The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

The Whale Rider

by: Fairooz Hossain

by: Witi Ihimaera

Kahu's skills

One of Kahu's skills Demonstrated

In this trailer of the whale rider, it displays how she was not allowed to participate in the leadership training.

No Female Chiefs

When Koro throws the stone into the water, Kahu is the one that retrieves it. He only meant to throw the stone in the water for a group of boys to search for.

There has been no history of chief leaders being a female, so Koro desperately tries to search into other families for a male option.

“As we got to the beach, Nanny Flowers said again “Not a word, Rawiri.” Not a word about the stone or our Kahu. She looked up at Paikea. “He’s not ready yet” she said.”(Ihimaera 135) If Koro found out Kahu retrieved the stone and not one of the boys he would be furious.

In the trailer that was seen in the last frame it displayed some of the leadership training that was taking place. In this specific video, one of Kahu's skill is presented as she can recite parts of her speech in the Maori language. It is important that she knows the language of her people if she wants to be the next leader. She also admits in tears that by being born she broke the line of leaders because of her gender. Kahu wrote this speech in token of her love for Koro but his arrogance leads him to not even showing up to hear it.

Koro realizes his mistake

This simple image displays a visual of how men are able to do things they are "capable of" freely. Kahu is given no chance from Koro to show off her capabilities so he looks into other families.

Since you are tired of reading, watch my Youtube video explaning the last point myself!

Main Characters

“Over the following weeks it was clear to me that Koro Apirana’s search for “the one” had become an obsession. Ever since the birth of Kahu’s younger sister he had become more intense and brooding. Perhaps aware of his own mortality, he wanted to make sure the succession in the present generation was done, and done well. But in doing so he was pushing away the one who had always adored him, Kahu herself.” (Ihimaera 117) Though Koro wants no chance of Kahu being the next leader.

Thesis

Kahu is the protagonist in the book. She is a 12 year girl whose ambition is to become the first female chief of her tribe.

In the Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, Kahu believes she can be the next leader as she must try her hardest to prove it to her great grandfather as it clashes with his ideas of masculine traits needed for leadership.

Koro is Kahu's great-grandfather. He is the antagonist in the book. He discriminates Kahu for being born a girl as she is the heir to be the next leader. He does not believe in girls being leaders.

Works Cited List

“The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera.” Goodreads, Goodreads, 1 May 2003, www.goodreads.com/book/show/133497.The_Whale_Rider.

"Whale Rider: 15th Anniversary Edition (trailer)." YouTube, uploaded by Shout!Factory, 27 June. 2017, youtube.com/watch v=eSuBMJpPBBo&list=PLjwLogFAwS3Rt3LTm2_1jEEGcE59KhRQr

"Paikea's speech." Youtube, uploaded by Iaimmarsh1. 13 July 2009, youtube.com/watch?v=hgjtoGujva4

"Last Point of Whale Rider." Youtube, uploaded by Fairooz Hossain. 21 July 2020, youtube.com/watch?v=jM0ONnE3UzQ

“Similarity That Ties the Stories Together - Book Themes: Stubborn or Flexible.” Google Sites, sites.google.com/site/bookthemesstubbornorflexible/home/similarity-that-ties-the-themes-together.

Summary of Book

The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera is a story about the sacred relationship between man and whale or rather women and whale. Kahu is the descendent of the ancient whale rider, Paikea as she possesses the same qualities as him. She is destined to be the next chief leader despite the traditional gender roles in her tribe that have been put in place for years. Her great-grandfather dismisses her existence as she tries her best to prove her leadership skills to him.