Wangari Character Analysis in A Grain of Wheat

Wangari is Gikonyo’s mother. After being abandoned by her husband and left to die, Wangari proves her resilience by taking young Gikonyo and scratching out enough of a living to survive until he is old enough to ply a trade. After Gikonyo is arrested, Wangari works with Mumbi to rebuild their hut and parts of the village, demonstrating her own capability to work and provide like men. When Gikonyo beats Mumbi, Wangari stands up to her son and stops him, once again demonstrating a strength over and above that of her son’s.

Wangari Character Timeline in A Grain of Wheat

The timeline below shows where the character Wangari appears in A Grain of Wheat. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In those days, Gikonyo works as a carpenter to support himself and his mother Wangari. Gikonyo’s father, a man with many wives, turned him and his mother away when he... (full context)

...living as a carpenter, but mostly because his customers are just as poor. Even so, Wangari is proud of him. Half-jokingly, she marvels at a British-made saw, since it is capable... (full context)

The Individual vs. the Community Theme Icon

...if all of life finally has a greater purpose. Though he is happy, Mumbi and Wangari note that his music and his words gradually become more like Kihika’s, harboring a revolutionary... (full context)

...has been declared, Mumbi stands in front of her new home waiting for Gikonyo and Wangari to come home from their day’s work. Kariuki arrives instead, telling her she must come... (full context)

...when his “hope for early Independence” goes unmet, Gikonyo clings to memories of Mumbi and Wangari for strength. The prisoners are strong for the first few months, swearing never to confess... (full context)

Mumbi and Wangari live in a different hut, and Gikonyo has to ask a child for directions to... (full context)

...sworn the oath alongside him to fight the British Empire. Leaving Karanja, Gikonyo runs to Wangari and Mumbi’s hut, determined to murder her. The door is locked, though Gikonyo beats it... (full context)

However, Mumbi catches Mugo off guard when she begins telling him about how she and Wangari rebuilt their huts after the British forced the villagers to burn their old homes and... (full context)

...betrayal. She refuses the bread, though feels guilty of it when she sees how emaciated Wangari is. Karanja arrives another night with bread and flour, telling Mumbi that she will die... (full context)

...between them. Gikonyo calls Mumbi a “whore” and hits her hard in the face, twice. Wangari arrives and stands between them, furious at her son, and castigates him until he leaves... (full context)

...intending to beat Mumbi to vent his anger. When he arrives, Mumbi is gone, but Wangari is waiting for him. She tells him that Mumbi has gone back to her parents’... (full context)