Character Clues

Character Analysis

Actions

There aren't too many really developed characters in the memoir, but a few of them do stand out for the things they do (or don't do). For example, the farm manager refuses to go out and shoot the lions that are bugging the oxen because he has a family, whereas Denys and the Baroness are all about going out in the night to face down the big cat. That tells us something about the Manager's values—he's a family man— and a little something about Denys and Blixen's adrenaline addiction.

Direct Characterization

Because the Baroness is our only source of information, and there isn't all that much dialogue or any other kind of direct characterization in the memoir, we just kind of have to take her at her word. She tells us, for example, that Denys is a logical guy who can be a little bit moody, and that Farah thinks he's better than everybody else. And you know what? We have no choice but to believe her. That's the power of the memoir, folks.

Physical Appearances

The Baroness places a lot of importance on the way people look. Kamante, the sickly kid who becomes her cook, walks funny because illness damaged his legs. This is used to show him as an outsider, different than everyone else. The Chief Kinanjui, on the other hand, is made to seem very noble and serious because he has such a strong, impassive face.