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Showing posts with the label English and Literature

The Measure of a Woman

Joram leaned back in his leather office chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin as he watched Essy through the glass partition. She was bent over a stack of files, her tall, slender frame poised in quiet concentration. Once, the sight of her had sent a thrill through him—her elegance, her devotion to the Christian Union, the way she carried herself with an air of grace. But now, all he saw were the cracks in the facade. The burnt spot on his carpet flashed in his memory—a permanent scar from the day she had carelessly set a hot pan down after making chapatis. "It was an accident," she had said, her voice soft with apology. But accidents, to Joram, were symptoms of a deeper carelessness. Then there was the cleaning—only the visible surfaces, never the hidden corners where dust gathered like secrets. He had asked her once, voice sharp with frustration, "Did your mother never teach you how to clean properly?" She had stiffened, hurt flickering in her eyes, but he hadn...

A Tribute to My Literary Icon: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

The passing of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o is not just the loss of a great writer; it is the silencing of a voice that spoke truth to power, a voice that shaped my understanding of history, resistance, and the enduring struggle against oppression. To me, Ngũgĩ was more than an author—he was a teacher, a historian, and a revolutionary whose works ignited in me a fierce opposition to neocolonialism. His novels, essays, and plays were not just stories; they were weapons of truth, exposing the brutality of colonialism and the betrayal of Africa’s independence dreams. A Grain of Wheat: Unmasking the Mau Mau and the Cost of Freedom Of all his works, A Grain of Wheat stands out as the novel that most profoundly shaped my political consciousness. In it, Ngũgĩ does not just recount Kenya’s struggle for independence; he humanizes it. He shows how the so-called "Mau Mau" (a derogatory label imposed by the British) were, in truth, the Kenya Land and Freedom Army—freedom fighters who sacrificed eve...

Change

  Everyone at the school was anxious. A new principal had arrived, and that meant change. The fear of the unknown had gripped everyone. Like life, life at the school seemed bleak. Beside this uncertainty, disappointment also reared its face around the teachers' hearts. It was ridiculous that nobody from Kisumu had been chosen for the principal's position. The new principal was from Thika, which made the Kisumu staff feel undermined and disrespected. Moreover, the method the head office used to introduce the principal had not served him well. The chief finance officer had arrived with him, blazing fire and declaring how lazy the Kisumu staff was. The new principal appeared to adopt this subjective view, as his first speech to the staff he barely knew was full of threats. Two weeks of holiday  passed, and a  new semester begun. Ochieng made sure he arrived early at school that morning. He had missed his cherished morning workout just to be on time. Unfortunately, his effort...

The Visitor

  David woke up quite late this morning - 7:31 AM to be precise. The weather was cold, and he would have loved staying in bed. Unfortunately, life is life; one has to get up and face it.  His love for physical exercise was one thing that often amazed others. He showed no greater commitment to anything in this world than his dedication to exercise. A few months ago, he had rejected a good opportunity that promised to double his earnings on the basis that he wouldn't have time for workouts. Nothing was more valuable to him than the work-life balance that Kisumu offered. At his age, he knew that only a substantial offer would lure him away from Kisumu.  The only thing on his mind now was doing two hundred reverse lunges and coupling them with several other calisthenic techniques. He cleared space for the workout, removed his vest, and wore only his shorts. David walked confidently to the center of the space, placed his hands on his waist, and started doing reverse lunge...

Carl Jacobs: A Champion for Individualism in Conflict with Society in "Euphoria" Season 2, Episode 4

  "Euphoria," the critically acclaimed HBO series, is a masterful exploration of the tumultuous lives of modern adolescents, delving into the complexities of addiction, relationships, and identity. In Season 2, Episode 4, the narrative takes a profound turn as it focuses on the character Carl Jacobs, a symbol of individualism in stark contrast to his family, representing societal norms and expectations. This pivotal scene, in which Carl enters his home intoxicated and urinates on the floor, serves as a powerful allegory for the clash between the pursuit of personal freedom and the conforming pressures of society. A Defiant Act of Rebellion: Carl's Urination on His Family's Pride Carl's audacious urinating on the floor of his family's home in "Euphoria" Season 2, Episode 4, carries profound symbolic weight. This house, built with his sweat and toil, represents the epitome of societal achievement and conformity. However, Carl's act is a sta...