“A Grain of Wheat” by Ngugi wa Thiong’o Essay

The thinker that founder is required before Kenya attains true populationhood, is one of a range of ideas others being birth, betrayal, heroism and forgiveness in the novel A penetrate of pale yellow, by Ngugi wa Thiongo. It is carry oned through the words and recreateions of many characters (especially Kihika, Mugo and to a lesser extent Gikonyo), rather than through the fountain telling us, since the narrative is that of a third person. Ngugi explains that sacrifice is needed for the great good of the nation, and of the muckle. The author insists that all members of a community must individually and collectively presume responsibility for its growth and well-being.The person in the novel, who epitomises the theme of sacrifice, is Kihika, the past loss leader of the Movement. Kihika is, for better or worse, the leader most associated with the Christian qualities including sacrifice. Although at first base he merely thinks of himself as a saint and a leader, he later talks, and is talked about, in clearly Christ-like terms. General R, for example, refers to Kihikas death, as a crucifixion. Kihika believes in sacrifice for the greater good of national liberation, and regards it as Christ-like. This is emphasised when Kihika says, I die for you, you die for, we undertake out a sacrifice for one another.Ngugi wa Thiongo in addition uses the character of Mugo to present and convey the theme of sacrifice, through his death and betrayal of Kihika. Initially, the villagers of Thabai ask Mugo to lead the Uhuru celebrations, in recognition of what they take to be his heroic sacrifice, by hold Kihika without fear. This in fact is false, when Mugo was the one that betrayed the black people all over on the earth.Furthermore when Kihika at a Movement conflux in Rungei, calls for sacrifice upon hearing the call of a nation in turmoil, Mugo sits in disgust and thinks to himself he could not clap for words that did not touch him. This shows that Mugo is not willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good of Kenya, unlike Kihika. Mugo at the end of the novel opens his heart and repents, and his act of betrayal be ritually cleansed from the earth by his sacrificial death. devil more characters that the author uses to convey sacrifice in the book atomic number 18 Gikonyo and Githua. Gikonyo betrays and sacrifices his loyalty to the Movement, by confessing to the oath in the detention camp. He does this, in order to secure a quick release from the camp, and re-unite with Mumbi and continue their marriage. simply this does not occur, as Mumbi betrays Gikonyo, by making love to Karanja the day that she knew that Gikonyo was glide path back. Githua represents the personal effects on individuals of British rule, he says his left forking was amputated because of British bullets (though doubt is cast on this later it is said he lost his leg in a lorry smash). Ginthua emphasises his sacrifice for his people and doesnt recognize any be nefits from the struggle because of personal misfortune.The individual dramas become more prominent as the narrative progresses, but the rebellion is its saddle of reference. Mugo, Gikonyo, and Karanja betray the cause of freedom in their different ways, but they also betray themselves, as does Mumbi. Through the guilt they suffer, they arrive at a point of understanding and self-knowledge, and so in the end, the novel offers a incident of sacrifice, regeneration and birth. The connection between sacrifice and birth is first suggested by the title of the novel, which is explained by the quotation from Corinthians at the start of the novel.The presentation of the theme of sacrifice in A Grain of Wheat is put crossways through a variety of individuals. Kihikas selfless sacrifice depicts this belief that the unity of the black people is imperative for the field to move forward. Mugos deed of treachery as well as his demise at the end of the book also helps putting across the idea of sacrifice in the novel.