THE RIVER AND THE SOURCE - THEMES

Change                                             

Female Empowerment                             

Family Relationships 

Pain and Suffering                       

Courtship and Marriage                            

Courage

Death                                

Hope vs. Hopelessness                             

Religion

Feminine Beauty                          

Self-Sacrifice                                  

Importance of Names

Anger and Bitterness 

Role of Children                            

Education        

Succession and Continuity       

Motherhood                                  

Love

Wisdom                                           

Jealousy and Envy                       

Responsibility

Overcoming Adversity               

Determination                                              

Faith vs. Doubt

Man Struggles To Understand Divinity                                

Tradition

Virtues and Vices                         

Gender Roles                                

Friendship

Encouragement                            

Misfortunes                                   

Cultural Diversity

Wealth                                             

Role of Religion                                             

Heritage

Inspiration                      

Genealogy and Ancestry          

Perseverance

Time                  

Choices                                                            

Fame

Chieftainship                 

Criticisms                                         

Children

Childhood                                       

Catholicism                                     

Bride Price

Worry                                               

Taboo                                                               

Morality

Humility                                           

Superstitions                                 

Growing Up

Cultural Bondage                         

Inner vs. Outer Self                     

Conflicts

Selflessness                   

Identity Crisis                                 

Forsaking All

Sibling Rivalry                 

Character Development                           

Despair

Dilemma                                          

Achievement                                 

Destiny

Optimism                                        

Pioneering                                      

Society

Fulfilment                                       

Frustrations                                    

Commitment

Contentment                

Widowhood                                   

Womanhood 

Sickness                                           

Heroism

Intelligence                    

Seeking Justice                                             

Protection

Fear                   

Beauty of Simplicity                    

Oppression

Desire to Escape                           

Folk Mythology                                             

Accusations    

Adventurism                                  

Obsession

Risk Taking                      

Desperation                                   

Westernization

Colonialization                               

HIV/AIDS                                         

Birth

Loneliness                                       

Chivalry                                                            

Rebellion         

Intuition                                           

Adolescence                                  

Arbitration      

Emotions                                         

Tolerance                                        

Steadfastness

Rite Of Passage                             

Will To Survive                                               

Leadership

Curiosity                                          

Selfishness                                     

Self Doubt

Resentment                   

Attraction                                        

Rumours

Ambition                                         

Self Pity                                                            

Burial

Race Relations                               

Victimization                                  

Perception

Persuasion                      

Necessity of Work

         

Theme development

Theme development is the way the author of the novel has revealed his/her themes to the readers. In the novel “The River and the Source”, the author has revealed her themes in the following ways:

1.       Through dialogue or conversation between characters – Themes such as sibling rivalry, arguments, encouragement, bitterness etc. have been revealed through conversations between different characters. For example the theme of rivalry is revealed through conversation between Becky and Vera. The conversation between the two sisters also reveals the themes of arguments, jealousy, beauty, self-pity etc.

2.       Themes have been revealed through the monologue of a character – In the opening of the novel, grandmother Nyaralego’s monologue when she was called to find out the solution of Akoko’s sickness reveals some of the major themes in the story. In her monologue themes such as religion, genealogy, tradition, family relationships, role of women, love, death, chieftainship etc. have been revealed. Another example where several major themes have been revealed through monologue is when Odongo was telling his grandchildren years later about their journey to Kisumu. In his speech he reveals the themes of courage, determination, greed, arrogance etc.

3.       Themes have been revealed through a character’s emotional state – For example after the death of some of the characters like Obura, Akoko and Nyabera, themes such as pain, despair, bitterness and self-pity come into play. After the death of Obura we see how those who were close to him undergo a lot of pain because of their loss. After Akoko’s death the author of the novel reveals how bitter Awiti became to the point of cancelling her marriage to Mark sigu. Her bitterness is also seen after the death of her mother which leads her to constantly snap at her husband because of the emotions that she was going through.

4.       Themes have been revealed through the actions of some of the characters – For example Otieno’s decision to grab his late brother’s wealth helps to reveal the themes of arrogance and greed. Other themes such as risk taking, courtship, gender roles, determination etc. are clearly showed through some of the actions taken by some of the characters.

5.       Themes have been revealed through the possessions some of the characters have amassed during their lifetimes – In this category the theme of wealth and hard work are well represented. In the novel the author reveals that because of hard work, Akoko had managed to build her wealth and she had a mighty herd which moved in three cohorts when she was returning back to Yimbo. The author has also revealed how wealthy Becky was and how her wealth would help to cater for her two children after she was gone. Apart from material wealth the author has also revealed the wealth of some of the characters had in terms of wisdom. Akoko who was materially wealthy was also wealthy in terms of wisdom. Her great granddaughter Vera also possessed the same kind of wealth.

6.       Themes have been revealed through the culture and traditions of the luo people. Themes such as gender roles, marriage, succession, mythology, chieftainship etc. are connected to the culture and traditions of the luo community. For example the theme of marriage where there was no courtship, a spy was first sent to inspect a girl to know whether or not she had imperfections. Compared to the modern system where a boy would court a girl and find out about her through courtship, in luo traditions it would be a spy who had the responsibility of finding out about the qualities of a particular girl.

7.       Themes have been revealed through the events taking place in the novel. In this category theme such as marriage, death, religion, succession, traditions etc. perfectly fit. For example the events preceding the marriage between Akoko and chief Owuor kembo clearly explains some of the traditions carried out by the luo people. The death of Obura also offers to reveal some of the traditions carried out by the traditional luo people in the case where there was no body to bury.

8.       Themes have been revealed by the author of the novel. The author of the novel has helped to reveal nearly all of the themes discussed. Themes such as determination, achievement, religion, traditions, oppression, courtship etc. have been well articulated by the author of the novel.

9.       Themes have been revealed by the conflicts taking place in the novel. For example the conflicts between Akoko and Otieno help to reveal themes such as oppression, greed, arrogance, accusations, arguments and disagreements.

10.   Themes have been revealed by symbols that have been used in the novel. Symbols such as the chief’s stool helps to reveal the themes of leadership, succession, family relationships, traditions, genealogy etc.

11.   Themes have been revealed by the qualities of some of the characters in the novel. For example the theme of determination has been used to reveal the traits of Akoko as a determined person. Akoko who also loved to her husband and children has helped to reveal the theme of love. Other characters in the novel who possess different qualities have also helped to define some of the themes in the novel.

12.   Themes have been revealed by the setting of the novel. Setting such as Aluor help to reveal the themes of religion, hope, change, self-discovery, education etc. The settings of Kisumu and Nairobi have helped to reveal the themes of change, westernization, education etc.

13.   Themes have been revealed by the title of the novel. The title of the novel helps to reveal the themes of continuity, determination, genealogy, family etc. In the novel Akoko is revealed as a great river which at first meanders around without any apparent direction, sometimes disappearing underground altogether, but always there, always moving towards the sea. In this extract Akoko is shown as having lost her future but is determined to get back and reclaim her position and the position of her offspring’s.

14.   Themes have been revealed by the use of various literary devices. Literary devices such as proverbs, adage, aphorisms, allusion etc. helps to reveal themes such as wisdom, pride, love, religion etc. Other literary devices that have been used to reveal themes include: dialogue, monologue, poetic justice, extended metaphor, songs, catastrophe, propaganda, oral traditions, story within a story, authorial intrusion, motif, tragedy etc.

15.   Themes have been revealed through the way the author makes us feel. For example the choices of words which the author uses define and reveal some of the themes in the novel.

16.   Themes have been revealed through the interactions of different characters. For example the interaction between Awiti and Mark reveal the themes of love, family relationships, attraction, commitment etc.

17.   Themes have been revealed by the time period of events in the novel. For example the themes of change, westernization, colonialization, sexual immorality and Christianity have been revealed through the time periods in which events are taking place.