Ngugi Wa Thiong’o Stories

Ngugi Wa Thiong’o

The stories we had to read this week by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o were much harder to read than most of the stories we had to read. One I found particularly interesting was “Wedding at the Cross”. The whole time reading this I felt so bad for the single mother. She wasn’t single, but really she was because her husband didn’t do anything for her. I was so happy with the ending that she finally stood up to him and wouldn’t marry him. This story reminded me a lot of my life in a way. I used to be engaged to someone who went away to the military and when he came ended up being a completely different person. I was the one who called it off in the end because I wasn’t going to marry this new person. I think that is why I enjoyed the story so much, it reminded me of myself. I also found it interesting that they kept referring to the husband as having died and being another man. That part of him and the person he used to be did die. That person no longer exists.

Another story we had to read “Minutes of Glory” also was a page turner. This one was the most confusing by far. Yet again the ending is what made the story. I felt like the women Beatrice was lowering herself and being just like the rich people in the story. By buying the clothes and wanting people to pay attention to her she was giving in to them and not being true to herself. The people she once hated she had become. This is so typical in today’s world.  Everyone says they hate certain types of people and groups, but yet given the opportunity they would become them too. I found it interesting that her love interest in the story didn’t have a name. When reading I thought she wouldn’t have a name either because she could represent everyone else in the world. Whether we like to think that way or not it is true. A lot of people would give up anything to be that rich person who wears the nice clothes no matter if they say they would or not. The only thing is she acted on who she wanted to be like. Good for her to be able to do that. She knew the consequences when she did it and was willing to except her punishment. No one may agree with what she did is right but it’s what most people I think would do if given the chance. Because of that little charade she is now happier and more content. Good for her.

Both stories were very interesting to read!

Nadine Gordimer

We have read some interesting but yet disturbing stories this past week by Nadine Gordimer. She is a great African writer and made the stories we had to read for the week some of the most interesting yet. She allowed you to look at racism in a different light and see it from different perspectives.

The most disturbing one yet was “Six Feet of Country”. I don’t understand how anyone could care so little about someone who had just died. The white owner of the farm had no respect for the young black man who had just died. He didn’t care anything about him or even try to help get his body back. This story really bothered me. I don’t understand how anyone could just not care about someone like that. He treated everyone on the farm like he was better than them, including his wife. She was on the same level as the people who worked in the farm. How insulting to women! I saw it as being very racial and discriminating against women. Women are meant to work and not get any recognition for it, along with the black workers.  This really relates to the “white people” just being the boss and telling others what to do. They have their own way of thinking and think it is the right way. I don’t understand how people can think and act this way.

In the second story “Good Climate, Friendly Inhabitants” it is about a young white woman who decides to trust someone who in the end turns out to be bad for her. I can relate to this story completely. It is hard to know who to trust and who is actually just looking out for you. As a women myself I understand how it can be hard to speak up at times, but in this womens situation she was just downright blinded by the guy who kept taking advantage of her. Sadly there are women out there today who would react the same way she did. Throughout the whole story she was actually being protected and watched over by the black man. This just goes to show you race doesn’t matter.

I never really learned about Apartheid in school. So I’m glad we got to discuss it in class. It made me realize just how big of an impact it has on society. People can be so mean to one another and not care about the actual person. It’s scary to see people who act this way. Makes me feel so sad for them too that they could be like this. It definitely opened my eyes up. 

Chinua Achebe

All three of the stories by Chinua Achebe, ("Girls at War", "The Madman" and "An Image of Africa" were all surprising very interesting to read and kept my attention. I most enjoyed the one title "Girls at War". It seemed so scary to me to have think that a women would have to do sell herself or other stolen goods just to get money for her family. Not to mention all in the same time having to worry about not getting killed. I partically enjoyed the ending where you find out that the good woman dies by trying to help someone and the bad man lives. Life is unfair this way. It happens everyday. There is a famous quote that says "only the good die young", in this story that proves true. It gets your attention from the beginning and keeps you hooked. I could see this playing into a good movie some day. Also the fact that Africa is actually this way is just frightening. I never would have imagioned a place being like this. It made me realize even more how grateful I am to live in the country that I do. By the end of  the story I felt bad for the women even though she was kind of given a bad reputation. She was only trying to defend for herself and survive the world. As I think about this now I can't see myself ever having to stoop to that but in all reality I don't know how I would be in that situation.

Also in the story "The Madman" this also proves that the good doesn't always win over the bad. Granite no one dies but in the end the actual good person is labeled as crazy while the true crazy person is believed to be the normal good one. This also spiked my interest. It's scary to think about how someone completely sane and just your average person could be labeled crazy and the whole city start to believe it too. I can't even imagion having that happen to me. That would be so scary. I wouldn't even know what to do with myself. Especially if there is no way that you can prove the truth that you are sane. Society today is a lot like this. For one little thing you do that is considered out of the normal you can be labeled. People are so judgemental these days that they are quick to label you.

Both of these stories were scary to read and actually think that they could happen. This made both however very interesting to read.

Felix Mnthali

The short story " Stranglehold of Enlish Lit" by Felix Mnthali was a different one to read. It helped a lot that the professor read it a lot to us in class and we got to discuss it a little bit before being told to read it by ourselves. Overall it was a good poem to read but definitely not one of my favorites, although I am not a fan of poetry in general.

I found it a little humorous that Felix Mnthali was making fun of Jane Austen. I personally have never read any of her books but I know the premise of what they are about. All the same typical problems occur in each book, a girl wants to meet a boy and get married. The problems her characters have to go through are nothing compared to what really happens in Africa. They are filled with tons of romance as well. When reading this poem I really understood Felix’s frustration with her and the way books are read in Africa. He is mad that the stories children read aren’t what really happens in Africa. It shouldn’t be all about love it should be more about the work that goes into life and the hardships that they face. It isn’t fair that students should have to read something that doesn’t relate to their own native region. He is very frustrated with the writings in Africa and wants them to change.  I think in the poem he gives a very strong voice to this and is almost yelling at the audience to listen to him. I found this very effective when reading it.

When reading this I thought it was a lot like the short story we read “Gentleman of the Jungle” in the fact that the main character doesn’t want to give in to the government’s rules. Felix feels the same way. He doesn’t want to give in to what everyone else is teaching but there is only so much that you can do. Its hard being in this position when you think you know what’s right but no one else will listen or change for you. Both are faced with so many obstacles and they just want to change.

I agree completely with Felix. I don't feel as though students should have to read books that don't even deal with their culture or way of life. It is beneficial for them to know what else is going on in the world and to get a different perspective, but when it comes to certain things they need to know whats going on in their own world and in their own language.