THE CROW
"The Crow" is a story that explores childhood curiosity and senseless destruction resulting from a lack of agency and rational thinking. The two young protagonists embark on a mission to prove their heroism, but ultimately, they are defeated by a crow that refuses to die despite their relentless
efforts to destroy it. As a result, their egos are crushed, leading them to abruptly abandon their expedition, casting away their catapults while crying bitterly. The title "The Crow" is fitting because the story centres around the crow's triumph over the boys' unjust pursuit of ending its life. By extension, the story reflects the exploitative relationship between the whites and the blacks during colonial Rhodesia. The story, thus celebrates the victory that came as a result of the collective struggle of the Africans who fought against colonisers.
While the story can be interpreted as a simple childhood adventure, the author also highlights the consequences of individuals lacking agency to make independent judgements. The story also highlights the senseless colonialism embarkation that disadvantaged Africans. Despite both boys being afraid, their hubris prevents them from considering the most rational ideas. Thus the story is characterised by multiple layers of conflicts. The boys grapple with their primitive instincts, while nature, represented by the crow also suffers unwarranted destruction.
Driven by their senseless quest to destroy the crow, the boys defy all societal norms. For instance, they disobey their parents by refusing to take the "orders that" they
should follow" their parents to church. The word "orders" not only portrays the strictness of the parents, but also signifies the imposition of Christianity on the younger generation. However, it is ironic that they deprive the crow the very same freedom which they desire, thus revealing their irrational thinking. Despite the crow's choice to build its nest away from humans to perpetuate its existence, the boys' bloodthirsty expedition proves that nature is under threat, thanks to humans. In the context of the whole anthology, this story mocks the whites left their countries and came to Africa to displace people and loot resources.
The author celebrates the serene pastoral setting. The undisturbed
state of nature is captured by the repetition of the word "quiet" in its various forms. However, the intrusion of humans disrupts this harmony. Humans are portrayed as failing to coexist harmoniously with nature. The serene
environment wakes up to the devastating quest for senseless heroism based on destabilising environmental equilibrium. The bloodthirstiness of humans becomes evident as they relentlessly chase the crow, driven solely by the desire to kill it, even without understanding "what made" them "want to kill" it. Not even the intimidating presence of the crow's mate deters them from their intense desire to kill.
Nature appears to be unyielding. The "crow that would not die" brings out a mocking effect upon the boys. Nature deprives them the moment of glory associated with witnessing its final breath. In the end, it is
the boys who, in shame and dejection, surrender and discard their catapults in the river. The bird itself is thrown
into the river, disarming the boys not only their physical instrument of torment but also of their hubris. The river plays an important role in this story as it "saves" the bird from the torturous hands.
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