is taken to the hospital for treatment of severe burns. A newspaper report reveals reason to call these people to the police station.Mzigo , Chui, Kimeria murdered [Capitals Original] Man believed to be union agitator arrested after a leading industrialist and two educators known as leaders of African international fameTheng'eta Breweries and Enterprises Ltd burned to death in Illmorg last night, just hours after it was discovered a decision without a salary increase. (4-5)Munira, a declassified bourgeois, the "black sheep" of an otherwise successful Christian family, remembers the day she arrived in Ilmorog twelve years ago. At that time, Illmorog was just a wasteland that was in the grip of a severe famine. The common mass seems to be hostile outsiders and young people are not at all interested in school and books. Munira's father - Brother Ezekiel Waweru - is a rich and pious landlord, a white worker, who is attacked by Mau Mau rebels. A change of government has little effect on his wealth; indeed he has several possibilities. Ezekiel is very proud of his children's success, except for Munira, who continues down the path of failure.

Munira is expelled after participating in a strike by students at Siriana Elite High School [modeled after Ngugi Alliance High School] of the institute. Later, after several years as a wanderer, he marries Julia, a Kenyan pagan who converts Christianity to ingratiate herself to her powerful in-laws.

Munira escapes to Illmorog to become the principal of Ilmorog Elementary School only to fall in love with her powerful in-laws. the shame of her father's collaboration with the whites in exploiting the poor in the name of God and Julia's mockery hurt Munira .Torn from family loyalty to breed loyalty [Mau Mau] Munira is ashamed of her past and longs to participate Kenya in the present, but is paralyzed by alienation because she refused to acknowledge any symbiosis Reprimanding her for her silence, the novel reveals... what Munira must face for herself: In this brutal new Kenya, Munira has made keeping one's head down, or "keeping calm," an inevitable form of survival. preceded by Abdulla - an outsider - in Ilmorog. He says: "I wanted to go to a deep country, where I would not remember such a bitter betrayal." Munira doesn't want to share her past life with anyone, so she gives Abdulla a false reason to take refuge in Ilmorog. Abdullah, who comes to that remote village with his brother Joseph and a donkey, has a psychological advantage over Munira. Soon another Wanja will join Munira and Abdulla She is the granddaughter of Nyakinyua, one of the oldest matriarchs of Illmorog. Munira remembers the moments of her arrest Wanja shares her childhood memories, especially her love affair that leads to her pregnancy with an old man who refuses to have a child of his own. Wanja convinces Abdulla to hire her as a bartender, turning the sleepy shop into a lively bar. Student Wanja is shocked by her pitiful situation and her interrupted school life. Wanting to conceive again, Wanja contacts the soothsayer Mwathi wa Mugo, who advises her on the night of the new moon. plans to celebrate several times in the same day - the beginning of the harvest, the return of Joseph to school, and his own expectations. A single incident turns out the way he wants and he feels disappointed. The last to arrive at Ilmorog is Karega, another student rebel and former student expelled from Siriana after the second strike. 

He is the son of Mariamu Ahoi - a wage laborer in Munira's father's farms. The word strike worries Munira to the absurd feeling of his dead past suddenly reviving, from which he is trying to escape. Munira remembers her own school days' strike against discrimination between blacks and whites, led by student leader Chui, who along with five other students including Munira, were expelled from the school by a very ruthless headmaster, Cambridge Frodsham, who firmly believed in "God and Empire". Like others, Karega comes to Illmorog looking for answers to his situation amid the national turmoil that prevails everywhere. on the same day that Wanja had chosen for his party. Karega remembers her acquaintance with Munira Mukami's sister. Karega's brother Ndinguri witnesses Ezekiel's negative intentions towards his mother and convinces him to safely remove himself from the situation, he advises her to reconcile with her husband and the result of their brief union with Kare. Munira later introduces Karega to Abdulla and Wanja, who takes her to Abdulla's duka, where Abdulla makes them chirp. past: "My real name is not Abdulla. On this Wanja.

 Munira always feels anxious in front of situations related to life and society. Munira feels guilty for mentioning forest fighters but he is saved by Wanja, who walks him on the ridge; seeing the moon, Wanja invites Munira to spend that fateful night with her in the cabin and "murder the moon on him." Munira accepts her invitation, but Wanja feels that she has completely failed after the union. At first, Karega settles in Ilmorog as an assistant teacher in Munira's future school, a post about Munira's jealous plot, studying and traveling with Kare, and then becoming a union organizer in the new Ilmorog proposal All three main characters return to Illmorog again. Continued drought threatens the survival of residents; suggests Karega . A delegation of villagers visited M.P. in Nderi town to present their plight and seek government compensation. Karega, worried about the implementation of this plan, begins his "long journey" a A delegation representing Nyakinyu, Wanja, Joseph, Abdulla and Munira towards the city. The details of this "Long March" allow Ngugi to present the glorious past of Illmorog, Limuru and Kenya. 

 Picking up threads from young people moving to cities, Wanja talks about his own experiences as a bartender in cities. brings to mind residual memories of the village's former glory, once a thriving commercial center now inhabited only by the elderly, combining the present scenario of Kenya with the beautiful past. Four former townspeople lead a motley crew of peasants on this momentous journey that will change the fortunes of Ilmorog forever, the hypocrisy of various elite-led institutions in independent Kenya. Ngugi takes advantage of this situation to critically examine the characters Pastor Jerrod Brown - a wealthy pastor and church leader - who offers only spiritual food to the sick group instead of elite groups instead of the sick poor with the arrival of Kimeria, a rich businessman and friend of Nderi wa Riera, M.P. He threatens to imprison the group if they don'tDespite the objections of Karega and the others, she agrees to give herself to Kimeria for the greater good.Hawkins, a lawyer whose kind help once saved Wanja from the clutches of a German madman, saves the delegation.

According to Cook and Okenimkpe, the character of Hawkins is based on a real-life Kenyan

The most auspicious event of the villagers' journey to town is their connection with Hawkins.

from the public that followed the visit of the delegation to Illmorog, and finally he himself is a candidate in the parliamentary elections andAfter the arrival of the delegation, protests and demonstrations were raised that landed Munira, Abdulla and Karega in prison.This long march and publicity is destroying the culturally rich Ilmorog.The village feels like it's growing the new Illmorog becomes a better city through so-called "progress" with all the city's evils ruled by the most despicable egoists.exploiters like Chui, Mzigo, Kimeria and Nderi wa Riera who set up a private company called Illmorog (KCO) Investment and Holdings Ltd. ThursdayThis leads to the exploitation of the village through the combined forces of dependent private and political institutions.The lawyer directs Karega to class-conscious political activism verbally and not.

Hawkins was later assassinated for his reformist efforts in Parliament.

This makes Karega an elite studyInstitutions like parliament offer no help to anyone from neo-colonial exploitation.After the delegation returns, the rains and optimism return to Illmorog for a while.end the party by making the traditional party drink, Theng'eta.Drinking refers to remembering the dreams and longings of the person participating in it the future of the country; Munira wants Wanja to be with her, but she doesn't have the courage to ask; Karega tells them about her mother Mariamu,his brother Ndinguri and his association with the Mau Mau movement and his responsibility for cutting off Ezekiel's ear.This puts Karega in a different relationship with Munira because he is Mukami's brother and Abdulla, who was his brother Ndinguri comrade in arms.Abdulla speaks of "Ndinguri, the bravest of all ...However, Theng'eta has many effects on different people.Wanja and Karega find aHowever, Munira is furious and further estranged from the truth with Karega.He accused Karega of forcing Mukami to commit suicideand being the brother of Ndung'u, who cuts off his father's ear.He calls Wanja , which provokes Karega, who in turn declares the sameAccording to Munira, Karega is resigning from his position because he wants to be with the clubResidents of Illmorog are struggling against a new attack by priests, politicians and police.The reason behind Karega's dismissal is his closeness to Wanja, which angers Munira, who fires Karega on false accusations of political persecution.

Karega's dismissal from the institute makes Wanja angry and worried: "It's different with him.For the first time I feel wanted...no longer humiliated...humiliated...Karega leaves despite the pleas of Abdulla and Wanja when he accidentally discovers that Kimeria is guilty.The Seduction of Wanja and the Betrayal and Death of Ndung'u.After leaving with Kare, Theng'eta markets the drink to Wanja.The government launches Abdulla and plans to turn Illmorog into a tourist destination.Edistys and Nyakinyua destroy old Ilmorog laments the glorious past of old Ilmorog.Roads, banks, factories, distilleries and residential areas that are rapidly destroying the traditional fabric of Ilmorog.failure to pay this will result in the confiscation of the land and thus Wanja will have to sacrifice his thriving business.Later Nyakinyua dies; Wanja sets up the brothel "Sunshine Lodge" (281) near his shamba; Abdulla starts selling sheepskin to tourists; as Munira moves back and forth Wanja is now a successful woman of the place.After a long gap of years, Munira and Karegacall Wanja.The last five years were with Karega Later moving to Mombasa, he sees how the Europeans continue to keep Kenya's economy strong through technical expertise. Gives whites high privilege over blacks, so he is fired and Karega later decides to move back.Wanja recalls her own moments when, tempted by Western values, she embraces prostitution to achieve human dignity and health.

The Chui, Cimmerians and Mbozos, agents of imperialism, control important areas in order to redeem the land mortgaged by her grandmother, Wanja has to sell her business.Theng'eta Breweries and Enterprises Ltd. took possession of Nderi wa Riera.The degradation of Wanja, a barmaid who has grown from prostitution to economic Independence and womanhood, but who is forced back.The humiliating position of a prostitute who sells her body because nothing comes for free and the slogan "Eat or be eaten" comes true Wanja now opens a brothel to regain her sexual powers: "It's the only way to get mine back.Chui, Mzigo and Kimeria.Governments and global financial institutions claim that globalization will surely improve the lives of people everywhere world; developing countries in particular are marching towards prosperity.It promises a better tomorrow and harmony people of the world who will benefit from this greater financial sufficiency.All these valuable assumptions are dismissed as promising Most of the farmers are unable to pay their loans, which leads to their foreclosure .

Karega reminisces about his previous encounters, especially with lawyer Hawkins, who tells him about the betrayal of the Kenyans themselves.Political masters He remembers the days when he worked as an accountant at Riera's Theng'eta Breweries, which he founded.Theng'eta Brewery Workers Union.After being fired from the brewery, Karega becomes the general secretary of the union and raises his own He also remembers the moment when Munira introduces the religious with a woman named Lillian .He remembers the events when he came to Illmorog with his adopted brother Joseph, whom he rescued from the streets of Limuru; Joseph's schooling in Siriana, happy collaboration with Wanja, their business and On the fateful Saturday, he remembers that Wanja invited him to a new place in the cabin.Seeing the cars of the demonic trio - Kimeria, Mzigo and Chui - Abdulla discovers At a board meeting of Theng'eta Breweries when they planned their response to Karega's successful union agitation.Abdulla wants Kimeria to go to Wanja so Abdulla can get a chance to kill him.He later arrives at Wanja to find it set on fire and all burned to ashes.Now it's Wanja's turn, recovering in the hospital to relive the events of that fateful day.On Saturday, he called both Abdulla and Karega, but at different times.He warns Karega about being fired from the brewery.Don't you see: we the workers, the poor peasants, the common people, the masses are now too awake it's too late, Wanja...Kenya is awake.

Petals of Blood exposes the unfavorable aspects of society and highlights the collective struggle of the exploited.After meeting Munira in prison, her father Waweru feels responsible for his son's suffering.He feels it is because his sin was trying to commit adultery with Mariamu and abused many villagers that God punished his son in this way.soon he rejects such thoughts, realizing that he cannot question God's wisdom.Petals of Blood presents the most comprehensive analysis to date of the evils committed by "black imperialists" in an independent African society.