The In Thing (Simile)
“Instant riches, just as instant tea or instant coffee were the in thing.”
The simile explains the popularity and acceptance of the nouveau riche in Nasila and its appeal to Ole Kaelo.
The New Ole (Metaphor)
“However, ever since they returned to Nasila, a new Ole Kaelo was emerging. He was becoming a Nasilian very fast.”
The "new Ole Kaelo" is a reference to Kaelo's quick adaption to the cultural expectations of the Maa culture, especially the expectation that his daughters will be circumcised. By describing his change using the metaphor of becoming a new man, the author emphasizes just how drastic the transformation is.
The Dark Alley (Metaphor)
“One thing she was aware of was that her daughters did not expect their parents to lead them back through a dark alley, to a retrogressive world of excruciating pain and turmoil.”
The dark alley is a metaphor for the way in which Mama Milanoi feels about bringing her daughters to Nasila which she sees as taking a step backward from their life in Nakuru.
The Melting Pot (Metaphor)
“But, above all, she thought it would be easier to marry off her daughters in the melting pot that Nakuru had become.”
This metaphor from the first chapter describes Mama Milanoi's optimism about the possibilities of life in Nasila for herself and her daughters. It serves as an ironic juxtaposition to the events which eventually unfold.
Dehorned Cattle (Simile)
“Like cattle that required to be dehorned, to reduce accidental injuries to each other, a certain measure of docility was also necessary to keep more than one wife in the homestead.”
This simile embodies the Maa culture's fear of female sexuality and the rationale for circumcision.
War of Liberation (Metaphor)
“It was a war of liberation of the Nasila women. She knew there were many battlefronts in a war.”
This metaphor describes Taiyo and Resian's resistance to the cultural expectations placed on Nasila women. It is important because it helps the reader to understand how brutally women are treated, and emphasizes the real danger that Resian and Taiyo faced.
