Weep Not, Child by Thiongo - Book Report/Review Example

Weep Not, Child Summary Thiong’o, an African presents a powerful, as well as a moving story in his book entitled Weep Not, Child. The story captures the revolt against the colonial oppression in Kenya that had affected the lives of ordinary men and women. Thiong’o masterfully traces the life of Njoroge, a young who had a deep interest to get an education and rescue his family from abject poverty. Nyokabi, Njoroge’s mother, urged the boy to join a school, perhaps after noticing the intelligence in the youngster (Thiong’o 3). The boy was the first member of the family to attend school, and the announcement from the mother elated him very much. Njoroge foresees himself doing well in studies and improving the lives of his family members as well as that of the whole community (41). Njoroge’s family lives on Jacobo’s land, an African who had become rich by interacting with the notable white man named Mr. Howlands. Howlands was a powerful settler who had occupied huge land in the highlands of Kenya. Kamau, Njoroge’s stepbrother, was in training to become a carpenter and the news about joining the school elated him too. The experience of the Second World War traumatizes Boro. Boro’s elder brother had enlisted in the service that fought the world war and succumbed to death. Njoroge’s father worked in the white settler farms, which were the initially the ancestral lands of the Kenyans (29). Njoroge’s father draws a lot of motivation to work on Mr. Howland’s farm from the passion to re-own the land after the white settlers leave for their motherland. However, Ngotho lost his job after participating in the workers’ strike that called for increment of the wages. Ngotho decided to attack Jacobo, who the white police inspector had chosen to calm the natives and dissolve the strike (59). Ngotho felt that Jacobo had betrayed the natives, and supported the whites. Consequently, Ngotho and his family were evicted from the Jacobo’s lands. The eviction stemmed from Jacobo’s vow to revenge after Ngotho attacked him during the attempts to resolve the strikes. Njoroge’s life and quest to continue with education become complicated after his brother enlisted in the Mau Mau to demand the independence of the Kenyans. The workers at the European farms expressed their grievances regarding the low wages and brutal treatment by the settlers. However, Njoroge was determined to pursue formal education in order to advance the efforts of gaining the ancestral lands and liberating the community from the colonial rule (48). Njoroge’s brothers funded his education after their father lost his job. Njoroge was in the same school with Jacobo’s daughter, but later she joined a girls’ school. Thiong’o presents Njoroge reflecting on Mwihaki’s transfer to the girls’ boarding school. The boy thinks that the father’s action to attack Jacobo prompted the transfer. Nonetheless, Njoroge joined another school too. The Mau Mau uprising led to the arrest of key leaders such as Jomo. Many blacks anticipated that their key leaders would be set free after the trials (74). However, Jomo lost the trial, and the colonialists imprisoned him. The imprisonment resulted in many protests and subsequent oppression of the natives. Notably, Jacobo and Mr. Howlands united to fight the natives and subdue the Mau Mau uprising that advocated economic, cultural, and political freedom. Jacobo blamed Ngotho for inciting the natives to protest and planning the activities of the uprising. The situation in the region was dire after the attack of six black men who were later executed in the forest (86). Njoroge pursued his education and excelled in the crucial examination that enabled him to advance to high school (104). The boy became a village hero, and the community united to fund his high school education. However, the murder of Jacobo in his office affected the Njoroge’s education. The death prompted Mr. Howlands to remove Njoroge from school to question him regarding the Jacobo’s death. Njoroge and his father were beaten brutally although the initial evidence did not indicate any link of the Ngotho’s family to Jacobo’s death. However, it was later discovered that Njoroge’s brother planned the assassination. Later, Ngotho succumbed to the injuries sustained during the brutal attack. Similarly, the colonial powers imprisoned Kamau for life (127). Njoroge gives up his dream to complete education and go abroad after his father’s death. The dreams to rescue his family from poverty are destroyed. An abusive shopkeeper employed Njoroge to support his two mothers. However, the shop owner fired him. The only remaining hope for Njoroge was to elope with his childhood girlfriend. Njoroge had a deep love for Mwihaki. However, Njoroge’s hopes are shattered when it is evident he cannot leave with her. Njoroge became helpless and opted to hang himself after he failed to achieve the promising childhood dreams. However, his two mothers rescued him (136). Feelings of shame, hopelessness, and cowardice engulf Njoroge. Reflection The novel is well-written, and the author captures the events that unfolded in Kenya during the struggle for her independence. The author presents the events and the social life and state of the economy in now modern Kenya. The characterization of the Mau Mau uprising and the fighters who presented the rest of Kenya in the struggle for independence is quite interesting. Notably, it is possible for the audience to realize that the native characters in the novel considered the white counterparts as aliens who intended to steal the rightful resources such as land. However, it seemed the white characters viewed themselves as Africans. Njoroge’s quest for education to rescue his family and the community is a real picture of the how natives perceived education. Thiong’o has succeeded in delivering a message of hope in the post-independent Kenya through Njoroge. The natives had a strong conviction that the education was the right tool to fight the colonizers out of the country and repossess their ancestral lands. It is evident that the natives detested the white people who came to the country and converted them to foreigners. The novel’s simplicity might make it appear as elementary book. However, the simplicity is intended to paint a genuine and clear picture for everyone to capture the atrocities that happened in Africa during the quest for independence. The author has brought the events in the forefront by using simple and understandable language. Thiong’o has succeeded in presenting a complex picture of the birth of modern Kenya. The author has captured the events of the Second World War and the Mau Mau uprising, as well as the racial conflicts in Kenya before independence. The broad historical perspective qualifies the novel as a recommendable work worth reading. Although the story lacks a fair ending, the hardships, which Njoroge, the main character, endures, paints hope and optimism during the depression realities. The character portrays the importance of gaining quality education. In this respect, the children should not take education for granted. The parents sacrifice a lot to maintain their children in school as typified by Njoroge’s mother. Njoroge has revealed how children should strive to acquire education in order to better their future lives. Challenges characterize learning, but the focus of purpose will enable the learners to achieve their dreams. The novel has a lasting significance in the contemporary world. The audience can use Thiong’o’s novel as a tool to evaluate whether the Africans embrace the values that they fought for during independence. Notably, the audience can assess whether African states have actualized the political, economic, and social freedom and resolved issues of land ownership. In addition, the novel is a crucial tool to determine the quality of education in Africa. Similarly, the novel is important for the investigation whether racial tensions that were prevalent during the struggle for independence have been solved. In essence, the Thiongo’s novel has a significant place in the contemporary. It offers a historical view of events that unfolded in quest for independence. Colonialism Colonialism is the practice of acquiring a partial or full control over a territory to exploit it economically. Thiongo’s novel presents colonialism as a central theme. From the outset, the author has painted a picture of Africans seeking for political, cultural, and cultural independence. Mr. Howlands was a white person who possessed huge ancestral lands belonging to the natives. The white settlers in Kenya ensured that the natives did not practice the economically viable activities. Notably, the settlers occupied the fertile lands where they practiced productive farming (7). The natives worked on the plantations. Ngotho tendered Mr. Howlands crops to support his family that lived in Jacobo’s land. Other natives worked in the manufacturing companies that belonged to the foreigners. Thiong’o depicts the state of native lands as “red, rough, and sickly” (7). The implication was that the Africans did not have the right to work on their farms and improve them. The white settlers had suppressed any productive activities that would empower the natives. The presence of the colonizers caused a lot of fear. Thiong’o argues that the Indians trembled when the white women came to buy items from their shops (7). The land alienation policy made it impossible for the natives to produce enough to cater for basic needs such as food and clothing. The colonizers ensure that the central factors for economic development such as education are capped. Notably, the youths that held a great promise for Kenya became victims of the colonial policies. Njoroge was not able to complete education after the father’s death. Through Njoroge and Mwihaki, Thiong’o presents two classes that the colonists created in the Kenya. The colonizers employed divide and rule strategy to suppress the Africans during the struggle for independence. It is the forced taxation and denial of the primary rights that prompted the Kenyans to fight by forming the Mau Mau. The Mau Mau uprising aimed at advancing the natives’ grievances in the quest for freedom. Colonialism curtails even the fundamental rights of the colonized. Additionally, dreams of the young population are unrealized when an external power exerts control over another country. Notably, colonialism shattered Njoroge’s dreams to gain sound education and rescue his family and the community (137). Nonetheless, the oppressed class strives to overcome the dominant forces through revolutionary actions such as the Mau Mau uprising presented in the Thiongo’s novel. The uprising pressurized the colonizers to leave Kenya to be independent. Work Cited Thiong’o, Ngugi. Weep Not, Child. London: Heinemann, 1987. Print. Read More