Petals of Blood by Ngugi wa Thiong'o

 

Hello everyone!

I am Nidhi Jethava and I am a student of English Literature. In this blog, I am going to write about one African novel ‘Patels of Blood’. We have a paper on African Literature and in this, we have a thinking activity, in this activity, I am going to write about the first chapter of this book. 

Ngũgĩ 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.

Petals of Blood

Petals of Blood is a novel written by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and first published in 1977. Set in Kenya just after independence, the story follows four characters – Munira, Abdulla, Wanja, and Karega – whose lives are intertwined due to the Mau Mau rebellion. In order to escape city life, each retreats to the small, pastoral village of Ilmorog. As 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.

Write a note on the first chapter of the novel (Interrogation of all characters)

 

Answer:-

The first chapter of the novel is opening with two constables. 

They came to Munira’s place to take him to the police station. There is little talk among them. Police asked some of their questions to him and ordered him to come police station for a routine inquiry about the order in Illmorog.  In this same way, police went to Wanja who is admitted to the hospital and the doctor said that her situation is not well because she was burned badly. In the same way, police went to Abdulla and Karega about Murder history in where three rich people have died. 

At the end of the novel, there is a very interesting note. 

Thank you…