Read and Write a Brief Review of the Petals of Blood Book (Book Review Sample)

PETALS OF BLOOD
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Petals of Blood
Corruption is the dishonest act of those in authority to use the power bestowed on them for their private gain. The novel Petals of Blood by Ngugi wa Thiang’o is set in post-colonial Kenya and shows how the new government colludes with the outgoing colonizers in order to enrich themselves at the expense of the common citizen. Ngugi articulates the theme of corruption by using corrupt politicians and businessmen such as Chui, Kimeria and Nderi wa Riera. The effects of corruption are seen through the suffering of the villagers of Illmarog which compels them to take action to remedy the social ill.
The colonial government was corrupt and oppressed the natives. Ngugi uses the villagers to represent honest working subjects who bear the scars of oppression by the ousted colonial government and their local leaders. For instance, Abdala the village shopkeeper had lost his leg when he was fighting the oppression of the colonial government. "Abdala was never to forget that moment, the moment of his rebirth as a complete man, when he humiliated the two European oppressors and irrevocably sided with the people. He had rejected what his father stood for, rejected the promise of wealth, and was born again as a fighter in the forest" (137).  This quote shows that both the colonial officials and local leaders were corrupt during this era. In addition, it indicates that the British bribed the local leaders to help them oppress the natives. The writer portrays the people’s attempts to end corruption. "I think we should go. It is our turn to make things happen.... We made up our own words and sang them and we danced to them. However, there came a time when this power was taken from us.... We must surround the city and demand back our share" (115–116). In this quote Nyakinyua shows how the people were fed up with corruption and she urges them to take action to stop it by going to Nairobi to confront the corrupt leaders. The writer also showcases nepotism at play in post-colonial Kenya through the following quote. "Big shots from different communities sat together and talked only in their mother tongues… the other communities want to reap where they never planted.”(234). This indicates that corruption largely took the form of nepotism.
Ngugi shows how widespread and well disguised corruption is in the young nation and the continent as a whole. He writes, "The Trans-Africa road linking Nairobi and Ilmorog to the many cities of our continent is symbolic tribute, although a unintended one, to those who, witnessing the dread ravages of crime and treachery and greed which passed for civilization.”(311). This shows how the African governments use development projects to cover their tracks. He also shows how the church, the colonial government and the educator’s ulterior motives that hints at corruption. "Today children I will tell you the history of Mr. Blackman in three sentences. In the beginning he had the mind and the soul together. On the second day, they took the body away to barter it for silver coin ... they brought back priests and educators to bind his mind and soul that these foreigners could easily take his land and its produce." (74) Through this quote the writer shows how the settlers and the church are corrupt. Corruption is so widespread and like a contagious disease that it is, compels some...