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Postulations on Motherhood in Africa As Portrayed by Margaret Ogola's the River and the Source and Buchi Emecheta's the Joys

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Postulations on Motherhood in Africa As Portrayed by Margaret Ogola's the River and the Source and Buchi Emecheta's the Joys POSTULATIONS ON MOTHERHOOD IN AFRICA AS PORTRAYED BY MARGARET OGOLA’S THE RIVER AND THE SOURCE AND BUCHI EMECHETA’S THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD BY JANE WANGARI WAWERU A Research Project Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For The Degree of Masters of Arts in Literature, University Of Nairobi 2014 i DECLARATION This Research Project is my original work and has not been presented for award of a degree in any other University. Name Signature:________________ Date:_______________ Jane W. Waweru C50/71583/2011 This Research Project has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors. First Supervisor Signature:________________ Date:_______________ Dr. Joseph Muleka Second Supervisor Signature:________________ Date:_______________ Prof. Monica Mweseli ii DEDICATION This study is dedicated to the memory of my late father, Gideon Waweru and mother Joyce Wanjiru, who made me into who I am today. To my dear husband, Joseph Ndegwa for being so helpful and understanding during this study. To my dear children, Sarah, Shiro, Mose, Shiko, Kabz, Mwes, Lala, Wesh and Zeddy for their great support in this endevour. Special thanks to Kamwes and Lala, for the tender care they took for me during my study. I will be forever grateful. Sarah, how can I reward you for tirelessly and willingly typing my work? I owe apperception to you all. Above all, this is all God’s glory who has seen me this far. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research would not have been successfully completed without the guidance tolerance and dedication of my esteemed supervisors- Dr. Joseph Muleka and Professor Monica Mweseli for whom I will be forever indebted. I wish to offer my gratitude to Dr. Tom Odhiambo for this assistance with study materials on the texts. Of special mention are my esteemed tutors who relentlessly accorded their effort to lay foundation for this wonderful course-Prof. Chesaina, Prof. Mwanzi, Prof. Chris Wanjala, Prof Henry Indangasi, Dr. Odari, Dr. Shiundu, Dr. Rinkanya , Dr. Muchiri and Dr. Musonye. My colleague students, Helen Muguro, Joyce, Tom Ogot, Ng’etich, Mweni Muramba and Gilbert for the moral support and intellectual company along the long journey of this research, I shall always remember you. My best friends-the Kahiga family, Dr. Karinga’s family, The Kabira’s family, Kibuja, Wanjenga and Kiroko, for their prayers and concern. God bless them abundantly. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Hypothesis ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Justification of the study .................................................................................................. 4 1.5 Scope and limitation ........................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Theoretical framework ..................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Literature review .............................................................................................................. 8 1.8 Research Methodology .................................................................................................. 20 1.9 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 22 THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF MOTHERHOOD .............................................. 22 2.1 The Joys of Motherhood ................................................................................................ 23 2.1.1 The Marriage Institution ....................................................................................... 23 2.1.2 The Expected Joys of Marriage ............................................................................. 24 2.1.3 A Child in Marriage ............................................................................................... 27 2.1.4 The Special Joy of a Boy Child .............................................................................. 31 2.2 The Challenges of Motherhood...................................................................................... 35 2.2.2 Women and Childbirth ............................................................................................ 40 v 2.2.3 Assessment of a Childless Woman ........................................................................ 47 2.2.4 Assessment of Polygamy and Motherhood ............................................................ 50 2.3 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 60 CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................... 61 STRATEGIES USED BY OGOLA AND EMECHETA TO PRESENT THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF MOTHERHOOD .................................................................. 61 3.1 Use of Diction ................................................................................................................ 62 3.1.1 Diction used in Setting ......................................................................................... 65 3.1.2 Diction used in the Expected Joys of Motherhood .............................................. 66 3.1.3 Diction used in Challenges of Motherhood ......................................................... 68 3.1.4 Diction and Authorial View ................................................................................. 70 3.2 Characterization ............................................................................................................. 72 3.2.1 Characterization and Joys of Motherhood ........................................................... 72 3.2.2 Characterization and Challenges of Motherhood ................................................. 76 3.3 Narration and description ............................................................................................... 86 3.3.1 Narration and Double Standards of Motherhood .................................................. 90 3.4 Setting ............................................................................................................................ 99 3.4.1 The Urban Setting and Motherhood .................................................................... 100 3.4.2 Historical Transition ............................................................................................ 105 3.5 The use of imagery....................................................................................................... 110 3.5.1 The Images of the Girl Child .............................................................................. 111 3.5.2 Images of Women in Marriage ........................................................................... 114 3.5.3 Images of Women and Change ........................................................................... 116 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 118 Works cited ....................................................................................................................... 132 APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................ 136 ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................... 136 vi CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1.0 Introduction The concept of motherhood underlies the very existence of the human race. The world over, motherhood is, so to say, the common denominator in debates defining a woman as a wife and as a mother. However, responses and reactions to motherhood are often varied. Uwakweh (1998) for instance, criticizes scholars who often write about motherhood as if all women possessed an equal sense of maternal instinct and as if they all considered motherhood the same way. Muleka (2007), underscores the premium placed on motherhood among the Luhya community when he observes that the value of a woman in that community is judged by her ability to get married and bear children for the husband. He adds that a woman who cannot bear children is seen as incapable of motherhood and hence despised and often ridiculed, and that for a woman to be happy in the community she must bear children. Similarly, Muthoni (1994) observes
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