A Meeting in the Dark Problematic aspects of colonization The short story A Meeting in the Dark written by Ngugi wa Thiongo

o shows aspects which criticize the British Empire although its not very obvious where the criticism is hidden. That is caused by the fact that he focuses mainly on the protagonists. In the following Im going to demonstrate how everything led to the catastrophe at the end of the story. Wamuhus death caused by John. This can be related to the problematic aspects of colonization. John and Wamuhu expect a baby. To John theres nothing to discuss about. He is a son raised in a family in which the father is a missionary and the mother rooted to the African traditions and values. Although the Christians values are more important and the ones that are followed by the family. His father is very severe and he raises him this way. Thats the reason why John is a very good student who gained a scholarship to study at a University in Uganda. Heres the first problematic o colonization. John is far more educated than Wamuhu is. Accepting the child and within it not going to study and to create a perspective for his own life is not a choice. Also his father would never agree to that and the most important aspect is the stature in the little society of the village. Where honor and respect is what John receives from the villagers disgracefulness will be the feedback. Adding to that the attitude towards relationships between Christians and Africans is displeased. Circumcision is not accepted by Christians. Wamuhu is circumcised. This would lead to another conflict. In fact John considers this liaison as a humiliation to himself and his family but mostly to his father whos person represents the British Empire. Resuming the problematic aspect is the cultural gap that colonization causes in societies which lived hundreds of years in their own way and are now more or less forced to be different. Forced to betray their own race and their own people. The disaster shows the strength of the colonizers in front of the colonized