THE THEME OF CHILDLESSNESS AND ITS EFFECT IN AFRICAN SOCIETY IN FLORA NWAPA’S ONE IS ENOUGH AND BUCHI EMECHETA’S THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD
THE THEME OF CHILDLESSNESS AND ITS EFFECT IN AFRICAN SOCIETY IN FLORA NWAPA’S ONE IS ENOUGH AND BUCHI EMECHETA’S THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication — – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – vii
CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem – – – – 2
1.3 Purpose of the study – – – – – 3
1.4 Significance of the study – – – – – 3
1.5 Objectives of the study – – – – – 3
1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study – – – 4
1.7 Research Methodology – – – – – 4
CHAPTER TWO – THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 The Concept of Childlessness in African
Society – – – – – – – 5
2.2 Review of related works on Flora Nwapa’s
One is Enough and Buchi Emecheta’s
The Joys of Motherhood – – – – – 7
2.3 The effects of childless women in African
society – – – – – – – 10
2.4 The Importance of Children in the family – – 11
CHAPTER THREE
THE THEME OF CHILDLESSNESS AND ITS EFFECTS IN AFRICAN SOCIETY IN FLORA NWAPA’S ONE IS ENOUGH
3.1 Bio-Data of Flora Nwapa – – – – – 16
3.2 Analysis of Nwapa’s One Is Enough – – – 16
3.3 The Theme of Childlessness in Nwapa’s
One Is Enough – – – – – – 19
3.4 Bio-Data of Buchi Emecheta – – – – 20
3.5 Critical Analysis of Emecheta’s
Joys of Motherhood – – – – – – 21
3.6 The Theme of Childlessness in Emecheta’s
The Joys of Motherhood – – – – – 24
CHAPTER FOUR
THE THEME OF CHILDLESSNESS AND ITS EFFECTS IN AFRICAN SOCIETY IN BUCHI EMECHETA’S THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD
4.1 The Family Setting of Emecheta’s
The Joys of Motherhood – – – – – 27
4.2 Theme and Feminist Technique in
Characterization – – – – – 28
4.3 A Critique of Emecheta’s Works – – – – 30
4.4 Thematic Pre-Occupation in Emecheta’s
The Joy of Motherhood – – – – – 32
4.5 The Point of View Used in Emecheta’s
The Joys of Motherhood – – – – – 33
4.6 Polygamous Practices in Emecheta’s
The Joy of Motherhood – – – – – 34
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – 36
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – 36
5.3 Recommendations – – – – – – 38
Works Cited – – – – – – – 39
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Undeniably, the effect of childlessness is a terrible situation in the African matrimonial homes. Moreover, it is such a topical issue that attracts the attention of every member of the society in Africa. This is because of the social, emotional, spiritual and psychological trauma.
It generates on both the couples and the extended family. Thus, it has raised a lot of dust that medical experts, churches, social workers, lawyers, literary artists and the entire society have joined in the campaign to address the problem and find solution to it.
However, in Lauretta Ngloho article African Motherhood Myth and Reality, she observes that Marriage amongst Africans is mainly an institution for the control of procreation. Every woman is encouraged to marry and bear children in order to express her womanhood to the full (533).
This is because of the high premium placed on children as the symbol of family continuity and his accounts for the reason why procreation is considered the paramount and the primary purpose of any marriage contracted in African societies. For the man, it is a sacred duty towards his whole lineage to advance the family name.
THE THEME OF CHILDLESSNESS AND ITS EFFECT IN AFRICAN SOCIETY IN FLORA NWAPA’S ONE IS ENOUGH AND BUCHI EMECHETA’S THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD
Failure to immortalize the ancestors, according to Ngloho is thus, a taboo and a shame that a man cannot bear a child. In the past, childlessness was considered as an irrevocable scourge that constitutes untold crises, havocs, instabilities and continuous unhappiness in several marriages. Today, many marriages collapse owing to childlessness.
Without a doubt, separations and remarriages are occasion by this particular problem of childlessness. Therefore in view of this, a childless women is considered a monster, nuisance and also someone who should be dispensed with in the family. Thus, these undue vilification, victimization and injustices meted out to childlessness.
Childless women in African society always attract side talks and molestation from people and also family members. Therefore, in the course of this study, Flora Nwapa and Buchi Emecheta portray in their novels challenging and satirizing these hostile forces that make the world a hell for childless women in African societies.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Undeniably, childless women in African society are always blamed for not bearing children and they are always facing and experiencing victimization and societal humiliation.
These unfortunate childless women are often vilified, victimized and even compelled to leave their matrimonial homes. This is because they exist in a society that women are been pinpoint as the cause of childlessness and their conditions are often interpreted from a purely patriarchal perspective. The theme of childlessness and its effect in African society in flora Nwapa’s one is enough and Buchi Emecheta’s the joys of motherhood.
This female characters especially those in the novel under study are often victims and are found to be struggling against the pains of both cultural and patriarchal injustice. This study, therefore adds to the existing wealth of knowledge in African literature by exploring the theme and its effects of childlessness in this research work.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of this research work is to educate the society especially Africans that women should not be blame or pinpoint as the cause of childlessness in the family or African society.
In the course of this, study we will also examine and discuss the theme of childlessness and its effects in African society. In the study of Flora Nwapa’s One is Enough and Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood.
1.4 Significance of the study
This study will be significant to the general public especially social workers, psychologist, feminist activists and students of English and literary studies in understanding the societal notion of childlessness and establishing true ground for proper appreciation of childless couples in African cultural milieu.
1.5 Objectives of the study
This research intends to examine the various implications of childlessness on married couples in African society.
- It examines the extent to which societal scone, isolation and victimization affects the psychological and emotional stability of childless women.
- The study equally looks into the various ways these childlessness female characters challenge and break off from unjust tradition that exploit, humiliate and isolate them in the society and how they achieve in the end a measure of independence and self actualization in life.
- Above all, this research work calls for societal review of attitude towards childless women who suffer from social and psychological disadvantages in a patriarchal society as portrayed by Flora Nwapa and Buchi Emecheta.
1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study
The scope of this will be limited to Flora Nwapa’s One is Enough and Buchi Emecheta’s The Joy of Motherhood.
1.7 Research Methodology
Generally, the main focus of this research work will be on Flora Nwapa’s One if Enough and Buchi Emecheta’s The Joy of Motherhood as its major sources. While other sources like library, journals, articles will be added for more information as its secondary sources. Therefore, it is library based research.
Conclusion
From a general assessment of the havoc caused by childlessness in marriage as presented in African literature, we noticed that both immediate family and entire society contributes to the agonies suffered by childless women’s African traditional settings.
To ensure self actualization and fulfillment in life, the two (2) protagonists (Amaka and Nnu-Ego) refuse the societal scorn that they are barren and useless and this makes them to indulge in extra-marital relationships which results in pregnancies, a situation that prove them fertile and save them from further societal scorn. Though they achieve their aims of getting pregnant, their various means are all responsible. The theme of childlessness and its effect in African society in flora Nwapa’s one is enough and Buchi Emecheta’s the joys of motherhood.
Thus Amaka seduces a priest to achieve her long desired pregnancy. In six years without issue was divorced and later married to Nnaife who fortunately give him a baby but later died. Thus Nnu-Ego later token and gives birth to many children.
Much as they have achieved their heart desires and fulfillment as mothers, they have achieved and also offended societal morality, most especially Amaka who seduces a priest.
Therefore, an important question bangs in the air, why do Nwapa choose to use a priest to prove the fertility of Amaka? It could be prove that most men are unfaithful than the women or to state that Amaka and Nnu-Ego would not been declared barren by the Society, most especially Amaka. Amaka if she had not indulged in extramarital relationship while remaining with her husband, will she still be barren or childless? Above all, thesis to say that men too can be infertile, the women should not always be blame for infertility.
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