A Grain of Wheat

by

Ngugi wa Thiong’o

Karanja Character Analysis

Karanja is the story’s primary antagonist, though not in a strictly villainous role. Karanja is a villager of Thabai and works for John Thompson in Githima. In his youth, Karanja is friends with Gikonyo and Kihika and is in love with Mumbi, though she rejects him in favor of Gikonyo. However, after the Emergency, as his friends are swearing the oath and joining the Mau Mau or being arrested and taken to detention, Karanja instead joins the British colonial force, betraying his country to save himself and remain near Mumbi, and thus representing the commitment to self-interest at the expense of one’s community. Karanja believes in the power of whiteman’s technology and weaponry and puts himself as close to it as possible. Although this gives him the appearance of power, which he exults in, Karanja is truly a coward and frightened of both white people and his own countrymen, who hate him for his treachery. He acts ruthlessly towards his fellow Gikuyu and enjoys exerting power over them and inflicting pain. Throughout this time, Karanja remains obsessed with Mumbi and even uses his position to take advantage of her and impregnate her, though he hates himself for doing so afterwards. Ultimately, Karanja’s allegiance to the whiteman’s power turns out to be a fool’s gamble. When Kenya achieves its independence and John Thompson and company leave the country, Karanja’s power leaves with them. At the end of the story, Karanja is depicted as irredeemable after his total betrayal of his people over the course of a decade. Humiliated and firmly rejected by Mumbi for all time, Karanja exiles himself to wander alone without power or community, a wretched figure. Karanja’s detestable character and pathetic fate provides a strong argument against forsaking one’s community for the sake of personal gain.

Karanja Quotes in A Grain of Wheat

The A Grain of Wheat quotes below are all either spoken by Karanja or refer to Karanja. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Colonialism Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

At Githima, people believed that a complaint from [Karanja] was enough to make a man lose his job. Karanja knew their fears. Often when men came into his office, he would suddenly cast them a cold eye, drop hints, or simply growl at them; in this way, he increased their fears and insecurity. But he also feared the men and alternated this fierce prose with servile friendliness.

Related Characters: Karanja
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

“I would hate to see a train run over my mother or father, or brothers. Oh, what would I do?” [Mumbi] quickly exclaimed.

“Women are cowards.” Karanja said half in joke.

“Would you like a train to run over you?” Mumbi retorted angrily. Karanja felt the anger and did not answer.

Related Characters: Karanja (speaker), Mumbi (speaker), Kihika
Related Symbols: The Train / The Iron Snake
Page Number: 87
Explanation and Analysis:

In Kenya we want deaths which will change things, that is to say, we want true sacrifice. But first we have to be ready to carry the cross. I die for you, you die for me, we become a sacrifice for one another. So I can say that you, Karanja, are Christ. Everybody who takes the Oath of Unity to change things in Kenya is a Christ.

Related Characters: Kihika (speaker), Karanja
Related Symbols: The Oath
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9 Quotes

“As for carrying a gun for the whiteman, well, a time will come when you too will know that every man in the world is alone, and fights alone, to live.”

Related Characters: Karanja (speaker), Mumbi
Page Number: 141
Explanation and Analysis:
Karanja Quotes

Then, somehow, [Karanja] had not felt guilty. When he shot [Freedom Fighters], they seemed less like human beings and more like animals. At first this had merely thrilled Karanja and made him feel a new man, a part of an invisible might whose symbol was the whiteman. Later, this consciousness of power, this ability to dispose of human life by merely pulling a trigger, so obsessed him that it became a need. Now, that power had gone.

Related Characters: Karanja
Page Number: 225
Explanation and Analysis:
Harambee Quotes

Courage had failed [Gikonyo], he had confessed the oath in spite of his vows to the contrary. What difference was there between him and Karanja or Mugo who had openly betrayed people and worked with the whiteman to save themselves? Mugo had the courage to face his guilt and lose everything. Gikonyo shuddered at the thought of losing everything.

Related Characters: Mugo, Gikonyo, Karanja
Related Symbols: The Oath
Page Number: 241
Explanation and Analysis:
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Karanja Quotes in A Grain of Wheat

The A Grain of Wheat quotes below are all either spoken by Karanja or refer to Karanja. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Colonialism Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

At Githima, people believed that a complaint from [Karanja] was enough to make a man lose his job. Karanja knew their fears. Often when men came into his office, he would suddenly cast them a cold eye, drop hints, or simply growl at them; in this way, he increased their fears and insecurity. But he also feared the men and alternated this fierce prose with servile friendliness.

Related Characters: Karanja
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

“I would hate to see a train run over my mother or father, or brothers. Oh, what would I do?” [Mumbi] quickly exclaimed.

“Women are cowards.” Karanja said half in joke.

“Would you like a train to run over you?” Mumbi retorted angrily. Karanja felt the anger and did not answer.

Related Characters: Karanja (speaker), Mumbi (speaker), Kihika
Related Symbols: The Train / The Iron Snake
Page Number: 87
Explanation and Analysis:

In Kenya we want deaths which will change things, that is to say, we want true sacrifice. But first we have to be ready to carry the cross. I die for you, you die for me, we become a sacrifice for one another. So I can say that you, Karanja, are Christ. Everybody who takes the Oath of Unity to change things in Kenya is a Christ.

Related Characters: Kihika (speaker), Karanja
Related Symbols: The Oath
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9 Quotes

“As for carrying a gun for the whiteman, well, a time will come when you too will know that every man in the world is alone, and fights alone, to live.”

Related Characters: Karanja (speaker), Mumbi
Page Number: 141
Explanation and Analysis:
Karanja Quotes

Then, somehow, [Karanja] had not felt guilty. When he shot [Freedom Fighters], they seemed less like human beings and more like animals. At first this had merely thrilled Karanja and made him feel a new man, a part of an invisible might whose symbol was the whiteman. Later, this consciousness of power, this ability to dispose of human life by merely pulling a trigger, so obsessed him that it became a need. Now, that power had gone.

Related Characters: Karanja
Page Number: 225
Explanation and Analysis:
Harambee Quotes

Courage had failed [Gikonyo], he had confessed the oath in spite of his vows to the contrary. What difference was there between him and Karanja or Mugo who had openly betrayed people and worked with the whiteman to save themselves? Mugo had the courage to face his guilt and lose everything. Gikonyo shuddered at the thought of losing everything.

Related Characters: Mugo, Gikonyo, Karanja
Related Symbols: The Oath
Page Number: 241
Explanation and Analysis: