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The thesis is devoted to the exploration of female identity construction in the mirror of feminist criticism, as presented in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood (1979) and Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes (1991). It seeks to find out how the authors of these novels, both females construct the identities of their female characters. The investigation underlines the relationship between collective and individual identities by presenting, comparing and contrasting identities in the two novels to interrogate areas of divergence and convergence. It hopes to explore and interrogate the range of identities constructed in the two texts, to identify and assess the points of divergence and convergence of female identities in the two novels and to examine how the exploration of female identity mirrors social relationships or interaction between the sexes.
The study also proceeds with the hypotheses that there is a tradition of male authored narratives (that have preceded female-authored narratives) that present stereotypical, male-privileging perspectives on women or female characters, thus the need to re-examine female identity. The following questions will guide the research: what is the identity or range of identities constructed in the two novels? In what ways do the female identities presented by both authors converge and diverge? How do the authors in their critique or exploration of female identity in their narratives, mirror and negotiate social interaction or relationship between the sexes.
The study will be based on a close reading of the two novels in the form of a comparative study by interpreting identity construction within the chosen theoretical model of identity construction. The study intends to examine the issue of female identity and its construction by looking specifically at the female as daughter, a family member, a woman in marriage, motherhood, Education, sex and work. The study hopes to be useful in a number of ways. First’ it would facilitate an appreciation of female identity as revealed by critical interrogation of textual matter. |
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