Desert and Drought
On his way to Abazon, Chris notices the areas becoming more and more like desert and poverty stricken. When the bus stops and the group goes to find a restaurant where they can eat, they come to understand that there is a lack of clean water. The sun is strong and there is barely any place where one can find shade to hide from it.
Rain and Thunder
Beatrice as a child was in her own world and she had a connection with thunder. She remembered her sister being outside while it rained and repeated a chant. Beatrice listened to her and felt as if the rain spoke to her. There is thunder and rain when Ikem comes to visit Beatrice to tell her about the love letter in which he explained his views on how unfairly women were treated throughout the ages. The imagery of thunder and rain is strong in this chapter and it could be seen as a foreshadowing of Ikem's upcoming destiny.
Letter
Letters are present as a way of telling the truth behind what is shown to the public. Ikem's love letter presents a truth about the position of women, Ikem works at the Gazette and writes columns about the state of Kangan society, and the truth about what happened to Ikem is shown through a letter that Chris delivers to the new editor of the Gazette.
Mouse Inside a Cage
The image of a mouse inside a cage, offering small, futile rebellions is explicitly mentioned in Chapter 6 with the following quote:
The chauffeur turned sharply round on his seat perhaps to get a good look at today's eccentric cargo. When I said good evening to him on top of all that, he seemed dazed to begin with and then his bafflement gave way to a wide happy grin which pleased me very much for it confirmed that I had successfully compounded my rebellion—first to spurn a seat of honour and then to greet a mere driver first. That was when I smiled at myself and my puny, empty revolts, the rebellion of a mouse in a cage. (77)
This quote is from Beatrice as she begins her journey to the Presidential Guest House. However, it could be more broadly applied to all of the citizens of Abazon who may not like the governance structure but have little influence to do something about it. The image of a mouse inside a cage conjures up a small, often non-influential animal trying to be defiant. However, not only is it small and insignificant, but it is also in a cage. It may think that it is rebelling, but it is doing so within the context of a confined space. Similarly, the Abazon rebellion is controlled by outside circumstances, yet the Abazon people still rebel. Furthermore, it's interesting that a woman offers this perspective, as women appear to be mice inside cages themselves in Abazon. They may offer these protests with confidence, but their effects are limited.
