Motif: Names
While few characters are given names throughout the story, they are a significant motif as they represent the cultural disparity present in the village. John and his family all have anglicized, Western names: John, Stanley, and Susana. Their names reflect their commitment to Western culture and rejection of tribal life. By contrast, Wamuhu has a traditional name, reflecting her parents' rejection of white Christian influence and desire to maintain traditions of the village that were disrupted by British colonizers.
Symbol: Darkness
Darkness symbolizes both secrecy and confusion. In the evenings, John takes long walks through the village as he puzzles over what to do about Wamuhu. He and Wamuhu also meet in the dark to keep their conversations private. At the same time that darkness serves to protect John's secret, it also reflects John's loss of control and struggle to act in the face of his new circumstances.
Symbol: Ghosts
Toward the end of the story, John dreams about two ghosts fighting on another. These ghosts symbolize the older, tribal way of life and the new life John and his family lead under the influence of British colonization. The fighting ghosts represent the internal war that occurs in John's own mind as he struggles to decide whether he should marry Wamuhu and stay in the village or abandon her to pursue his education.
