Resistance and Revival: Representation of Women and Nature in Kire’s Son of the Thundercloud

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationships between women and nature in Easterine Kire’s work Son of the Thundercloud, focusing on the bond between the women characters and nature. Easterine Kire’s work Son of the Thundercloud (2015) provides rich narratives that reflect the female characters, such as Kethonuo, Siedze, Mesanuo and Vinuo, in connection with the spiritual journey of the protagonist, Pelevotso. Her novels are not meant to be read as historical works; rather, they bring out the strong character of the protagonist and the representation of the female characters by breaking the patriarchal and spiritual constraints. This work, Son of the Thundercloud, talks of protagonist Pele’s journey, where he met female characters like Kethonuo and Siedze, a supernatural, unreal sister, and Mesanuo. Pele travelled from his place due to famine. Though it continued as a personal journey, he faced many characters from whom he got support from the villagers.