Ngugiwa Thiong O's Minutes Of Glory

NGUGI WA

THIONG'O' S "MINUTES OF GLORY" { WANJIRU’S SEARCH FOR SELF }

This paper focuses on Ngugiwa Thiong'o's portrayal of the protagonist in his Short story "Minutes of Glory". Wanjiru finds her self trapped in an urban setting And is a victim of her situation and low self-esteem. The story is a sad and Touching study of a young woman who is fighting with an identity issue and Is seeking acceptance in a post-independent setting where women are exploited By men of the New Africa. She is referred to as "a wounded bird in flight:a Forced landing now and then but nevertheless... " The story affirms female self-realization than perpetual emotional distress, and that proves the determination in attaining her desired goal.

Wanjiru, the main character is portrayed as a victim of Circumstances and low-self image, and the story is a study Of her, who is in search of self approval .Wanjiru's perception Of herself appears to be a necessity for acceptance and belonging in her world. she has taken off upon a journey in search of self since she desires to Find the root cause of her alienation. Her search is composed by the following stages: aspiration to come to terms with the meaning of her name, self examination, fantasies, experience of a short lived relationship With a man.

Told from the third persons perspective, the story follows through her experiences,working at bars around Limuru and also in Ilmorog. She is a school drop-out since her Parents lacked money to school her. A naive young rural woman desperate for employment, She is preyed upon by an exploiter who promises to find her a job but, instead ,dumps her after a one-nightstand, she is trapped In a situation completely foreign to her experience hence forced into prostit...

... middle of paper ...

...ief moment.

She knows that this is a blaze of false glory, A flame that will burn itself out in a few minutes and leave only ashes. But in these brief moments she has asserted herself that Her lot in life is determined by accidents and external circumstances, not by Anything inherent within he.

These arch for self and significance by a woman in wanjiru's situation in a climate which exploits and manipulates women for sexual gratification would Appear to be a futile endeavor. The author decries this world that the new Africa elite have adopted, a world whose values are in contrast to life that is African and all that it implies .Wanjiru's strength lies in her persistence and constant striving for answers to her problem, not only by engaging in an inner search for who she is but also by actively seeking answers through externally endeavoring to change her appearance.