Stanley
The first description readers receive of Stanley says, "He stood at the door of the hut and saw his old, frail but energetic father coming along the village street, with a rather dirty bag made out of strong calico by his side" (55). The narrator explains that inside the bag is a Bible and pen, as Stanley is a Christian preacher. This initial image of Stanley helps establish him as someone who is so dedicated to his Christian practice that he does not go anywhere without his Bible, suggesting that his religion will play a significant role in John's life over the course of the story.
The Village
Thinking about the village, John perceives it as both a safe haven and a prison. The narrator says, "Once John would be fascinated and would yearn to touch the land, embrace it or just be on the grass. At another time he would be repelled by the dust, the strong sun and the pot-holed roads" (66). This description of the village showcases John's torn perspective: he feels both connected to his homeland and repulsed by it, suggesting he will be unable to decide whether to stay or leave.
Ghosts
John dreams that two ghosts are fighting with one another, and "then came other ghosts from all sides and pulled him from all sides so that his body began to fall into pieces" (66). This imagery of John being pulled apart by ghosts reflects his inner turmoil as he struggles to determine whether to stay or leave the village. It also foreshadows his eventual self-destruction that will be brought on by his murder of Wamuhu.
