Petals of Blood

Capitalism is clearly and boldly criticized in the powerful novel Petals of Blood, written by Kenyan author, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. In the novel, foreign and domestic capitalists are attempting to...

Wanja is the main female character in the novel, one of the four protagonists accused of murder. When she was in school, she was seduced by Hawkins Kimeria, a wealthy man, and became pregnant. She...

The information provided by the other editor is valuable! She is correct; you can apply any criticism to any piece of literature. What "type" is most applicable will depend on your end goal. That...

The cruelty of capitalism is seen in the treatment the workers receive at the hands of Kimeria, Mzigo, and Chui. These men have all manner of material wants and drive around in their luxurious...

Forty years after its original publication, Petals of Blood remains relevant on many levels. Globalization has compounded many of the problems of neocolonialism and underdevelopment that Ngugi wa...

Nyakinyua is Wanja's grandmother and the most respected person in the village of Ilmorog (especially due to the fact that she is the revered storyteller). Nyakinyua is always providing insights...

You can find the character analysis of Wanja and other characters on the link below. Here is eNotes description of Wanja: Wanja Wanja is the central female character in the novel, a...

Focusing on the community of Ilmorog, Ngugi wa Thiong'o showcases the dilemmas of independent Kenya as the new country worked to shake off the legacy of British colonial rule. Divorcing the new...

The title of the book is mentioned a few times throughout the story. The first time it appears is before the story begins. The phrase pops up in an epigraph. Remember, an epigraph is a quote from a...

The meaning of the title might have to do with the epigraph that Ngugi wa Thiong’o uses. Remember, an epigraph is a quote or excerpt at the beginning of a book. Usually, the epigraph is not...

In Petals of Blood, Ngugi presents the reader with a complex, multi-faceted portrait of post-colonial Kenya. Although the Kenyan people have managed to throw off the yoke of British colonialism,...

Karega is a pivotal character in Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s novel. The story starts with him and his possible involvement in a murder. The opening scenes prepare the reader for the complex and somewhat...