Setting in Meja Mwangi’s Novels

Abstract

Setting is perhaps the highest priority in Meja Mwangi‟s literary rigours. Effectiveness of his setting reveals meaning and determines actions, aspirations, and destinies of the characters in specific time and place. Setting reveals Mwangi‟s crucial manipulative devices and his aesthetic vision. This study proves that setting combines with other devices of the author to achieve significant meaning through close perusal of the text. After all, according to Nnolim, a critic: … is a mediator between the specialists and the layman between the work of art and its readership or audience. The critic‟s social function is, therefore to be of some use to the reader in helping the reader understand the work in question. It is the duty of the critic also to arouse enthusiasm for the work by getting the reader buy and read the work. A sound critic must above all, be objective and detached. (89). Objectively, Mwangi‟s setting influences his characters and brings to view frustrated young men whom Angus Calder deemed „Mwangian man‟ because they are influence by the harsh and acrimonious environment. Asika holds that setting helps to make the readers believe and sometimes anticipate the actions of characters in tandem with social milieu… (73). The hopeless and harsh environment transforms the characters to perfidious cheats, drunks, and prostitutes that need urgent salvation. By discovering the diversity in the study of African novels, this study demonstrates that formalism is the best approach to Mwangi‟s works; considering his literariness and ignoring all extraneous matters.