The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Essay Questions

How does William's relationship to his father shape his beliefs?

William's father Trywell has a strong faith in God, and as a result, he does not give credit to the witch doctors that other people fear. He demonstrates his respect, yet also general disregard, for the supposed all-powerful nature of magic to William early in life, from William's accidental consumption of bubble gum to Trywell's ability to subdue a magically powerful man without using magic himself. Because William is close with his father, he adopts many of the same beliefs.

What is symbolic about the windmill?

The windmill is a result of many years of thought, effort, and sacrifice for William, so its good condition is a testament to his ingenuity and desire to improve his standard of living. It is something that William learned from a book, without the help of mentors or even a standard education, and for that reason it represents his self-starting nature. For his family, the windmill represents hope, as it brings electricity, water, and many opportunities to William.

How does the anticipated audience for this memoir impact its tone?

This memoir is intended for an English-speaking audience that may be unfamiliar with William's story or even the history and culture of Malawi itself. For this reason, there are multiple instances of William explaining to the reader the meaning of certain Chewa words, and even the meaning of the word "Chewa" itself. This explanatory quality to the book gives it a factual and scientific tone, where facts and tidbits of Malawian history are mixed in with personal anecdotes from William's life.

What is the significance of William's relationship to Geoffrey and Gilbert?

Geoffrey and Gilbert are two of the most significant presences in William's life. From a young age, the three boys played together and went to school together. They survive the famine and the loss of both Geoffrey's father and Gilbert's father, and even build the windmill together. Throughout it all, Geoffrey invests time and energy into helping William, and often Gilbert offers both that and what little monetary resources he has. Without the presence of these two friends in William's life, he would not have been able to do many of the great things that he did.

How is Malawi characterized in this book and does that characterization change over time?

Malawi is at first characterized as a country full of magic. There are stories of witch doctors reviving men from the dead, and chiefs slaughtering enemies by becoming invisible. Throughout the book, this kind of belief among the people changes little, and even when William is building his windmill, people continue to believe in magic as the source and solution to their problems.