Petals of Blood

Hello everyone,

This blog task is in response to the task assigned by Yesha Bhatt Ma'am as part of a thinking activity. In this blog I would like to share my understanding of the novel by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o. 

Who is Ngugi wa Thiong'o:-

Ngugi wa Thiong'o original name James Thiong’o Ngugi, is a Kenyan author and academic who writes primarily in Gikuyu and who formerly wrote in English. He has been described as having been "considered East Africa’s leading novelist". His popular Weep Not, Child (1964) was the first major novel in English by an East African. His work includes novels, plays, short stories, and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children's literature. He is the founder and editor of the Gikuyu-language journal Mutiiri. His short story The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright, is translated into 100 languages from around the world.

Introduction of Novel:-

Petals of Blood is a 1977 novel by Ngugi wa Thiong'o set in post-independence Kenya, its title derives from a line in Derek Walcott’s poem, “The Swamp.” The story centres on four characters whose lives are drastically changed as a result of the rebellion, as they learn how to adapt and survive in a rapidly Westernising environment. The novel examines the effects of the Mau Mau rebellion and the legacy of colonialism while criticising the Kenyan government for reproducing the inequalities of the colonial regime. 

 The novel revolves around three men and a woman. The four friends reveal different aspects of their history to each other piecemeal, just as their families had guardedly explained the past to them. The lingering effects of the Mau Mau revolt have affected all their lives and by the end of the novel, each character is wrapped up in his or her own exclusive epiphany about life in Kenya.

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

1- Munira:- Novel starts with the introduction of Munira's house where he is reading the Bible. Two policemen came  - one of them is tall and the other short one. Setting is new Ilmoro, policemen came and knock the door of Munira's house and they ask two- three questions to Munira like,

'Are you Mr Munira?'

'You teach at the New Ilmorog Primary School?'

'How long have you been in Ilmorog?'

Then they give the reason why they are here, and they came to arrest Munira in charge of murder. 

Then the introduction of Abdulla is like,

2- Abdulla sat on a chair outside his hovel in the section of Ilmorog called the New Jerusalem. He looked at his bandaged left hand. He had not been kept long at the hospital. He felt strangely calm after the night's ordeal. But he still could not understand what had really happened. Maybe in time, he thought - but would he ever be able to explain this fulfilment of what had only been a wish, an intention? How far had he willed it? He raised his head and saw a police constable looking at him.

 Abdulla is in the police station not for the crime but for giving the statement about whatever happened last night. 

3-Wanja:-

Wanja had been admitted and the police visited the hospital for her Statement. She is still in a delirium and keeps on shouting: "Fire... Fire... My mother's sister... my dear aunt... put out the fire, put out the fire!" and such things.'

4- Karega

Karega was fast asleep. He had come late from an all-night executive meeting of Ilmorog Theng'eta Breweries Union. He heard a knock at the door. He leapt out of bed in his pyjamas. He found a heavily armed police contingent at the door. An officer in khaki clothesstepped forward. 

'What is the matter?'

"You are wanted at the police station.'

'What for?"

'Routine questioning"

'Can't it wait until tomorrow?'

'I am afraid not.'

'Let me change into something…

He has power and through that he convinced police to ask questions the next day. 

5- Mzigo, Chui and Kimeria. 

One newspaper, the Daily Mouthpiece, brought out a special issue with a banner headline: MZIGO, CHUI, KIMERIA MURDERED. A man, believed to be a trade-union agitator, has been held after a leading industrialist and two educationists, well known as the African directors of the internationally famous Theng'eta Breweries 

and Enterprises Ltd, were last night burnt to death in Ilmorog, only hours after taking a no-nonsense-no- pay-rise decision.

The first chapter opens with the end of the novel where three characters killed by somebody and police are in search of Murderer, police take inquiry of those, on whom they have doubt. First they went to Munira's house ,then Abdull, third Wanja and finally they goes to Karega.While reading the chapter we came to know what is at the end of the novel.

The book begins by describing the four main characters – Munira, Karega, Wanja, and Abdulla – just after the revelation that three prominent Kenyans, two businessmen and one educator, have been killed in a fire. 

Petals of Blood relies heavily on flashbacks, using the points of view of the four major characters to piece together previous events. As each character is questioned by the police, the novel takes on certain characteristics of the detective novel, with a police officer trying to ascertain details of their pasts in order to find the murderer of Chui, Kimeria, and Mzigo. 

Characters:-

Munira – schoolteacher who goes to Ilmorog in order to teach in its dilapidated school. He falls in love with Wanja and is the arsonist the police seek.

Wanja – Granddaughter of Nyakinyua. As an experienced barmaid who flees her past in the city. She falls in love with Karega, although she is still coveted by Munira. She also sleeps with Abdulla because of her reverence for his actions in the Mau Mau rebellion. An industrious barmaid, she helps Abdulla's shop to become successful, and also sells Theng'eta. She later becomes a prostitute and runs her own brothel before being injured in Munira's arson attack.

Abdulla – A shopkeeper who lost his leg in the Mau Mau rebellion. His main assets in life are his shop and his donkey, as well as a boy Joseph, who he had taken in and cares for as a brother. He is the only major character to have worked with the Mau Mau during the rebellion.

Karega – Young man who works as a teaching assistant at Munira's school before becoming disillusioned and heading for the city. After the trip to Nairobi, he becomes enamoured with socialism, and starts to educate himself on its principles and on the law. However, he later becomes disillusioned with the effects of education, and how apt it is in the struggle for liberation. As a youth, he dated Munira's sister who subsequently committed suicide; this was unknown to Munira until Karega reveals it to him and to others after having drunk Theng'eta.

Nyakinyua – The village's most revered woman, and the grandmother of Wanja. She performs all of the traditional ceremonies in the village. At first she is highly sceptical of Munira's arrival, believing that he will flee the village like his predecessors. After her death, Wanja sells her business to save Nyakinyua's land from the banks and also uses the proceeds to start a brothel.

Kimeria – Ruthless businessman who is part of the new Kenya elite. Has an interest in Ilmorog for business purposes, and had a previous relationship with Wanja. As the villagers travel to Nairobi to meet with their politician, Kimeria holds Wanja hostage and rapes her.

Kimeria – Ruthless businessman who is part of the new Kenya elite. Has an interest in Ilmorog for business purposes, and had a previous relationship with Wanja. As the villagers travel to Nairobi to meet with their politician, Kimeria holds Wanja hostage and rapes her.

Chui – a schoolboy at the prestigious, previously European Siriana school, he leads a student revolt. However, when he returns to lead the school, he enacts an oppression far greater than was present during colonial rule. He later become one of the new Kenya elite, and is involved in business dealings with both Kimeria and Nderi wa Riera.

These are the major character which introduced in the First chapter of the novel. For the Summary of the Novel watch this video,

Thank You:)