Weep Not, Child
The
book is divided into two parts and eighteen chapters. Part one deals mostly
with the education of Njoroge, while part two deals with the rising
revolutionary, anti-colonist
turmoil in Kenya.
Plot summary
Njoroge,
a young boy, is urged to attend school by his mother. He is the first one of
his family able to go to school. His family lives on the land of Jacobo, an
African made rich by his dealings with white settlers, namely Mr. Howlands, the
most powerful land owner in the area. Njoroge's brother Kamau works as an
apprentice to a carpenter, while Boro, the eldest living son, is troubled by
his experiences while in forced service during World War II, including
witnessing the death of his elder brother. Ngotho, Njoroge's father and a
respected man in the surrounding area, tends Mr. Howlands' crops, but is
motivated by his passion to preserve his ancestral land, rather than for any
compensation or loyalty.
One
day, black workers call for a strike to obtain higher wages. Ngotho is
ambivalent about participating in the strike because he fears he will lose his
job. However, he decides to go to the gathering, even though his two wives do
not agree. At the demonstration, there are calls for higher wages. Suddenly,
the white police inspector brings Jacobo to the gathering to pacify the native
people. Jacobo tries to put an end to the strike. Ngotho attacks Jacobo, and
the result is a riot where two people are killed. Jacobo survives and swears
revenge. Ngotho loses his job and Njoroge’s family is forced to move. Njoroge’s
brothers fund his education and seem to lose respect for their father.
Mwihaki,
Jacobo's daughter and Njoroge's best friend, enters a girls' only boarding
school, leaving Njoroge relatively alone. He reflects upon her leaving, and
realizes that he was embarrassed by his father's actions towards Jacobo. For
this reason, Njoroge is not upset by her exit and their separation. Njoroge
switches to another school.
For
a time, everyone's attention is focused on the upcoming trial of Jomo
Kenyatta – a revered leader of the movement.
Many blacks think that he is going to bring forth Kenya’s independence. But
Jomo loses the trial and is imprisoned. This results in further protests and
greater suppression of the black population.
Jacobo
and a white landowner, Mr. Howlands, fight against the rising activities of the
Mau Mau, an organization striving for Kenyan economic, political, and cultural independence.
Jacobo accuses Ngotho of being the leader of the Mau Mau and tries to imprison
the whole family. Meanwhile, the situation in the country is deteriorating. Six
black men are taken out of their houses and executed in the woods.
One
day Njoroge meets Mwihaki again, who has returned from boarding school.
Although Njoroge had planned to avoid her due to the conflict between their
fathers, their friendship is unaffected. Njoroge passes an important exam that
allows him to advance to High School. His village is proud of him, and collects
money to pay Njoroge's High School tuition.
Several
months later, Jacobo is murdered in his office by a member of the Mau Mau. Mr.
Howlands has Njoroge removed from school for questioning. Both father and son
are brutally beaten before release and Ngotho is left barely alive. Although
there doesn't seem to be a connection between Njoroge's family and the murder,
it is eventually revealed that Njoroge's brothers are behind the assassination,
and that Boro is the real leader of the Mau Mau. Ngotho soon dies from his
injuries and Njoroge finds out that his father was protecting his brothers.
Kamau has been imprisoned for life. Only Njoroge and his two mothers remain
free, and Njoroge is left as the sole provider of his two mothers. Njoroge
fears that he cannot make ends meet; he gives up hope of continuing in school
and loses faith in God.
Njoroge
asks for Mwihaki's support, but she is angry because of her father’s death.
When he finally pledges his love to her, she refuses to leave with him,
realizing her obligation to Kenya and her mother. Njoroge decides to leave town
and makes an attempt at suicide; however, he fails when his mothers find him
before he is able to hang himself. The novel closes with Njoroge feeling hopeless,
and ashamed of cowardice.
Characters
- Njoroge: the main character of the book whose main goal
throughout the book is to become as educated as possible.
- Ngotho: Njoroge's father. He works for Mr.Howlands and is
respected by him until he attacks Jacobo at a workers strike. He is fired
and the family is forced to move to another section of the country. Over
the course of the book his position as the central power of the family
weakened, to the point where his self-realization that he has spent his
whole life waiting for the prophecy (that proclaims the blacks will be
returned their land) to come true rather than fighting the power of the
British, leads to his depression.
- Nyokabi and Njeri: the two wives of Ngotho. Njeri is
Ngotho's first wife, and mother of Boro, Kamau, and Kori. Nyokabi is his
second wife, and the mother of Njoroge and Mwangi.
- Njoroge has four brothers: Boro,
Kamau, Kori and Mwangi (who is Njoroge's only full
brother, who died in World War II).
- Boro: Son of Njeri who fights for the British in World War
II. Upon returning his anger against the British is compounded by their
stealing of the Kenyan's land. Boro's anger and position as eldest son
leads him to question and ridicule Ngotho, which eventually defeats their
father's will (upon realizing his life was wasted waiting and not acting).
It is eventually revealed that Boro is the leader of the Mau Mau (earlier
alluded to as "entering politics") and murders Mr.Howlands. He
is caught by police immediately after and is scheduled to be executed by
the book's end. It is highly likely that it is also Boro who kills Jacobo.
- Mwihaki: Njoroge's best friend (and later develops into his
love interest). Daughter of Jacobo. When it is revealed that his family
killed Jacobo (most likely Boro), Mwihaki distances herself from Njoroge,
asking for time to mourn her father and care for her mother.
- Jacobo: Mwikaki's father and an important landowner. Chief of
the village.
- Mr. Howlands: A white Englishman who came to Kenya and now owns a
farm made up of land that originally belonged to Ngotho's ancestors. Has
three children: Peter who died in World War II before the book's
beginning, a daughter who becomes a missionary, and Stephen who meets
Njoroge in High School.
Themes and motifs
Weep
Not, Child integrates Gikuyu mythology and the ideology of nationalism that serves as catalyst for much of the novel's action. The
novel explores the negative aspects of colonialism and imperialism. Njoroge's aspiration to attend university is frustrated by
both the violence of the Mau Mau rebels and the violent response of the
colonial government. This disappointment leads to his alienation from his
family and ultimately his suicide attempt.
The
novel also ponders the role of saviours and salvation. The author notes in his The
River Between: "Salvation shall come from the hills. From the blood
that flows in me, I say from the same tree, a son shall rise. And his duty
shall be to lead and save the people." Jomo
Kenyatta, the first prime minister of Kenya,
is immortalised in Weep Not, Child. The author says, "Jomo had been
his (Ngotho's) hope. Ngotho had come to think that it was Jomo who would drive
away the white man. To him, Jomo stood for custom and traditions purified by
grace of learning and much travel." Njoroge comes to view Jomo as a messiah
who will win the struggle against the colonial powers.
References
·
"Kenya; Is It Politics Or Myth?". Africa News. The East
African Standard. September 8, 2002.
