While Walcott opposes colonialism and would therefore seem to be sympathetic to a revolution with an anticolonial cause, he has passionate reservations about Mau Mau: they are, or are reported to be, extremely violent - to animals, whites, and Kikuyu perceived as traitors to the Mau Mau cause. ... The poet appears to condemn such an attitude by comparing the Mau Mau Uprising to the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). ... Walcott, being a product of both African and English heritage, is torn, because he does not know how to feel about the Mau Mau struggle. ...

• Word Count: 4862
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: Undergraduate