Working like a donkey
“And the Rain Came Down!” begins with Nyokabi coming home with a big load of firewood. The narrator explains that she feels “good and sweet to rest after a hard day’s work, having laboured like a donkey,” which illustrates that she (and women) in general have to work very hard to make sure their families have enough to eat.
A flower with the serpent under it
In “The Martyr,” Njoroge is described by Mrs Smiles as “Quite the innocent flower but the serpent under it.” This simile illustrates her opinion of Africans, who she considers savage and capable of deceiving and even murdering the white people they work for, although they appear innocent on the outside.
An heart like an engine pumping water
While John is talking to his father in “A Meeting in the Dark,” he “could hear the loud beats of his heart. It was like an engine pumping water,” which emphasizes the sense of guilt he feels at that time. Moreover, his heart beats fast because he is afraid of his father’s reaction should he find out that John has sinned with a woman.
Coated with white clay
In “A Meeting in the Dark,” Wamuhu’s father states that “Those coated with the white clay of the white man’s ways are the worst.” The metaphorical white coat represents the thinking and customs of the white, i.e. Western, societies. Therefore, the father means that he despises anyone who tries to cover their African heritage.
The world like a hungry lion
Reverend Carstone preaches that “The world is waiting even like a hungry lion, to swallow you, to devour you. Therefore, beware of the world.” This image emphasizes that the world is hostile, and that John should not expect and support from anyone if he wants to be successful.
