PPT PETALS OF BLOOD

1. Rakhi.A.Raj
English Language and Literature
NSS College Pandalam

2. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o was born at Kamarithu, Limuro, near Nairobi on 5 January
1938.
He was admitted in Gikuyu independent school, which was founded and
operated by Gikuyu people who had rebelled against the missionary influence
After schooling he joined Makerere University College

3. MAJOR WORKS
SHORT STORIES
The Fig Tree
The Wind
The SecretLives(1976)
PLAYS
The Black Hermit
Ngaahika Ndeende (1977 ) Gikuyu.
NOVELS
Weep Not Child (1964)
The River Between (1965)
A Grain of Wheat (1967)
The Wound in the Heart (1976)
Petals of Blood published (1977)
Caitaani Hultharaba Ini appeared in Gikuyu (translation Devil on the Cross)
Wizard of the Crow, is written in Gikuyu.
ESSAYS
A Barrel of Pen (1984), Decolonizing the Mind appeared in 1986.

4. Set in Kenya just after independence.
The story follows four characters;Munira
Abdullah,Wanja and Karega.
In order to escape city life, each retreats to
the small, post colonial village of Ilmorog
It is the dramatiation and condemnation of
the ruthless capitalist exploitation of the
masses by those in privileged positions.

5.  To identify the postcolonial elements in the novel.
 to trace out how the writer has created a counter
history of his nation.
 To find out the impact of capitalism in Kenya which
has resulted creating miserable situations for the
natives and the suffering of women.
 Discuss the novel in the light of the dialectics
between the East and the West.
 Tries to re-read the text as a portrayal of African
history and culture with reference to certain
postcolonial concepts.

6.  I have employed postcolonialism as the method of the
study: a collection of critical strategies used to examine
the culture of former colonies of the European empires
and their relation to the rest of the world.
 Edward said uses the word ‘orientalism’ to describe the
discourse about the East constructed by the west.
 Decolonization: an intellectual process persistently
transfers the independence of former colonial countries
into people’s mind.
 Cultural conflicts:colonial suppresser often tries to
impose their civilized vzlues on natives. Even after the
independence the colonial relicts were still
omnipresent.

7. Life in postcolonial Africa is characterized by:
 Irresponsibility of the authoritative people.
 Church’s role in enslaving the souls.
 Problems of colonial education.
 Exploiting the peasants by imposing taxes on
land.
 Economic exploitation in the form of loans.
 Betrayal of the independence movement.
 Domination of Europeans in the business field
 Corruption
 Betrayal of humal ideals

8.  Exploitation of African woman in the early stages
of colonial period has been more on the basis of
race than on the basis of gender and class.
 Through Wanja Ngugi examines the causes
behind prostitution:
1)Exploitation during the colonial time by the
white settlers,white soldiers and even by the
missionary people , led to the rise of prostitution.
2)In post colonial times, the rise of bourgeoisie
class, rise of bars and tourism, fostered the
profession.

9.  As a student of Siriana, Karega organizes a strike
against Fraudsham
 Karega continues war against Chui and he is
expelled.
 Munira’s religious fighting; the concept of
prepaeing the self for the future life after death.
 The Mau Mau struggle; Abdullah actively aligns in
the struggle
 Wanja becomes revengeful and decides to
retaliate
 The struggles end with the death of Chui, Mzigo
and
Kimeria in arson attack.

10.  The title of the novel is taken from the poem
“The Swamp” by Derek Walcott suggests
destruction,evil,the unnatural and death.
 The literary devices used for narration-
dialogue,allusions and flashback technique.
 Narration is done by Munira and other
characters and an omniscient narrator
 The internal journey of Ngugi is depicted
through the journey of Ilmorog.It is the
journey of Kenya itself.