الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract This thesis attempts a Womanist analysis of two contemporary Nigerian novels, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta. Womanism is a term coined by Alice Walker in 1983, and it aims at bridging the gaps of Feminism. It refutes the allegations that consider Feminism the only platform that empowers women. It also provides a room for black women and women of color, who were marginalized in the Feminist discourse, to express their struggles and moments of triumph. Hence, it intersects with Post-Colonialism in their attempt to eliminate different forms of racism. The thesis exposes the injustices and the gaps Feminism caused to black women and women of color as it either marginalized them or distorted their image. Thus, many African authors and critics believed that they were not present in the Feminist discourse, and they needed a more inclusive movement to give a more authentic representation of their life. It also presents a detailed analysis of the two texts to prove that African women are not always victims, yet they are capable of fighting several forms of oppression on both the social and cultural levels. One of the core features of Womanism that differentiates it from Feminism is its inclusivity. Unlike Feminism that focuses only on white women’s problems and antagonizes men, Womanism tends to give voice to women all over the world and men as well. In this sense, it aims at having both men and women together fighting against the Western racism and marginalization. Both novels reflect Womanist aspects. They present all the challenging circumstances that Nigerian women face in terms of social oppression and violence, but they also present how powerful and resilient women become in Nigeria. Most of the female characters in both novels show determination and are “womanish” in their attitude. They also developed a sense of solidarity that enables them to support each other in order to grow and stand against all forms of injustice. Both novels used Bildungsroman to show how characters developed and became more mature. |