In the Shadow of War

Okri narrates the story through a third person limited perspective, interpreting the events through the eyes of Omovo. This perspective provides a clear view of what Omovo witnesses and experiences but limits the readers’ knowledge to his actions and behaviors. This limited perspective is therefore not necessarily objectively true but a recount of what Omovo sees. By using the third person limited with Omovo, Okri offers a story of war as experienced by a young child. Omovo’s actions are driven by his childlike curiosity, and readers witness him navigating the meanings of truth and morality while simultaneously making sense of the devastating effects of war. Because Omovo is actively forming his own opinions about the other characters based on what he experiences, readers join him in his uncertainty and are also left to form conjectures on their own.

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