Overall, I think he is my favorite character. He is imperfectly good, and able to bring progress, in conflict, while showing no emotional attachment at all. In total, he just seems to be extremely necessary. It was interesting to see the calm, quiet beginning to his appearance, leading into a display of the power and the passion fueling his ideas and actions, during the negotiations. Displayed too, are some of his flaws of character, principally his arrogance and his lack of self control.
In short, Bakayoko is portrayed as both savior and trigger, in simple terms someone able and determined to make things better but, because of his passion and his temper, unable to help making things worse.
Hero, anti-hero, and neutral force to be reckoned with.
The march of the women seemed to be a sort of temporary climax to the influence that the women are holding in the story, yet filled with tragedy.There are the deaths of Penda and Samba, both of which are viewed by those on the march as martyrdoms. Yet, they are the latest in a series of deaths that begins in chapter two with the accidental death of Maimouna's unnamed second twin and that continues with the deaths of Hiakoro, Houdia M'Baye and even Sounkare. The thematic and narrative suggestion here is that there is no price too high to pay for freedom, and as such I can't help but think of the futility of the entire situation.
It appears as if death will be the victor, regardless of any outcome.
I disagree about Bakayoko's character, to me he seemed to be more of a disappointment. After all the build up he didn't seem to be doing much good. I would have liked his character fine if all the others didn't praise and look up to him so much, to me it seems without reason.
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