In "A Meeting in the Dark" How are we supposed to feel about John? Are we supposed to like/dislike him? Trust/not trust him? Sympathize with/not sympathize with him?

Answer 1

In "A Meeting in the Dark" by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, the reader's perspective on John is subjective and open to interpretation. The text does not explicitly instruct the reader to like or dislike him, trust or not trust him, or sympathize or not sympathize with him. Instead, the reader is encouraged to form their own opinion about the character based on the information provided.

Throughout the story, John's actions and decisions can be seen as both likable and unlikable, trustworthy and untrustworthy, sympathetic and unsympathetic. On one hand, John is depicted as a young and ambitious individual who dreams of escaping his rural background and gaining an education. His desire to become better educated and move to the city for a better life can be relatable and evoke sympathy.

However, John is also portrayed as manipulative and deceitful in his actions. He leads Wamuhu to believe that he genuinely loves her and wants to marry her, despite being involved with Susan. His dishonesty and disregard for the feelings of others might lead some readers to feel dislike or distrust towards him.

Ultimately, the author allows readers to make their own judgments about John's character, leaving room for a range of emotions and opinions.