Stephen Character Analysis in Weep Not, Child

Mr. Howlands’s youngest child. Although Mr. Howlands wants to be able to pass the farm to a son when he dies, he doesn’t think Stephen has what it takes to watch over the land. Whenever Njoroge sees Stephen, he is afraid because the young white boy stares at him. Once, Stephen even advances upon him, but Njoroge runs away before finding out what he wants. When both boys are older, they encounter one another during a soccer game between their two schools, and Stephen tells Njoroge that he always wanted to speak to him as a child but that he was too afraid to do so.

Stephen Character Timeline in Weep Not, Child

The timeline below shows where the character Stephen appears in Weep Not, Child. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...soil” and toiling on the farm. During this time, Suzannah gave birth to another boy, Stephen, who “was now an only son.” His daughter, for her part, had become a missionary... (full context)

...he sometimes visits the farm to see his father. When he does, he often encounters Stephen, who stays close to his mother and stares at Njoroge. One time, though, Stephen saw... (full context)

Mwihaki asks Njoroge if Stephen wanted to speak to him, but Njoroge says he doesn’t know. “He may have wanted... (full context)

...talks to him, saying he recognizes him. After a moment, he realizes he’s speaking to Stephen Howlands, and the two boys walk away from the soccer game to talk. Avoiding any... (full context)