The kingdom
The kingdom is shaped by competition and power structures, along with social constructs and well-practiced personalities. The competitive, power-oriented aspect of the kingdom is most evident when Densu is made to compete with his peers for a seat of power in the kingdom. This is not exactly a hero's quest, but then again, power is shown to be self-defeating, because Appia, the winner, is killed for attaining his position of power. The personality that Densu has in the context of his community must be adjusted in the wilderness where the strings of community no longer reach him.
The dangerous unknown
The unknown of the wilderness is an important imagery in the story. Densu struggles to be at peace because of both internal and external forces. Internally, he deals with forgiveness and fate. Why does he deserve this frustrating, horrifying fate? He was a good person, he feels, so he struggles to understand why these things are happening to him. Externally, the imagery mirrors this journey. He struggles to survive in the chaos of the wilderness, but silently and slowly, he is growing and changing into a new, more powerful, more heroic form.
Magic and healing
The demonstrations of magic and healing are an important turning point in Densu's journey as a hero. This is the part of the story where he is endowed with his magical gifts. They align with his ethical behavior, because he doesn't kill, and he becomes an agent of furthering life. Killing is shown to be weak and self-defeating, while magical healing is shown to be powerful and transformative. Damfo shows Densu that through healing, evil men can be made good again.
Race and essence
The "colored people" from the climax of the novel represent an important argument about race. They demonstrate an essential understanding of their nature by dancing powerfully. The imagery of powerful "colored people" finding victory in their essence is a use of imagery that points the reader toward the shared essence of all humans. Also, the imagery is reserved for the majority of the novel, perhaps to suggest that unless the issue of race is raised by the Black community, it typically doesn't get enfranchised into the mainstream attention of a community.
