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Boro
Jacobo’s daughter. Mwihaki has known Njoroge since they were both children. Because of this, she helps him navigate his way through his first few days of school, since her sister Lucia is a teacher, and the other students therefore respect her. In this way, Mwihaki and Njoroge become good friends, despite the fact that their families are wary of their connection. After several years, Mwihaki goes to a boarding school outside of town, but she still sees Njoroge when she’s home for break. While spending time together one day, Mwihaki confesses to Njoroge that she is often scared about the future, saying that the country has become so “dark.” Thankfully, though, Njoroge is able to buoy her spirits by insisting that things will improve if only they both continue to focus on their studies and maintain their hope in the future. Mwihaki takes this advice to heart so thoroughly that she manages to adopt this worldview even after Boro kills her father. Indeed, it is this sense of hope, optimism, and resilience that ultimately encourages her to refuse Njoroge’s plea that they run away together after all the violence that has passed between their families. Telling Njoroge that they have a “duty” to their country to stay and help make things better, she urges him to go on waiting for a new day, and though this disappoints him, she also admits that she is in love with him.
Mwihaki Quotes in Weep Not, Child
The Weep Not, Child quotes below are all either spoken by Mwihaki or refer to Mwihaki. 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:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Suddenly he realised that he did not want to meet her while he had on that piece of calico which, when blown by the wind, left the lower part of his body without covering. For a time he was irresolute and hated himself for feeling as he did about the clothes he had on. Before he had started school, in fact even while he made that covenant with his mother, he would never have thought that he would ever be ashamed of the calico, the only dress he had ever known since birth.
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Chapter 18
Quotes
“Don't be angry, Mwihaki. For what can I say now? You and I can only put faith in hope. Just stop for a moment, Mwihaki, and imagine. If you knew that all your days life will always be like this with blood flowing daily and men dying in the forest, while others daily cry for mercy; if you knew even for one moment that this would go on forever, then life would be meaningless unless bloodshed and death were a meaning. Surely this darkness and terror will not go on forever. Surely there will be a sunny day, a warm sweet day after all this tribulation, when we can breathe the warmth and purity of God […].”
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“Mwihaki, you are the one dear thing left to me. I feel bound to you and I know that I can fully depend on you. I have no hope left but for you, for now I know that my tomorrow was an illusion.”
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Mwihaki Quotes in Weep Not, Child
The Weep Not, Child quotes below are all either spoken by Mwihaki or refer to Mwihaki. 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:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Suddenly he realised that he did not want to meet her while he had on that piece of calico which, when blown by the wind, left the lower part of his body without covering. For a time he was irresolute and hated himself for feeling as he did about the clothes he had on. Before he had started school, in fact even while he made that covenant with his mother, he would never have thought that he would ever be ashamed of the calico, the only dress he had ever known since birth.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18
Quotes
“Don't be angry, Mwihaki. For what can I say now? You and I can only put faith in hope. Just stop for a moment, Mwihaki, and imagine. If you knew that all your days life will always be like this with blood flowing daily and men dying in the forest, while others daily cry for mercy; if you knew even for one moment that this would go on forever, then life would be meaningless unless bloodshed and death were a meaning. Surely this darkness and terror will not go on forever. Surely there will be a sunny day, a warm sweet day after all this tribulation, when we can breathe the warmth and purity of God […].”
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Explanation and Analysis:
“Mwihaki, you are the one dear thing left to me. I feel bound to you and I know that I can fully depend on you. I have no hope left but for you, for now I know that my tomorrow was an illusion.”
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
