In the Shadow of War

Okri does not explicitly describe the story’s characters—other than some of their physical attributes—but relies on their indirect characterization. This leaves readers to deduce qualities of the characters based on their behavior, speech, and interaction with other characters. Readers can deduct from Omovo’s impatience by the window that he is intrigued by the veiled woman, and his pursuit of her demonstrates how curious he is to find out who she is and what she does in the forest. Likewise, his dishonesty with the soldiers suggests he does not implicitly trust them and perhaps feels somewhat protective of the veiled woman.

The soldiers, meanwhile, are characterized as intrusive and lazy: They disrupt the local animals when they arrive and spend the day drinking at the bar playing draughts and bribing children for information rather than searching for the veiled woman themselves. They have no interest in learning the true intentions of the woman when they confront her; they remain convinced of their assumptions. The power they hold over civilians is characterized by Omovo's father’s interaction with them in the conclusion of the story: He remains amenable to them and avoids supporting any accusations Omovo makes against them.

Omovo’s father is not described in detail, but readers can infer he is a man of little means (wearing a too-small “shabby” coat) who is frustrated by the ongoing war (4). He expresses care for Omovo by giving him an allowance and playfully warning him to stay safe during the eclipse (4). It is not clear if his deference to the soldiers at the end of the story is out of allegiance to the national side of the war, but as an adult, he better understands the risk of accusing the soldiers of any crimes and might just be protecting himself and Omovo.

The veiled woman remains a mystery throughout the story, as Okri purposely wants readers to draw conclusions about her for themselves. She never speaks, and therefore never confirms whether she is a spy, witch, or just a civilian helping those in need. The removal of her veil reveals traumatic wounds, perhaps inflicted during the war. Readers do not know her political allegiance, but she remains steadfast in her loyalty to the women and children she is aiding by refusing to share any information with the soldiers, even at the risk of her life. By following her into the forest and witnessing the brutal confrontation with the soldiers, Omovo learns how convoluted morality becomes during wartime.

Authors utilize foreshadowing to suggest a future outcome later in the story, which can add to the narrative’s suspense. Okri foreshadows the night's dire events in the conversation Omovo has with his father about the eclipse; the father explains that during an eclipse “the world goes dark and strange things happen” (4). While the first part of his statement is objectively true in that the moon’s light will be obscured and the sky will appear dark, it also foreshadows the metaphorical darkness Omovo discovers about the world—the horrific truths about war and human nature. “Strange things” do occur later that night in the forest: Though Omovo’s father’s claim that “the dead start to walk about and sing” (4) does not prove to be entirely accurate, the veiled woman is characterized as being supernatural and “[howls] dementedly” (8). The mystic powers of the eclipse cast doubt upon Omovo’s experiences and the veracity of what he witnesses, especially when his father is unwilling to listen to his retelling of the night’s events.