Point of View

The novel is told by an omniscient narrator, who exposes the point of view of different characters at different times, revealing their thoughts. Unlike many omniscient narrators, the narrator of A Grain of Wheat has an identity, as a member of the town of Thabai, or perhaps as a member of the black community of Kenya in general. The narrator refers to "we," making him a part of the community of Kenya. However, the narrator only occasionally uses the first person, leaving the majority of the novel to be told in third person.

Still, the narrator knows the inner thoughts, not only of townspeople of Thabai or other Kenyans, but of John and Margery Thompson, representatives of the white British upper class and the government. The omniscient narrator is able to give diverse points of view, so that the reader can understand the society in Kenya...