Ngugi wa Thiong'o's Matigari follows the eponymous hero in his search for truth and justice for his oppressed relatives, from the moment he lays down his weapons to when another fighter for freedom he challenges them. The narrative is almost cyclical and this is reflected in the appearance of a riderless horse at both the beginning and end of the novel. Other animals also appear throughout the film, representing different aspects and obstacles to the freedom movement. These animals were chosen because the book symbolizes a larger struggle for freedom, and therefore the action could be set at any time or place. Although the setting is obviously African, the animals depicted by Ngugi wa Thiong'o can be found anywhere in the world. Therefore, as symbols of freedom, they can convey the idea of ​​a global struggle for emancipation. Wildlife is as enduring in this novel as the pursuit of freedom, and the two are intrinsically linked; those who live in the wild know freedom best and therefore can comment on it most effectively. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Dogs have a divided representation; they may reflect companionship or aggression. This double meaning manifests itself through police dogs: rather than being advocates of security, they are instead instruments of barbarism. Dogs come to represent a society that endangers its people instead of protecting them as it should; they represent an order that takes everything and gives nothing. The two policemen holding this dog harass Guthera and only stop when they suspect that Matigari, who opposes them, is secretly rich and powerful: just like the dogs themselves, the policemen obey authority. Yet the threat posed by the dogs is somehow distant, as "the dog would leap towards her; but every time its muzzle came near... the policeman holding the leash would hold it back'[1]. This wavering danger demonstrates that the government's threat is not recognized, since it does not directly attack its people, but intimidates them into submission. Furthermore, it leaves no room for real autonomous action; 'every time she stood up to retreat, the dog jumped on her '[2].In the third part of the novel, when Matigari and his followers wander into the wilderness, they see houses with "enough water for their lawns, shrubs and pools"[3] despite the drought every gate there is 'an Alsatian dog and a sign: 'Mbwa Kali' [dangerous dogs]'[4]. The upper classes are therefore protected by the regime, since they have the direct protection of a dog power that may have a surplus of water while others are in deficit. At the end of the book, the police attacked Matigari and Guthera with their dogs with the intention of drawing blood. As they attempted to escape, the dogs "hesitated on the banks of the river"[5], suggesting that the freedom fighters had won, as before the dogs jumped in retreat. However, even though some have freed themselves from government control, dogs still exercise a form of authority. 'As if announcing to the world: sisi mbwa kali [we are dangerous dogs]'[6], Matigari and Guthera observe as they are carried down the river, demonstrating that their dominance over others remains and that government will always be a dangerous institution. Birds are emblems of peace, but this ideal is perverted in the novel. The first birds that are mentioned are vultures and hawks, which are scavengers and hunters, certainly not peaceful. A sense of threat always looms over the earth, just as the 'hawks circled dangerously in the sky'[7]. In thescrapyard, "some vultures perched on the barbed wire, while others sat on the branches of nearby trees"[8], and their position demonstrates that the threat is omnipresent; in both urban and rural areas, there is no escape from the oppressive order. In addition to physical threats, birds also pose an intellectual threat in the way the government seeks to alter the thoughts of its people. This is the doctrine of “parrotology,” which teaches citizens to recklessly follow the government's teachings. This indoctrination manifests itself in all walks of life; some have a 'Ph.D in Parrotology', some write for the 'Daily Parrotry' and others study the 'Songs of a Parrot'[9]. This demonstrates control over knowledge, the press, and even morality. Regardless, Matigari still perceives the bird as a true emblem of peace. In his hat he wears an ostrich feather; this is the symbol of the Egyptian goddess Maat, who represents truth and justice, precisely what Matigari fights for. This gives strength to his cause, as he indirectly has divine support; however, to a Western reader, the ostrich symbolizes denial, and so its cause may in fact be doomed from the start. Yet Matigari surrounds himself with birds and still believes that freedom is possible through them. Wandering, he seeks truth and justice "in the birds' nests"[10], demonstrating that he believes that peace is the only means to achieve these things. At the beginning of the novel he remembers a song they sang; 'if only it were dawn, so that we could share the cold waters with the early riser'[11]. Dawn is a new beginning and water is necessary for life; these can only be enjoyed together with peace. Others, however, exaggerate Matigari's capacity for peace, spreading the false rumor that 'when the stones reached him, they turned into doves'[12]. Overall, the birds in this novel are distant; they are searched for and look down, but you never interact with them. This shows that, in this society, peace is an illusion. Horses are the first animal to appear in the novel, and the most interesting. When Matigari lowers his arms at the beginning of the novel, "a riderless horse galloped past him"[13]. Able to wander without a rider to control it, the horse is thus presented as a symbol of freedom. He reminds Matigari of the horses that "settler Williams and his friends had often ridden[14]", demonstrating that with freedom comes prosperity. Muriuki expresses a similar opinion; 'oh how I would love to fly over this tea plantation in a Mercedes-Benz or, better yet, on a winged horse'[15]. Although his dream was originally to achieve wealth, he shifts towards thoughts of freedom and peace – the winged appearance resembles a combination of horse and bird. Matigari, following the search for freedom, literally 'followed the tracks of the horses'[16]. However, “they could not see them very clearly”[17], because freedom is such a tenuous ideal for these people, and they are mistaken about its possible immensity; 'it turned out that what looked like a group was actually two horses'[18]. Deceived by the way the horse trail becomes "golden with the rays of the setting sun"[19], they fail to recognize that the horses only raise dust, reflecting the superficial façade of freedom. Horses in Matigari are not always free. The next group of horses Matigari finds have riders holding "their whips and reins"[20]. This highlights how the wealthy elite will always find a way to trample on freedom – and then horses will be marketed for entertainment. People went “to watch the races… to see the horses this woman had.175.