Resumo de A Grain Of Wheat - NGUGI WA THIONG''O

This is one of Ngugi wa Thiongo?s best books. It centers on
the theme of betrayal. Most of the story is presented using the flashback
technique. So that there is an interweaving of the past and the present
resulting in a complex plot. Hence, it takes a while before the reader figures
out what is happening. And even so, the plot turns and things don?t quite turn
out as expected when the truth about characters is revealed. In this novel, it
is difficult to point out who the main protagonist is. Most of the characters
are well developed carrying the same weight in the cause and effect of the
storyline. The backdrop of the story is in Kenya when the county is on the
verge of independence. Mugo is a poor orphaned man who has suffered a lot and
is apathetic to what is going on around him and he expects the rest of the
world to leave him alone. This happens until Kihika recruits him by force to
join the rest of the freedom fighters. Resenting this, he betrays Kihika to the
colonial government. Consequently, Kihika is hanged. No one suspects Mugo.
Infact, people idolize him and see him as a hero. Unfortunately, it is Karanja,
a man who collaborates with the colonialists and a home guard who becomes the
main suspect and a number of people want to carry out their revenge on him
especially Kihika?s fellow freedom fighters Lt. Koina and General R. Karanja
and Gikonyo were enemies due to their rivalry for Mumbi. Mumbi chooses Gikonyo,
a carpenter, over Karanja. When Gikonyo is sent to prison by the colonial
government like most men in the country, Karanja sets out to seduce Mumbi who
gives in and is impregnated. On the other hand, the Europeans in the country
have their own devils to deal wit. John Thompson a one time District Officer
and his wife Margery are considering living the country soon before the
colonialists hand over power to the Africans. Unknown to Thompson, Margery was
having an affair with Dr. Van Dyke, a meteorologist. Everyone knew apart from Thompson.
The affair ended when Dr. Van Dyke was run over by a train. Dr. Lynd, a
librarian, worked with Thompson and hated the Africans as she had once been
attacked and raped by them. She and her boyfriend Roger Mason were planning to
leave to Uganda as soon as Kenya got its
independence to avoid the blood killings they predicted would be meted out on
all Europeans by the Africans. When Gikonyo is released from prison he eagerly
goes home looking forward to seeing Mumbi only to find her with Karanja?s
child. Angry more so, because he couldn?t get back at Karanja as he was the new
chief with immense powers he ignores Mumbi and mistreats her and she decides to
leave for her parent?s home. Meanwhile, as the Independence Day celebrations
draw near, Mugo is appointed by the villagers to give a speech in honor of
Kihika?s memory. Mwaura is sent to Githima to lure Karanja to attend the
celebrations as the freedom fighters intend to wring out the confession out of
him before the crowd. Things take a turn when General R asks for Kihika?s
betrayer to own up and instead of Karanja Mugo confesses. Everyone at the rally
is shocked at the revelation. Karanja and Gikoknyo?s rivalry is brought to an
end through a race that none of the wins as they both tripped and fell with
Gikonyo breaking his left arm. He is reconciled to Mumbi and Karanja leaves the
village.

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