A Grain of Wheat

by

Ngugi wa Thiong’o

DO Thomas Robson Character Analysis

DO Robson is a British District Officer who rules over Thabai until Kihika assassinates him. Although he is briefly depicted as Tom the Terror, a terrifying and cruel oppressor and hunter of Freedom Fighters, his main purpose in the story is to be killed by Kihika, which leads to the bounty on Kihika’s head and his betrayal by Mugo.
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DO Thomas Robson Character Timeline in A Grain of Wheat

The timeline below shows where the character DO Thomas Robson appears in A Grain of Wheat. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
Colonialism Theme Icon
The Individual vs. the Community Theme Icon
Guilt and Redemption Theme Icon
...Since he knows that Mugo gave shelter to Kihika after he assassinated DO (District Officer) Robson, General R. is hoping that Mugo might know who Kihika was supposed to be meeting... (full context)
Colonialism Theme Icon
The Individual vs. the Community Theme Icon
...teaching him to believe in “black power,” leading his three hundred fighters, and assassinating DO Robson. Wambui remarks that Mugo is a “strange man,” but the others retort that it is... (full context)
Chapter 8
The Individual vs. the Community Theme Icon
Christianity Theme Icon
...Mugo regards this moment as the “climax of his life. For a week later DO Robson was shot dead, and Kihika came into his life.” (full context)
Chapter 13
Colonialism Theme Icon
The Individual vs. the Community Theme Icon
Christianity Theme Icon
The narration moves to 1954, when DO Thomas Robson, known as Tom the Terror, oppresses Thabai and the surrounding region with a psychopathic fury.... (full context)
Colonialism Theme Icon
The Individual vs. the Community Theme Icon
Guilt and Redemption Theme Icon
Soldiers pour into Thabai and news spreads that DO Robson has been murdered. Mugo, only twenty-five years old, returns home from working his strip of... (full context)
Chapter 14
Colonialism Theme Icon
The Individual vs. the Community Theme Icon
Guilt and Redemption Theme Icon
Christianity Theme Icon
...African traitors: Karanja, Rev. Jackson—who preached against the Mau Mau at the behest of DO Robson and was warned three times to cease before they were forced to kill him. He... (full context)