Introduction
A woman in despair is a weak woman because she is not able to react to different life issues adequately; a woman should be strong whatever may happen in her life because she can seem weak and allow people to think that she is weak. When a woman becomes weak in the real life, she has not to strength to overcome certain difficulties, moreover, she needs moral support and encouragement from outside because she cannot handle all the problems and put her thoughts and efforts to reach the goal.
Main body
The warning is a woman that thinks that all her problems are because of the color of her skin which is black; this is where the first theme appears. Discrimination can be referred to in this case because of the color of someone’s skin. Racial discrimination is one of the most burning issues of the modern global community. Regardless the globalization, people have not acquired the knowledge on differences between cultures and the importance of respecting each other and traditions established in different countries.
The warning is described sitting on a box and criticizing her appearance. The box describes her discontentment, isolation, and unwillingness to change. A box of any sort is usually kept away, far away from any activity. Her finding the box paints a solitary picture and her troubled heart, no wonder she had no one to talk to and share her dilemma. The mirror depicts her true inert state, the reflection of the ‘thorn in her flesh’. Anyone watching her might think her insane talking to herself. Her small mirror reflects her narrow sightedness and discreteness. Her handbag shows how organized she is despite facing personal challenges. This also flashes out how private her life is.
She blames herself for being so ugly. However, she is beautiful because all people are beautiful in a way. She is disturbed by her outward appearance. Not thinking twice about where to sit, she secludes and almost seems not to know what to do when troubled. When among people, Warringa is elevated and full of herself and seems to ‘scratch’ other peoples’ backs. On the other side, she is regarded as a woman who outwardly rubs shoulders with her inherent inferior qualities; her spirits seem to be crushed. She is ashamed to be herself; she does not like the color of her skin because she thinks that a whiter skin could make her luckier or open brighter perspectives for her.
A problem shared is a problem solved: Warning is going through personal issues that are internal and poking to the heart. Instead of sharing her concerns, she isolates herself hence enlarging the ‘pit’ and lessening a chance to solve the issues. She is seen looking at the mirror and suddenly she is in a sort of a dialogue, rather, a monologue talking to herself through the mirror. In this dialogue, her reflection in the mirror is her best interlocutor and the best critic, though her self-criticism slips into self-reproach.
The warning seems to be unprepared to face the difficulties happening in life and challenge those. Her despair is the only method to hide from her problems because it is the easiest way to face the difficulties instead of being brave and doing everything possible to improve the situation.
Hopelessness if not ‘soothed’ and left unattended soon will affect people around and even those not yet born. This is well illustrated when the ‘nation’ is used to signify people around her and ‘generation’ stands for people not yet born. Both nation and generation have been used as symbols of continuity. The past and the present are integral parts of every culture, whereas weak people discourage all others because people have an example of how to act.
Robin Mwaura appears as a person of two natures. His very name suggests his being divided into two-part each presenting a different person. He is very educated and very keen as to how he chooses his words. His language is poetic as well. Robin Mwaura (RM) is his name and blends well with whatever is around. Robin Mwaura is vast in education (away from home) and can easily play around with words to bring his point home. Mwaura represents RM’s childhood background and how he was brought up, for instance, the use of ‘hyena’ and ‘Akurinu sect’ that is taken from African stories.
This person seems to be very energetic and optimistic. He is anxious about achieving success, though his real nature appears to be not choosy and appropriate for any kind of environment. He understands the rules of life and the fact that a person has to adjust to circumstances in order not to be destroyed by changes. Any opportunity is taken by this person; neither Robin nor Mwaura, but Robin Mwaura grabs the opportunity and makes the best out of it.
He never underestimates his inherent potential and looks like he is never afraid of failing. If he succeeds, it is well; if he does not, it is well anyway. The last phrase can be interpreted in different ways, though Robin Mwaura is very flexible and the readers can see him flowing with ideas. Suddenly the flow disappears; hence trying to interpret is to be chasing the wind. No one is aware of what will happen later.
However, RM’s outgoing nature and tolerance have no limit. He mingles with anyone, which is good, but with no balance he might involve himself in deals and ventures that might work against him, for example, he is never choosy and he can even be a pagan to maintain his status and get what he wants. The sudden shifts of his personality might not be welcomed with others especially those that are reserved. He might end up poking a ‘healing wound’. Not measuring his words by uttering whatever his mind speaks might also fuel conflicts among not-so-friendly companions. He is unsteady as the wind that may grab your thoughts far away into other worlds where the rules of survival are different from those established in the native culture.
Robin Mwaura is not choosy as he claims, though this suggestion reveals the genuine essence of his character. He is one of those people that can do whatever seems to be required to live a life of his own. He is eager to accept any conditions to survive which reflects his not being choosy. Grabbing any opportunity might be of benefit; however, it might have damaging consequences. Taking just anything is not being smart. There is neither surprise distance nor window period where one can think through before arriving at a discussion.
However unexpected may appear this idea, Robin Mwaura seems to be hiding behind his own words. His eloquence is a weapon, especially against the illiterate in any. His use of words makes him confident and up to his game. His words resemble the book that can be interpreted in a great number of different ways; in addition, any person will be able to find some reasonable thoughts in his ideas. His ideas about the songs are used to describe the ability and natural skills to do anything with no discrimination.
This character introduces his vision of not being choosy and eating the thing available at the moment. This may correspond to the indigence or some specific lifestyle that does not require certain luxury. The phrase “The mouth that ate itself” can be regarded as the presentation of a trickster that does not want to do anything to live better because he is happy with what he has at the moment in terms of food, a place to live, or people to be around. Readers may be deceived by his sweet words and not being choosy, though he is sly and gets whatever he wants.
The heart of a person is a complicated issue that can be approached as both an integral part of the human organism, a simple organ, and an object of philosophical wanderings along with the concept of soul, heart, good and evil, God and Devil. Every coin has two sides: one side is good, bright, shiny, and appealing, whereas the other side is evil, gloomy, dark, and repulsing. Once the heart is affected, the whole body is affected too. This idea is introduced by the character of Muturi.
Muturi is the character in question. Muturi is intelligent and keeps the main thing the real thing. Muturi has a quick mind and a flowing verbal expression with tremendous debating capabilities. However, this strong character trait might tend not to differentiate a debate and disagreement. It seems that there is a major issue that is a constant migraine. No matter whether the issue is good or bad, this issue has a way of affecting all other issues.
Muturi appears to be a wise counselor or a mentor and a person who advises others on what to do and what to think on this or that issue; this character seems to be urging people to cooperate to perform the greatest good common for all people. The image of a heart is used to present the human beings all belonging to a single society regardless of cultural differences. All people are parts of the whole and the whole is made of these parts. As far as people interact with each other, the world exists because society is impossible without people. He signifies how vital a man is as a result of the state of his heart. A good man is a result of a good heart, and a bad heart results in a pathetic human being.
Muturi claims that human lives are a battlefield. This is the battle of the human heart, the difference between good and evil. The same heart can sometimes express goodness and other times demonstrate its filthy evil side. Outwardly, no one sees how evil or good the heart is, and most of the time its thoughts can never be perceived. These differences of the same heart are what is referred to as the ‘battlefield’. Every issue in this world cannot be treated as purely good or purely evil; there is a lot of grey in our lives which makes our hearts good or evil by turns.
Muturi describes the potential in every human by explaining that a heart and a human being are connected with an invisible chain; there is a drop of greatness in every man. The state of the body is determined by the state of the heart. However, good and evil hearts are antagonistic. A good man out of a good heart and a bad man out of an evil heart cannot eat on the same plate. The heart speaks in a different language than the mouth does. Muturi ends up affirming how different people are and dissimilar issues are addressed. Nevertheless, life has to continue and one has a choice how to confront every challenge, indeed, the issues of life lie in the heart.
The heart is the center, the ‘engine’ that drives and molds the man. When the heart becomes ill, the normal functions of the man are hindered. Society is like an organism that falls ill if something hurts. A war that has no spectators is a process where all parties participate and no one stands aside; the cruelty of each war has to be stopped which involves all parties: some fight, whereas others try to solve the conflict. An ill member of a society can result in disorders of the society, while an ill heart can cause illness of the whole organism.
The body is determined by the state of the heart. When various hearts mold out men and these men embedded in a body come together, a nation and a generation that is united is born. The heart is compared with an engine that maintains the organisms and people are the particles that help the society move on as well as a successive generation brings something new into the culture and traditions of the nation.
Music is a universal language of all nations and cultures; it can be a uniting element of all people on the earth. The only difficult thing that may prevent people from uniting is the absence of a common theme. These ideas can be found in the words of Professor Gatuiria. This character comes out to be in pursuit of happiness, dreams and gives the impression of a people’s person. This character finds it hard to be challenged, especially on an issue that looks familiar or handled prior. A society without differences and misunderstandings that would sing a song and listen to the only tune is a perfect society. However, these concepts are irrelevant to the contemporary world and cannot be treated as appropriate salvation of all the problems.
This Professor is creative and enjoys composing songs. He is very dedicated to this venture and is seen constantly looking for themes for the songs. Gatuiria is gutsy, very ambitious, and versatile and can bring about anything that flips the mind. The professor is also very patient and wishes to wait until the right theme and tune are clear to name the ballad. The Professor loves and embraces change and constantly needs the motivation to have foresight. Giving time to consult and listen opens doors of opportunities and a launchpad for growth.
The theme of human voices is the motivation factor behind writing songs; these voices are equated to human challenges. Every voice is a difficulty faced in life; combining the voices in one tune may be regarded as an attempt to solve all problems with a unique decision not requiring a specific approach to every issue. Unification and global issues are described as a song for all people or, at least, for many people. Other than the human voice, vivid images of the future are additional driving forces behind music appearing. Foresight propels ideas that are interpreted into music.
However, this dynamic and passionate quality must be directed or less, chaos and an abundance of frustration will be produced. The Professor’s life is a chain of experiences with an enormous deal learned at a price resulting in happiness and peace of mind. The professor can never relax and stop on the result achieved. The fierce expression of independence makes it tricky to be in relationships with the real world. Music is used as a medium of hope and change, a way of expression that brings life, balance, and a tool that enhances the community.
Music has been used to soothe and encourage the soul. Instruments are used as a great number of opportunities existing in the life of a person to fight difficulties. This shows diversity and willingness to use any instrument to bring out the best of music and at the same time address various issues that seem to be affecting and challenging the human heart. Orchestra and human voices signify the importance of involving others to appreciate the music. The result of Professor Gatuiria is the impact of music on humanity. However global are the problems, music is still the best language understood by all nations. Professor Gatuiria also uses stories to coin musical themes. Once told of a story, immediately a theme comes to thought. Stories are told through songs.
Conclusion
History of the human civilization can be approached as a specific issue addressed by Professor Gatuiria. Human history is a universal song known by all nations and it can be sung by all people. Different cultures appear in this concept as various instruments contributing to the overall impression created by the tune of human civilization.