Mariamu Character Analysis in Petals of Blood

Mariamu is Nding’uri and Karega’s mother and Ezekieli’s sometime employee. Munira, who was childhood friends with Nding’uri, recalls her as an impressive and religiously sincere person, though she did not attend church. After Nding’uri is born, Mariamu protests her husband’s economic exploitation of her: he demands that she do farm labor for their employers, do all the household work, and do all the work to care for Nding’uri—while taking all the money that she earns. When Mariamu demands better treatment, her husband beats her. She leaves him, travels to Ezekieli’s property, and asks to become a tenant farmer on his land. Ezekieli agrees, hoping he can exploit her sexually; when she successfully refuses him, however, he lets her keep working for him—by implication, because he’s afraid she’ll tell people he tried to commit adultery. This incident reveals the externally devout Ezekieli’s religious hypocrisy. Much later, Nding’uri persuades Mariamu to reconcile with his father. This reconciliation results in Karega’s birth but doesn’t last; Mariamu leaves her husband again. Much later, while in jail for questioning about the murder-by-arson that Munira committed, Karega learns Mariamu has died and feels intense despair that he was never able to improve her material conditions; he feels she represents all the Kenyan workers exploited first under colonialism and then under capitalism. Thus, Mariamu’s life represents both the exploitation of Kenyan agricultural workers under colonialism and capitalism and the exploitation of women by men.

Mariamu Character Timeline in Petals of Blood

The timeline below shows where the character Mariamu appears in Petals of Blood. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Munira’s father’s most sanctified worker was an elderly woman, Mariamu, who didn’t actually attend religious services. Mariamu’s son Nding’uri was Munira’s friend until Munira went... (full context)

In Limuru, Munira sees the place where Mariamu’s hut used to be and wonders what happened to her. He goes to visit his... (full context)

Gender, Sexuality, and Exploitation Theme Icon

...what happened to Wanja’s baby and recalls his father Ezekieli’s employee, an old woman named Mariamu, who made tea out of water and sugar alone. When he mentions such tea, Karega... (full context)

When Munira asks, Karega admits he’s from Limuru. He explains he’s Mariamu’s son, used to work on Munira’s father Ezekieli’s flower farm, and attended Siriana until a... (full context)

Karega’s father and his mother Mariamu began working for Munira’s father Ezekieli after years of exploitation by European landowners. When Karega’s... (full context)

...successful except Munira and Mukami. When Munira asks why Mukami died by suicide, Ezekieli blames Mariamu and her sons without providing details. (full context)

...up selling cheap items by roadsides and begging. He wouldn’t go back to his mother Mariamu’s because he was afraid that she would ask him why he participated in the strike.... (full context)

...on Munira’s bicycle. Munira ponders Mukami’s death, his father Ezekieli’s strange behavior and reference to Mariamu, and his own decision to hire Karega as another teacher. He also feels ashamed that... (full context)

...began crying and asked him whether his brother (Nding’uri) had died. Karega didn’t know—his mother Mariamu had told him, vaguely, that his brother went to live with his father—and asked why... (full context)

Karega walked Mukami home. Back at his own house, he asked his mother Mariamu for the whole truth about his brother (Nding’uri). She admitted that Karega’s brother was executed... (full context)

...though “he has known Wanja all his life.” He dreams he has followed his mother Mariamu and other women into the bush and gotten lost. Then he dreams he’s playing on... (full context)

...Ezekieli agrees but momentarily wonders whether he’s being punished for trying to commit adultery with Mariamu, since her sons Nding’uri and Karega have caused him so much trouble. Then he dismisses... (full context)

Still in jail, Karega gets word that his mother Mariamu has died. Crushed that he was never able to improve her material circumstances, he thinks... (full context)

...her claim that Karega will return to the workers. In her, Karega sees Mukami, Nyakinyua, Mariamu, and “the future.” He feels that he's “no longer alone.” (full context)