Rather, patience and understanding are necessary. It tells the story of the separation of two neighbouring villages of Kenya caused by differences in faith set in the decades of roughly the early 20th century. The River Between Summary. Often compared with Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, The River Between is a defining piece of POCO lit. Discover everything Scribd has to offer, including books and audiobooks from major publishers.The River Between is a 1965 novel by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o- a prolific Kenyan author. Having courage doesn't guarantee a positive outcome, but it can foster a sense of wholeness and peace in a person. Therefore, Waiyaki tries to lead his people to independence through (Western) education, after his father tells him, "Learn all the wisdom and all the secrets of the white man. The River Between is the story of an African village and their quest to survive an influx of outside influence.
The River, Honia As indicated in the title, Ngugi uses the river as a dividing line between two communities. Ngugi Wa Thiongo - The River Between - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. The River Between is an allegory of the colonization of Kenya when the British introduced Christianity and exploited the country.
It tells the story of the separation of two neighbouring villages of Kenya caused by differences in faith, with the Mau Mau Uprising as its background.
Ngugi evinces complicated views on human nature, suggesting that both unity and division can be sustaining and dangerous in various circumstances. Among them is Kabonyi who begins to provoke dissenters in the community to undermine and destroy Waiyaki. Ngugi suggests that not all new ideas are bad—Waiyaki and Muthoni and Nyambura articulate the need for a fusion between Christianity and tribal tradition—and that traditions can be problematic. It tells the story of the separation of two neighbouring villages of Kenya caused by differences in faith, w…83% found this document useful, Mark this document as useful17% found this document not useful, Mark this document as not usefulSave Ngugi Wa Thiongo - The River Between For LaterSave Ngugi Wa Thiongo - The River Between For Later83% found this document useful, Mark this document as useful17% found this document not useful, Mark this document as not useful
There is a need for unity on the basis of something deeper to preclude the complete fraying of a society. Only later do they realize that they are exploited. While he desires nothing more than to quell the growing unrest within the village, and heal the angst among the people, he is powerless to undo the polarizing effects of colonialism. The characters in The River Between exhibit courage in a variety of ways.
He becomes so preoccupied with this goal that he fails to recognize and address the other needs of his community, such as reclaiming lands seized by the colonists. Waiyaki blames himself for having failed to address the lack of unity in time. Although he was the youngest of the three, he was able to put a stop to the violence. He is aware, though, that traditions are excessively difficult to change or eradicate, and that the white man and his African supporters cannot expect to order the Kikuyu to get rid of something overnight. Waiyaki and his new love interest Nyambura find themselves in the hands of the Kiama who must inevitably decide their fate. The two ridges are unified by the river but at the same time divided by it; there is neutral ground but it is nearly impossible to occupy. Thus, by the end of the novel unity is needed to patch the two ridges together in order to maintain autonomy over a way of life—but Ngugi indicates that this is a difficult thing to achieve. The Question and Answer section for The River Between is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. He ignores aspects of what his elevated role in the society might mean for himself and others. As the story progresses, the division between the two villages intensifies and the proposed circumcision of the young girl Muthoni causes much dissention within the community.
Similarly, Muthoni goes against the will of her father and Christian community when she decides to follow the traditions and get circumcised to become part of the tribe. But do not follow his vices." The River Between is the story of an African village and their quest to survive an influx of outside influence. Tradition is exceedingly significant to a society, especially in terms of their founding history, rites, rituals, etc. This knowledge would Waiyaki equip him for the struggle against the colonial government. Waiyaki keeps building more schools in an attempt to provide education to the people, but even though he has good intentions, he underestimates the power of the council of the elders, who consider adhering to ancient traditions more important than taking over parts of the white man's culture. The story opens with a description of the lore describing the area of two ridges, Kameno and Makuyu, and the river, Honia, that runs between them. Waiyaki is eventually enrolled at the school at the behest of his father, Chege. The River Between Study Guide consists of approx. The two characters that try to follow their own agenda without first consulting with the elders and their community meet with an unfavorable end. Muthoni has convictions that necessitate her standing up to her family, and Nyambura stands up to her family and her community for love. In Kenya, two ridges sit side by side, facing each other. Sometimes this courage is standing up to family or to the community, and sometimes it is being honest with oneself.