Major Muhamed Character Analysis in The Word for World is Forest

Major Muhamed runs New Java camp, the colony outpost that Don Davidson is sent to as punishment after his unauthorized air raid on the Athsheans. Davidson describes Muhamed as a by-the-book leader, and his camp is well-organized with regulated logging—a sharp contrast to Davidson’s own camp, Smith, which flouted rules and was eventually burned by the Athsheans. Davidson notes that Muhamed doesn’t like the new orders from HQ, which include a policy of nonviolence against the Athsheans, but he follows them to the letter and expects those in New Java to do the same. Davidson dislikes him due to his strictness, his distrust of Davidson (whom he sees as unreliable), and his race. (Davidson distrusts all non-white soldiers and Muhamed is an “asiatiform,” meaning he’s of Asian descent). Davidson begins to carry out raids on Athsheans unbeknownst to Muhamed, and he eventually commandeers New Java camp and kills Muhamed and the other non-white soldiers. The novella implies that Muhamed’s organization of New Java was part of what allowed Davidson to take command easily, as he was able to sow distrust of Muhamed and the Athsheans among all levels of Muhamed’s operation.

Major Muhamed Character Timeline in The Word for World is Forest

The timeline below shows where the character Major Muhamed appears in The Word for World is Forest. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Violence, War, and Colonization Theme Icon

...And things haven’t improved since the meeting. It’s fine that Davidson is now under Major Muhamed’s command at New Java Camp—while Dongh might have liked Davidson’s raid at Smith, he still... (full context)

...them. Dongh told Davidson that he’s following Terra-HQ’s orders and that Davidson has to follow Muhamed’s. Davidson can’t betray humanity by following those orders, but he feels bad for Dongh, who... (full context)

...you’d have to head back into the forest, where it’s easy to get lost. Unfortunately, Muhamed is a by-the-book commander. The only good thing about him is that he doesn’t radio... (full context)

...actually, but he’s a good man to have around. Davidson doesn’t bother trying to get Muhamed on his side, since Muhamed is militant and doesn’t trust Davidson because of something related... (full context)

...to kill the female creechies and “stay clean.” When they get back, no one tells Muhamed about the trip. Davidson knows that the creechies will attack the humans soon enough, and... (full context)

Davidson has been using Major Muhamed’s tape recorder to make note of everything that’s happened in New Tahiti. Future generations should... (full context)

...dead, but that’s probably a lie, and the creechies are probably experimenting on them now. Muhamed had recorded all his conversations with Central post-massacre, and when Davidson first heard one particular... (full context)

Davidson had no choice but to shoot Muhamed, which was a bummer, but Muhamed never would’ve gone along with Davidson’s plan. Now it’s... (full context)