Weep not child by ngugi

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorCollege, Undergraduate February 2008

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Question #2 - What are some issues particular to the society in question and how are those issues expressed by the author? Ngugi's novel, Weep Not Child, is one of hope and of opposition. It opens up to address issues particular to the society. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the issues addressed in the text, and show how the issues are expressed by the author. Ngugi uses parallelism and contrasting images as a technique to achieve his point, and to compare the thoughts of the society.

Ngugi opens the scene with the issue of education. To Njoroge's family education is worth a lot, next to the aspect of land. The expectation of education allows one of a lower class such as Njoroge, a chance to rise up into the upper class. Ngotho looked at education as a way to take back the land which once belonged to him.

With education he felt that he still had an opportunity to have his land returned to him. Nyobaki saw education as a way to be in the same class as Jacobo. "She wanted to be the same. Or be like Juliana." Njorge has a large determination towards school, both to fulfill the anticipation of his parents as well as for himself. This is further displayed when he allows himself to compete against Jacobo's daughter, and feels happy when he succeeds ahead of her. As the reader can see, the high expectation of education is all lost when Njorge is force to withdraw from school.

Ngugi observes the family as the central part of society, where it holds the community together. It is an aspect that is tightly integrated together with the culture of the people. As the society crumbles, so does the family structure, and vice versa.