Ngugi's "Decolonising of the Mind", "Wedding at the Cross" & "Minutes of Glory"

Three works by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o

In Ngugi's story "Decolonising of the Mind", the discussion of language possessing a "dual character [acting as] a means of communication and a carrier of culture" cannot be more of the truth. That is in my view of the truth. While the main lesson in Ngugi's "Wedding at the Cross" is the loss of identity of Africans after colonization takes place, both literally and metaphorically in the mind. In Ngugi's third story, "Minutes of Glory", he focuses on gender-bias especially in women to portray his message that women's power lies in sexuality, which in the end is self-destructive.

My view of language, identity loss and negotiation of power for women differ from Ngugi's view and interpretations of such topics. Ngugi's narrative in "Decolonising of the Mind" detailing his childhood learning and speaking his native tongue, Gikuyu, in the fields and in the home acted as education for the young pre-school children like him is a beautiful process and memory. However, Ngugi mentions that once he was old enough to attend the colonised schools, "this harmony was broken", the natural balance and spreading of Gikuyu was no longer the taught language. I believe that Ngugi has a point here, there is a difference between teaching African students English and enforcing the English language as the most important. I believe in the endless power of education and the fact that traveling to help other countries is a philantropic task, but I do not agree with assimilation and changing tradition, and in Ngugi's opinion, language is more than just a form of communication but a door into the lives and culture of African people.

In Ngugi's "Wedding at the Cross", I was almost instantly able to predict the character change which was built up in the story and eventually took place in mid story. Ngugi wants the reader to witness the negativity surrounding the change of Wariuki to the white-respected Dodge W. Livingstone Jr., Ngugi parallels the change in character with the change of name as if he is saying that with a colonised white name comes bad luck and misfortune. Although Dodge W. Livingstone Jr. is a successful timber merchant, he has become the man that had humiliated him when he was a unique, poor milk clerk. He ironically becomes the man he hates, he becomes Douglas Jones, a converted Christian but in the end he ends up without a wife or a family. Ngugi's way of showing that the loss of identity due to colonisation is a creative method in allowing the audience to experience the identity crisis without being told out front.

"Minutes of Glory", a sad and pitiful story of self-destruction and self-hate by Ngugi illuminates Ngugi's view that women are inherently unable to act in an effective and successful way without being punished. This punishment is caused by women's undeniable sex appeal, which in Wanjiru's case, is sparked by her inability to accept and love herself for her, which is no surprise since she is a prostitute. I disagree with Ngugi's labeling of women as having less power and destructive power, I think that Ngugi's view of women as being the weaker and inferior gender as well as sexual temptresses is a close-minded opinion. I do agree, however, that women especially are self conscious in their appearance and lack confidence in themselves, so this view of Ngugi's still pertains to today and is reflected in many women world-wide.

After reading all three stories, I have respect for Ngugi's writing, he is an entertainer and a creative writer of powerful stories of sadness and pity. I enjoyed his stories "Wedding at the Cross" and "Minutes of Glory" mainly because there was not a Disney-inspired happily ever after ending of either of these stories. I especially enjoyed the page-turning "Wedding at the Cross" because I felt like Ngugi's point was well stated and his character of Wariuki was detailed to the point that the reader was able to realistically follow his transformation into a God-fearing successful suit wearer while his mind and soul lacked life and a hearty identity.