The Door of No Return

“[B]ut I do feel the scorch

of the rod

across my hand

and in my bones.

I even taste its sting

in my mouth.

Queen’s English, please, Mr. Phillip says,

as calm as rain...”

Cultural Identity and Colonialism is highlighted as Mr. Phillip insists they speak English instead of their native Twi language. This is a major conflict in the book, displayed through Kofi’s intense physical pain.

“Ei! The bird who dares to fall is the bird who learns to fly!”

This adage gives Kofi an opportunity to grow and learn. He questions them and must piece together their meaning for himself; in this case, the words are a metaphor for Kofi to be brave and dare to fail.

“They are the wretched of the earth.

They do not stand a chance

in the festival contests.

We will once again destroy

the lowest scum, my cousin hollers,

tossing a ball around

during our lunch break

in the courtyard.

They are us. They dream like we do. They wake like we do. They eat like we do. They are us. No more, no less, Ama interjects. You should really pay attention in class.”

This section shows both Kofi’s cousin’s characterization and Ama’s characterization. Kofi’s cousin believes in the division of their tribes. Ama, in contrast, displays inclusivity and open-mindedness. Their differing ideas foreshadow the conflict between Upper and Lower Kwanta that happens later.

“Ama has been disrespected,

her honor plunged

into the damp red clay,

and I think I understand

what Shakespeare meant

when he said,

Love never did run smooth.

Forget peace.

This means war.”

The Shakespeare symbol is apparent in Kofi’s thoughts of relating the text to his life. The Shakespeare line sparks Kofi’s understanding and his increasing courage as he fights for Ama and defends her honor.

“Dreams are today’s answers for tomorrow’s questions.”

Nana Mosi tells Kofi this adage, signifying that dreams are a symbolic aspect of the novel. Nana Mosi’s saying emphasizes the importance of dreams to the plotline, foreshadowing how they teach Kofi lessons and give him guidance.

“You listen to me, Grandson. Do not be swayed by his civilized brow. We are and will always be Asante. These wonderfuls he speaks of are invaders. They will trample on the very red soil he walks on.

What do you mean, these wonderfuls? Invade what?”

The theme of Cultural Identity and Colonialism is clear in Nana Mosi’s advice, underscoring the dynamics between the Indigenous African people and the colonizers. Their Asante traditions and culture are under attack, and Nana Mosi passes this understanding along to Kofi as he learns more of their history and culture.

“[A]nd I know one day

I hope to be as bold

and brave

and captivating

as my brother.”

Kwasi’s characterization of specific traits is shown through Kofi’s admiring point of view. Kofi is shown as a foil, someone who is not bold, brave, or captivating but hopes to be, referencing Kofi’s future growth.

“If you were a mango

I would peel you

Keep you for myself

then reveal you

If you disappeared

I would find you

Treat you like gold

and then mine you…”

This poem is a love letter to Ama, filled with elements like repetition of “if you” and metaphorical language emphasizing Kofi’s infatuation. Kofi’s feelings and descriptive language reiterate his character growth as he transitions into manhood.

“You must start standing up for yourself, speaking your truth.

My truth? What are you, a sage now?

I am only saying that you must find your confidence and wear it proudly, chale.”

Ebo is shown as a kind, supportive character who tries to encourage Kofi to come out of his shell. By pushing him into the swim contest, he helps Kofi grow and change into a braver, more assertive character.

“Kwasi sits

in a corner,

muddled,

still visibly shaken

not saying a word

not eating a thing

not knowing

what will happen

to him.

Kwasi, are you okay?

…”

After the traumatic accident with Yew, Kwasi experiences guilt, sadness, and isolation—a change from his normally happy nature. Kofi tries to reach his brother through this turmoil, and the use of the ellipsis shows Kwasi’s silence.

“How do you keep it balanced?

Once you carry your own water you will know the value of every drop.”

This adage from Ama displays her wisdom as she carries water on her head. Her answer is a metaphor about being careful and grateful with one’s essentials that emphasizes the Asante culture and ways of teaching their younger generations.

“Not to make war, Nana Mosi says. To be prepared

in case someone else makes it

for you.”

When Nana Mosi and Papa show Kofi how to shoot a gun in the market, they teach him lessons of responsibility with it. This dialogue reveals Nana Mosi to be a nonviolent person, instilling a sense of peace in Kofi to only defend himself rather than start trouble.

“Kofi, he is your family. Even if you win, you will lose.

What do you mean?

We are each branches of the same tree. It does not matter that we go in different directions. The roots are one. That is what he means, Nana Mosi answers…”

This conversation between Kofi, Papa, and Nana Mosi shows the importance of familial connection for the Asante people. Kofi’s lack of understanding illustrates how he has yet to mature, recognizing his cousin as a threat to be confronted, instead of a different branch of his same family tree.

“I am a snapper

bending its spine

pushing

through the water

like a sidewinding black cobra

in the forest.

Picture me

beneath the blue

both legs

swishing side to side

swimming faster

than I have ever swum

before.”

Kofi metaphorically describes himself as a fish, emphasizing his swimming ability and his connection to the river. As Kofi prepares for his swimming competition, his language foreshadows the frantic swim he will face as he survives a shipwreck and must swim to safety.

“…[E]very now and then

my hand speaks to me,

tells me it is lonely,

dares me

to befriend hers.”

The use of Kofi’s hand demonstrates the depth of his emotional pull toward Ama. As he nears the end of his boyhood, Kofi begins to see the influence his affection for Ama has over him.

“…[B]ut we have run

this beaten path

so often

our feet

have memory,

and we trust

their way.”

The boys’ feet know their home intimately, as they run through the woods without utilizing sight so much as touch. That Kofi and Kwasi “trust” their feet to carry them where they seek to go intertwines their knowledge of forest paths with their cultural identity, emphasizing their way of life, and contrasting the fear Kofi feels later when he is caught in a trap.

“Here in the chilling dark

everything is louder

each trembling leaf

each whistling branch

the hard, hurried thump

inside my chest

even the rush and clump

of my own feet

scares me.”

Kofi’s terror is palpable within the descriptions of his surroundings, down to his feet. As he copes with his lack of sight, Kofi’s reliance on his senses of touch and hearing are portrayed through descriptive language that builds a tone of suspense.

“…[A]nd the prisoner

the old man sang of

is a beaten and bloodied man

the marauders throw

at the feet

of the grinning King

like a hurt fish

tossed back into water.

And that prisoner is my brother,

Kwasi.”

The suspenseful language builds to the reveal of Kwasi being the prisoner. Each enjambed line pulls momentum forward to answer the question of who the prisoner is, shocking Kofi because he cares deeply for his brother.

“DAABI! HE CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT HE DOES NOT KNOW, I scream, before I am quickly gagged.”

Kofi’s growing confidence is clear as he screams to defend Kwasi. Through Resilience and Survival, Kofi must become bold, and brave enough to overcome his fear and defend his brother, even if it means he’ll be punished, too.

“There is nothing more confining,

I hear Mr. Phillip read,

than the prison

we do not know

we are in.”

Mr. Phillip’s words return to haunt Kofi during his imprisonment, introducing irony to his current state. Mr. Phillips refers to the perceived prison he believes the Asante students are experiencing, while Kofi learns the irony of this statement as he hears the words in a dream while he has been confined in a real prison by his oppressors.

“What you do not suffer for, you can never truly value.”

When Kofi tells his story to Owu, the goat Nimdee proclaims this adage, reflecting how The Power of Storytelling and Oral Tradition is used to learn, cope, explore, etc. by the Asante tribe. Kofi’s message within the tale relates to their suffering; he fits the story to their current situation, but gives it a hopeful tone, encouraging Owu.

“At the end

of the tunnel

is an archway of daylight

is a curved opening

is an entrance

to some unknown.

A door

of no return.”

The title comes from this section, when they enter through the tunnel into the open shore for the sea. The suspense, fear, and climatic shift from their past lives into their future enslavement is looming, and the door symbolically marks their passage from safety to the unknown.

“No one can kidnap your beliefs, if you believe them with every bone of your body. No one can shackle your will, Kofi.”

Afua’s advice illustrates her own sense of Resilience and Survival as she speaks with Kofi. She explains the elements of humanity that cannot be imprisoned, demonstrating her love for Kofi as she communicates methods in which he can remain resilient himself.