The author’s main purpose is to show readers that no matter how impossible your situation looks, if you are willing to work hard you will achieve your goal. A young boy named William Kamkwamba displayed his determination by saving his village of Malawi/Wimbe. When a terrible drought hits Malawi/Wimbe, William is forced to drop out of school because his family can’t afford the fees. Instead of giving up, he goes to a local library every day and teaches himself physics from old textbooks. He then spends months digging through junkyards to collect scrap metal, tractor parts, and an old bicycle frame, manually piecing them together to build a working windmill. This shows that William didn’t just sit around waiting for a miracle he put in the actual effort to change his life. Even when everyone in his village had different thoughts about him, he kept going. Because he was willing to work hard, he overcame having zero money or resources and achieved his goal of bringing electricity and water to his starving community. Ultimately, his success directly links back to the idea that raw determination and effort are what actually bridge the gap between a dream and reality. Through this story, the author’s purpose is to inspire us to lock in on our own ambitions, proving that if you are willing to work hard you will achieve your goal, no matter how crazy the odds look to everyone else.

Point

William Kamkwamba’s journey in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind demonstrates that severe structural adversity and social isolation can be overcome through an unshakeable positive mindset, intense curiosity, and a relentless obsession with a life-changing goal.

Evidence & Explanation

When a devastating drought and famine struck Malawi, William’s pohara whanau was plunged into absolute poverty, directly forcing him to drop out of school because they could not afford the fees. Stranded with limited resources and no initial help, William’s goal of saving his community seemed nearly impossible. Instead of receiving support, he faced severe bullying and ridicule from local villagers who openly mocked his ideas and called him crazy. However, William used his unshakeable self-belief to shield himself, ensuring he did not let the harsh words affect him. Driven by pure curiosity and a healthy obsession, his mind pushed through the limitations of his environment. He sneaked into a local library to teach himself physics from old textbooks, and with his supportive father and his loyal friend Gilbert by his side, he began scouring junkyards for scrap metal. By channeling his energy entirely into these positive factors, William successfully achieved his ultimate goal of building a functioning windmill, effectively providing vital water and electrical resources for his village and family. His incredible success serves to show the reader that you can do anything you put your mind towards, if you have enough curiosity and obsession.

Author’s Purpose

The author’s purpose in highlighting this journey is to show the audience exactly where they should channel their energy into the positive things within their control rather than the negative obstacles surrounding them. By emphasizing William’s intense ambition, the narrative serves as a vital reminder to the reader to stay optimistic rather than giving up when faced with overwhelming adversity. The authors deliberately contrast the destructive, harsh words of the bullying villagers against William’s quiet curiosity to prove that inner drive is far more powerful than external doubt. Ultimately, the author’s purpose is to inspire proactive resourcefulness, using William’s story as a blueprint for how a single hopeful mind can uplift an entire community.

Link

This directly connects to our own lives in New Zealand; while we enjoy the immense privilege of free education and abundant resources, William’s triumph over peer judgment, a lack of funding, and a struggling whanau mirrors the hidden hardships many young Kiwis face today, proving that internal determination remains a universal tool for creating meaningful change.