Historical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writers

Historical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writersHistorical, sociological and philosophical dimensions reflected in tho novels of selected African writers

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THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

HISTORICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL

DIMENSIONS REFLECTED IN THE NOVELS

OF SELECTED AFRICAN WRITERS

A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School Batangas State University Batangas City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

of Doctor of Philosophy Major in English

by

NGUYEN THI MINH LOAN

2015

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THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

APPROVAL SHEET

This dissertation entitled “HISTORICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSIONS REFLECTED IN THE NOVELS OF SELECTED AFRICAN WRITERS” prepared and submitted by NGUYEN THI MINH LOAN in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor

of Philosophy major in English has been examined and is recommended for

College of Arts and Sciences

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ABSTRACT

DIMENSIONS REFLECTED IN THE NOVELS OF SELECTED AFRICAN WRITERS

Author: Nguyen Thi Minh Loan

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

tsi Dangarembga are the pioneers in using the pen as the weapon against

colonialism

The wisdom embodied in the selected works of these African writers could be one of the motivating factors that could help readers in the world understand about internal and external pressures African people suffered as

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well as the values they lost in colonial and post-colonial periods

The representative literary works were analyzed: No Longer at Ease by Achebe, Fragments by Armah and Nervous Conditions by Dangarembga The

said selections were chosen because of the correlation between the aforementioned themes, literary devices and approaches which helped in unveiling the authors’ philosophy of life

The study yielded the following findings: Although No Longer at Ease

cannot strictly be considered a historical document, it is still an ethnographic record of a chaotic African society in a period of social transformation from traditional tribal life to modern urban life and from colonial to postcolonial

Fragments deploys the image of a neo-colony in order to sustain the fact that

Ghana in particular and Africa in general are still controlled by the West Set in

the Rhodesia of the 1950s to early 1970s, Nervous Conditions spans important

historical periods in the history of Zimbabwe Although for a reader unfamiliar with Zimbabwe’s history, the political significance of some important years is not apparent in the novel, three events all allude to the national events Sociological characters of the time conveyed through these novels refer to the following issues: customs, traditions and beliefs These writers mention a fact that the old African ways and customs have been nearly or completely

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abandoned for the new system in their novels

The literacy devices used in No Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions play a crucial role in enhancing these novels’ themes and bring the

novels their widespread acceptance as quality pieces of literature The author’s talent is highly appreciated with their flexible use of symbolism, flashback, foreshadowing, and figures of speech

In the treatment of Achebe’s three novels, the study used the following approaches The historical approach attempts to show that the function of

Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga's fiction is to investigate historical

conditions of African societies Secondly, using sociological approach, the researcher clarified the elements of the African society including customs,

traditions and beliefs social organization in No Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions

Finally, the philosophical approach clarifies African philosophy in three novels such as fatalism, principle of balance and co-existence, the notion of life

and death, and the philosophy of unhu The study drew Achebe’s philosophy of

life as a realist and Armah’s philosophy of life as an existentialist Dagarembga may be considered as a feminist in the way that she functions as a role model for African women to fulfill their own dreams

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researcher wishes to express her personal thanks and appreciation

to those, in one way or another helped her accomplish this work

First and foremost, to Batangas State University and the Thai Nguyen University, for giving her the opportunity to finish this dissertation under their International Academic Cooperation Program

Sincere thanks also goes to Dr Dang Kim Vui, the President of the Thai Nguyen University, Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Tuan Anh, Assoc Prof Dr Dang Xuan Binh, Prof Dr Nguyen The Hung, the former Directors of the TNU International Training and Development Center, Dr Hoang Thi Bich Thao, the current Director of TNU ITDC, Dr Le Hong Thang, the Dean of the TNU School of Foreign Languages, for their motivation and wisdom that helped hasten the completion of this study

She also would like to thank Dr Maria Luisa A Valdez, the Dean of Colleges and Head of the Graduate School of the Batangas State University ARASOF Nasugbu Campus, the researcher’s dissertation adviser, for her constant motivation, support, and patience, which inspired diligent research for the realization of this study

To Dr Matilda H Dimaano, the Chairman of the Panel of Examiners, for

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her thorough dissection and candid remarks that drew up the essential and relevant dimensions in this research

To Dr Amada G Banaag, Dr Felix M Panopio, and Dr Myrna G Sulit, the Members of the Panel of Examiners, for their valuable suggestions and criticism which motivated conscientiously the researcher during the conduct of this study

To Dr Remedios P Magnaye, the Recording Secretary and Ms Le Quynh Anh, the ITDC Administrative Staff, for their words of encouragement and kind gestures

To the writers whose works were included in this study for their emboldened wisdom in every page of this dissertation

The researcher’s colleagues and friends, all of whom generously gave their time, advice, and prayers They made her realize the value of truth and principles about people and human experiences

The researcher is also very grateful for the wholehearted support and love that her husband, Pham Duy Hiep and her children, Minh Pham and Quan Pham along with her parents, have extended during the writing process

Their spiritual support accompanied the realization of this paper

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DEDICATION

To the essence of my existence, my loving husband Pham Duy Hiep and

my ever dearest sons Minh Pham and Quan Pham,

Nguyen Thi Minh Loan

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE i

APPROVAL SHEET ii

ABSTRACT iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT vi

DEDICATION viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ix

LIST OF FIGURES……… xi

CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM Introduction 1

Statement of the Problem 7

Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study 8

Significance of the Study 10

II REVIEW OF LITERATURE Conceptual Literature 13

Research Literature 31

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Synthesis 37

Theoretical Framework 41

Conceptual Framework 44

Definition of Terms 47

III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research Design 52

Treatment of Materials 53

IV ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 57

V SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Summary of Findings 188

Conclusions 194

Recommendations 195

BIBLIOGRAPHY 197

APPENDICES……… 204

Summaries of the Novels…… ……….……… 205

CURRICULUM VITAE……… 210

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LIST OF FIGURES

1 Conceptual Paradigm of the Study 46

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CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM Introduction

History plays a fundamental role in shaping literature in the way that every literary piece is influenced by the social context, the author and the whole community that frames the whole work Readers cannot understand the work if they are not provided with the historical context in which the work is written Simultaneously, readers can investigate the history and culture through literature That literature is a reflection of the society has been widely acknowledged Literature influences the society, and the society is reflected in literature; therefore, there has been a close interaction between them The readers can explore a variety of historical and socio-political themes in many works of famous writers such as colonialism, post-colonialism, morality, racial identity, oppression, politics, leadership, gender issues, war and many others

A literary work can provide a more detailed picture of a society in terms of cultural, social, religious, and political dimensions more than any history textbooks and anthropological records do (Diamond, 1989)

Sociological character refers to an individual’s manifestation of behavior that is characteristic or ideal to a behavior that is likewise manifested by a

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majority of the society This congruence with the behavior of others warrants its classification as being within the acceptable standards of a particular society’s norms A person’s character thus is considered normal depending on its manifested adherence to the specific limitations determined by the society

as having historical, religious, educational, political and philosophical bases

This illustrates the close link between philosophy and literature While philosophy supplies ideology and themes for literature, literature, on the other hand, provides vivid illustrations of the meaning and abstract thought of philosophy Literature is considered as a channel to show the author’s philosophy of life Indeed, in literature the philosophical theme is conveyed through literary works and is an essential part of their aesthetic value There is

a considerable number of well-known works in the world of literature in which philosophical views are put forward, suggested, or play a central role such as

Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment, and The Idiot; Tolstoy’s War and Peace; Proust’s In Search of Lost Time; Mann’s Magic Mountain, etc By studying literary works, readers are introduced to central

philosophical issues in relation to freedom, responsibility, religious belief and personal identity

Furthermore, a literary work clarifies not only historical and cultural

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context, philosophical issues but also literary techniques that the author employs These techniques are used to express artistic meanings through the use of language They combine information, function and aesthetics in conveying ideas In other words, literary techniques are added to make the

author’s message clear to the reader and add more beauty to the work Based

on the use of literary techniques, readers can partly decide an author’s tone

and style

African literature is closely tied with historical, cultural and societal issues For the countries in Africa, the experience of colonialism is considered

as the one of the most important factors in understanding the present condition

of the African continent, the African people and their history Therefore, a close examination of the phenomenon of colonialism is essential to assess not only the economic and political development in Africa but also the African people’s perception of themselves From the beginning of colonial situation, literature was the best weapon used by African writers to oppose colonialism and proudly assert the values of the cultures that the colonials had tried to destroy Many of African writers chose to use their works to explore, portray, and expose these social experiences in their different works According to Ojaide (1992) there is no art for art’s sake in Africa It means that every literary

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work has a social function

Among African writers, Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah and Tsi-tsi

Dangarembga are the pioneers in using the pen as the weapon against

colonialism

Chinua Achebe is one of the most widely read African writers in the world He has played such a pivotal role in the development of African literature that he is called as father of modern African literature Indeed, he takes up the responsibility as an Igbo writer to help his people regain belief in itself and dignity that is destroyed by Western colonialism He defines his writings as part of a process of re-storing peoples who had been knocked silent by the trauma of all kinds of dispossession (Achebe, 2000)

Ayi Kwei Armah is undoubtedly one of the most excellent writers of the second generation of African writers which comes after Achebe In an

autobiographical article, “One Writer's Education” (Armah, 1985), Armah

described himself as not simply a Ghanian and a West African but most significantly as an African His writings are realistic descriptions of the African continent in such a way that his novels can be seen as a sociological report on the social and political situation of Africa

In contrast, Tsi-tsi Dangarembga is an astonishing African female

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writer Her writings transmit political messages regarding both female oppression and colonial domination She attained much praise from literary critics because of her complex and expressive depiction of racial and gender struggles in Zimbabwean society

The researcher, being an English teacher of School of Foreign Languages at Thai Nguyen University, is motivated to analyze the three novels

by Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga respectively: No Longer at Ease (1960), Fragments (1971) and Nervous Conditions (1988) because these novels are

typical African novels that address the cultural and social changes in African society The novels of Achebe and Armah provide a powerful and impressive view of the role of the artists and intellectuals in modern Africa They reveal their seriousness of purpose, their creativity and are relevant to all

generations Nervous Conditions, on the other hand, raises several important

questions about the status of women in pre-independent Rhodesia and in postcolonial African countries Furthermore, an exploration of the three chosen writers of the three different African countries namely Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe and of two sexes would reveal a number of common concerns in terms of historical, sociological and philosophical dimensions The historical basis for this search is that throughout Africa there are close similarities in both

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traditional cultures and contemporary situations The researcher attempted to make comparisons and drawing parallels among these novels by Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga in order to generalize the whole Africa

The wisdom embodied in the selected works of these African writers could be one of the motivating factors that could help readers in the world understand about internal and external pressures African people suffered as well as the values they lost in colonial and post-colonial periods Therefore, the readers may establish their high appreciation of African culture and history

Although many scholars have already studied the various themes of No Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions such as classes, cultures,

corruption, and others, there is not much analysis on the historical, social and philosophical insights of these novels While these studies have made insight interpretations of content and meaning of the African works, less is known of the influence of the African traditional roots on African literature and the influence of African writers as philosophers on African people’s perception Also, these African writers’ philosophy of life gleaned from the three novels has not received enough attention from the literary circles Further, Achebe, Armah

and Dangarembga’s life, works and life philosophy exemplify noble values of a

person and a nation, which is worthy of attention

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Given this background, as a teacher, the researcher would like to expose her students to literature and culture outside of an Eastern country She wants her students to gain an appreciation of a foreign culture while also gaining insight into their own culture, seeing their own society through a different and objective lenses Moreover, she wants to equip her students with

a sense of values to guide and allow them to embrace a good philosophy of life and clarify life goals

Statement of the Problem

This study primarily aimed to analyze the historical, sociological, philosophical dimensions in the novels of selected African writers

Specifically, the study answered the following questions:

1 What historical events are reflected in the novels of Achebe, Armah

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Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study

This study analyzed the historical, sociological and philosophical

dimensions embodied in Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga’s selected literary

pieces and pointed out their philosophy of life Specifically, this paper tried to present the historical events, sociological character of the time, the literary devices and literary approaches used in unveiling these African writers’ philosophy of life

This study employed the qualitative method of research in analyzing the authors’ philosophy in the representative literary works chosen Likewise, this analysis used the historical, sociological and philosophical approaches as the bases for analysis In particular, the historical and the sociological approaches are supported by the Edward Saids’ Theory of Post-colonialism and Franz Uri

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Boas’ Theory of Cultural Relativism as well as on Frankl’s Theory of Meaning of Life Other approaches in literary criticism that may be employed in the analysis like the biographical criticism and psychological criticism were not part of this study Likewise, the study is only limited to the sociological character of the time

as regards customs, traditions and beliefs

This paper also involved content analysis, which is a systematic technique in analyzing message content and message handling The data analysis in this research centered on data seeking and the extraction of

meaning from Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga’s selected literary works

Much effort was focused on the task of recording narrative data or making notes through concepts and categories; linking and combining abstract concepts; extracting the essence; organizing meaning; writing an understanding; and drawing conclusions

The essential features in the treatment of materials were considered by the researcher in the conduct of this study The general rules cited by Alkiere (2014) as regards the four standards a piece of literature particularly that of a novel should abide to in order to be considered literary guided in the selection

of works under study

The representative literary works were analyzed: No Longer at Ease by

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Achebe, Fragments by Armah and Nervous Conditions by Dangarembga The

said selections were chosen because of the correlation between the aforementioned themes, literary devices and approaches which helped in

unveiling the authors’ philosophy of life Typical for African novels, No Longer

at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions address the cultural and social

changes in African society They illustrate the effects of the social, economic and political situation on the behavior and mental conditions of the characters Although these novels have been the subject of much critical study and debates within and outside the literary circles, but enough attention has not been paid to a study of these novels to bring about Achebe, Armah and

Dangarembga’s philosophy of life

Significance of the Study

This study is essential to spell out how this study is beneficial to academic managers, working professionals, college instructors of literature, students of literature, members of the community, and other researchers

Academic Managers This paper will help academic managers include

developmental priorities, programs, projects and policies in the educational institutions to ensure to integrate literary appreciation and critiquing in the academe They will be also inspired to involve activities related to humanizing

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education through the study of literature in the curricula

Working Professionals This study will be beneficial for them in the

sense that at whatever circumstance they may find themselves their own philosophy of life from their readings of the selected works It has given a deeper meaning to their existence Likewise, they may be inspired to highly appreciate the folklore and culture in the past and their roles in affirming the dignity of their people These initiatives may help these working people to embrace a good philosophy of life, clarify life goals, and revitalize working relationships within their workplaces

College Instructors of Literature This dissertation will be helpful in

the instructor’s methodology in teaching literature as an inquiry into using the appropriate literary theories and approaches in literary analysis In addition, this will provide them with opportunities to touch the concept of historical, sociological and philosophical dimensions in selected works in their literature classes and open their students’ mind and hearts to the philosophy of life of the author

Students of Literature This study will give them an extensive and

profound outlook in life as regards the historical, sociological, and philosophical dimensions of literature through the lives and experiences of the

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characters in the selected literary pieces It will also make them realize that literature may be the writers channel for philosophical human transformation and inspire them to engage in literary analysis as an academic activity

The Researcher The researcher will be benefitted by this study

through the analysis and treatment of materials, and through the careful investigation of both theme and form in literary genres Likewise, this paper will enlighten her on the process of drawing out literary theories and utilizing critical approaches in literary analysis

Other Researchers Future researchers conduct other literary works for

academic enhancement to have a cross dissections of views of life and to substantiate the present study

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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This chapter presents the review of literature that is critical in the establishment of concepts and theories that would effectively substantiate the study Likewise, the synthesis of the literature reviewed, the theoretical and conceptual frameworks as well as the conceptual and operational definitions of terms were included

Conceptual Literature

The review of conceptual literature yields four constructs, which may be used in the analysis and interpretation of the works dissected These constructs include: literature and philosophy of life, significant works of African writers, literary techniques and critical approaches in novel analysis

Literature and Philosophy of Life It is widely acknowledged that

literature reflects society and depicts human life According to Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher and author of philosophical works of unparalleled influence

in Western thought, literature imitates life, that is, it represents the world as it

is As an imitation of human action, literature presents a picture of what people think, say and do in the society through characters who convey certain messages for different purposes through their words and actions A literary piece is based on authors’ intention and includes the attitudes, morals and

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values of the society because no writer can live out of the world around him Tomeldan, et al (1986) also said that literature is a product of life and about life It offers an experience in which people can participate as they read and test what they read by their own experience By reading literature, people can get something of value such as an understanding, a new awareness, a feeling

of pleasure, etc In essence, life illuminates literature as much as literature illuminates life Therefore, literature is one of the best media people can use to

understand their society and even themselves

There are different forms of literature such as essays, short stories, dramas, or novels However, in representing different aspects of the society’s life, a novel becomes increasingly popular compared with other forms of literature On the one hand, they can expand social scope It means that novels can address the domestic and social concerns of different classes in

the society A good illustration is Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, which consists

of nearly six hundred characters of different classes from the aristocracy to the poor

On the other hand, novels commonly trace the depth of an individual, a group of people, or a world For example, African novels shared a similar reaction to the negative views about the history of Africa and Africans African

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writers aim to reconstruct and assert the true cultural identity of the African people This approach appears in the works of African writers such as Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Elechi Amadi, Alan Paton, and Camara Laye Besides, novels consist of a variety of subjects of social significance such as class, race, politics and economics Based on writers’ choice of materials, novels may be psychological, historical or social in content Two good examples are

Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre or William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair,

which are personal or psychological regarding human relationship, conflicts, desires, and fears

Another explanation for the popularity of novels is the range of the kinds

of novels- scientific fiction, adventure, detective, romantic, etc Hence, writers are free to choose his favorite form to express his intentions and purposes A novel’s length works to a writer’s advantage in a way that allows him enough room to paint the vivid imagery of its setting, the gradual development of the plot as well as the story’s characters, and also provides breadth in the complexion of the novel’s theme All of the previously mentioned details give a characteristic realism to a story in such a way that the novel becomes a complete human experience, with the diversity of emotions and insights that it can evoke and even influence human consciousness.F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Graham Greene’s The Quiet American are typical

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illustrations Hence, novels help readers understand social realities in different periods of time

Therefore, the present study followed the notion that literature is not outside reality and that its analysis aimed to show the literary works by Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga as a direct relevance to the African experience (Irele, 1971) Novels’ capacity to map and reorganize reality has made it the most convenient medium for African writers to rethink their social worlds in transitional and postcolonial times

To sum up, novels are one of the best tools for writers to reflect any changes of the society and the writer’s intentions Writers like Achebe have shown that the role and function of novels must change to suit the cause of the user Therefore, the notion that a novel is a reflection of social reality is a highly acknowledged medium in the analysis of the historical, sociological and

philosophical perspectives of Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga’s novels, No Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions

Philosophy of life may be defined as an overall vision or attitude toward life and the purpose of life There are some ways of understanding philosophy

of life Schmidt’s (2002) first concept states that people must provide for themselves their own personal maps to guide them in their journey through life

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He emphasized that how detailed and informative a person’s map eventually becomes depends on that person’s perception and appreciation of his lifelong journey This translates into how much effort he will then put into a constant revision and development of his map in relation to the ever evolving times Hence, a person with a less optimistic outlook in life results in having a map that is devoid of detailed information that would have been vital to his journey

He follows with a secondary concept relative to Plato’s insight of man’s tendency to trap himself in a cave with an erratic and confounded outlook in life This, he says, can be avoided by having a firm resolve to get out of the cave with having a more rational analysis and an eventual understanding of the self and life as a whole

Schmidt’s third concept aligns with Peck’s concept in a way that like the need for a map, man likewise needs a myth to explain his being This concept gives meaning to his existence, and drives man to carve his personal niche which may also influence other’s lives, such as his family, community and the rest of society

Whether philosophy is consciously or unconsciously adopted or followed

in life, a fundamental philosophy is constructed as the basis of one’s own life, which shapes his whole attitude to life Therefore, all people live in accordance

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with the philosophy of life that they have framed for themselves Even those who claim that there is no need of any philosophy or the uneducated have a philosophy of their own thought it may be only a superstitious belief in God or Buddhist Therefore, it is certainly essential for people to frame a philosophy for their lives

Philosophy explains how and why life is as it happens The depth and breadth of meaning it provides satiates a man’s need to understand the complexities of life and allows him to gain confidence and full control in having

to deal with future adversity

Sivananda Saraswati, otherwise known as Swami Sivanada exemplified

a philosophy that he learned from Sankara which gives a higher value in experiencing a life event over finding a reason as to why it happened This allows an attainment of a higher level of consciousness that in itself a guiding aspect toward a positive, harmonious, peaceful life of happiness; devoid of doubt and confusion in the stressful search for a logical explanation of life as it transpires This spiritual philosophy of life is based on the totality of a complete life experience: for him, any missed, neglected or overlooked experience renders life incomplete and therefore, unscientific

Philosophy and literature both contribute to the development of human

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behavior as can be seen in the moral values within the great literary works Another culture’s previously unknown customs and ethical conducts can easily be read from a literature set in unexplored places Much of the African way of life and

the moral and cultural identity of its people were showcased in Tutuola’s The Palm-Wine Drunkard and Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

A virtual journey through literature enriches a reader’s knowledge of other cultures with much ease Likewise, the lessons learned from another culture’s application of philosophy in practical, day-to-day conflicts allow the writers a chance to educate readers with an experience that can help broaden and deepen their understanding of the meaning of life

Teoxon (1990) worked on the hypothesis that philosophy and literature are dynamically connected to each other This means that in any novel, there always exists at least a philosophy of life whether the writers are aware of it or not or they hold on to it consciously or unconsciously Thus, the philosophical dimensions of the novel or the philosophy of life of the writer can be gleaned from its themes This is supported in the statement of Rand (1975) who believes that every novelist is a philosopher because he cannot present a picture of human existence without a philosophical framework

Significant Works of African Writers The most significant novels of

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Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga were presented as follows

Achebe’s contribution to modern African writing as outlined in his comprehensive theory stemmed from his belief in the philosophical, political and religious impact of a writer to his readers, in addition to his contribution from a

cultural standpoint Significant articles like The Black Writer’s Burden, The English Language and the African Writer, The Role of the Writer in a New Nation, The Novelist as a Teacher, The African Writer and the Biafran Cause,

etc suggest a critical approach toward an African novel’s influence in the restoration of the African identity and a rediscovery of its cultural heritage, both seemingly lost as impacted by colonization

According to Madubuike (1974), in general, Achebe’s theories reveal three related areas of concern, which originate from the colonial experience: the interpretation of the African past; the problem of interpreting this past in a foreign language; and the responsibilities and obligations of the writers to his own people Thus, a serious study of Achebe’s works will reveal a conscientious combination of these concerns and their harmonious integration into his works

The sequential struggles of Igbo society versus the adversities of colonial rule are chronicled sequentially in Achebe’s five novels The first two

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novels Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God depicted the pre-colonial culture of

the Igbo tribe upon contact with European colonists; while post-colonial

experience was effectively revealed in No Longer at Ease, Anthills of the Savannah and A Man of the People Chinua Achebe’s mastery in combining

anthropology without losing integrity as a novelist was showcased in the said novels (Carroll, 1980)

Achebe’s novels reflect the contemporary issues and conflicts arising from how traditional African culture was affected by Western colonization The intricacies of these effects were revealed in his novel’s characters, like Okonkwo

in Things Fall Apart and Ezeulu in Arrow of God No Longer at Ease depicted

African tradition slowly falling apart in the character of Obi, a Nigerian with Western education

Achebe’s first novel, Things Fall Apart, provided tremendous insight for

non-African and African readers into traditional African culture and people Over five million copies of the book have been sold, and it has been translated into thirty languages Innes (1990) considers Achebe as father of the African novel in English The protagonist, Okonkwo, in the novel Things Fall Apart

represents the rigidity of African tradition that is unable to adapt to new values

and culture leading to the hero’s downfall The second novel No Longer at

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Ease narrated the story of Okonkwo’s grandson Obi, who was educated in the

West Torn between traditional values and Western influence, Obi’s choice of giving up what his grandfather fought for in exchange for fortune led to his downfall This depiction of characters in his novels serves as an illustration of how the white man corroded the identity of African culture, and serves as a wake-up call to the present generation of Africans

Arrow of God (1964) tells the story of Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of Ulu Set

in Umuaro after Okonkwo of Umuofia’s death, the novel narrates Ezeulu’s struggle to cope with the invading colonials and the religion they brought with them in addition to dealing with tribal concerns In the novel, the Chief priest’s lust for power led to losing his own son and his sanity, hence his downfall

A Man of the People, published 1966, was Achebe’s fourth novel that

offered a view of contemporary politics in an African state following its independence Most of Achebe’s writings featured civil war as the theme, such

as the 1971 Commonwealth Poetry Prize winner Beware Soul Brother, a poetry book, and the 1972 short-story collection Girls at War His last novel Anthills of the Savannah (1987) was about a military rule in a contemporary

African nation Achebe was awarded the Man Booker International Prize for

lifetime achievement in 2007 There Was a Country: A Personal History of

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Biafra (2012) was Achebe’s final work

Ayi Kwei Armah's novels depicted the betrayal of the continent of Africa

in the hands of its leaders While lamenting on the hopelessness of Africa in

his first three novels The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born (1968), Fragments (1969) and Why Are We So Blest?(1972), he hinted on a rebirth of Africa in his subsequent novels Two Thousand Seasons (1973) and The Healers (1978) highlighting key values in the renewal of the cultural identity of Africa

Armah’s first novel The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born was set in

post-independence Ghana Inspired by the author’s resentment over the fall of socialist democratic ideal in the country, the modern classic propelled Armah

to the elite ranks of Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and Ngugi Wa Thing’o

His sophomore novel Fragments offered an in-depth focus on the effects

of corruption to an individual It solidified Armah’s reputation as a top-rank African writer

Armah's fourth and fifth novels Two Thousand Seasons and The Healers saw a shift in the author’s style with a more optimistic view in Africa’s

transformation from being alienated individuals to a communal collective of black consciousness In the said novels, Armah suggested a recollection of key virtues from the past that are essential to overcoming Western influence

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toward a united Africa

Armah revisits the past with a portrayal of the Egyptian Isis-Osiris myth

in his sixth novel Osiris Rising, where he exposes the similar lack of foresight

in present-day Africa’s leaders Likewise, Armah’s The Healers highlighted the

African society’s failure to initiate its healing process necessary to overcome corruption, greed and materialism

Dangarembga’s most prominent publication to date is her famed and

award-winning novel, Nervous Conditions Nervous Conditions reflects the

subordination of women in Zimbabwean society, which remained untouched until the end of the 1970s The novel penetrates the very foundation of the

Shona patriarchal society Nervous Conditions analyzes how starvation affects

women’s lives being the norm in their society, regardless of whether or not there is a state of famine Tsitsi Dangarembga adds to the recent African feminist literature with a novel which clearly depict African women’s place and role during colonialism The women’s nervous conditions result from colonial

as well as from patriarchal oppression Dangarembga sharply depicts the tension within the African family in a way that makes readers understand the complexities of the colonial struggles

To recapitulate, Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga are the most

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important literary figures in modern African literature Their novels are the most well-known, most widely read, and most translated They represent African experiences in colonial times, and they thoroughly reveal historical, sociological and philosophical perspectives of African life

Literary Techniques Literary devices are defined as specific aspects of

literature which readers can recognize, identify, interpret, or analyze (Braiman, 2007) They may be understood as either literary elements or literary techniques Literary elements exist inherently in a piece of literature that writers use extensively to develop the plot, setting, characters, theme, or narrative structure They provide a conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others On the other hand, literary techniques relate

to structures, often words or phrases in literary texts that writers use to allow readers to understand and appreciate the texts They include writers’ choice of words to convey meaning of the text Unlike literary elements, literary techniques represent deliberate choices by each author

The present study would investigate the literary techniques that highlight the African way of life through analyzing the three novels of Achebe, Armah

and Dangarembga: No Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions

Like many other post-colonial writers, these writers help their people

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rediscover a cultural heritage lost under the impact of colonization in the way that they still retain the national traditions of their society while gaining international recognition Therefore, an exploration into their use of symbolism, flashback, foreshadowing, and figures of speech provides readers with an overall picture of the African life

Symbolism may be defined as a term which prepares for synthesis, draws our minds away from the mere accumulation of observations and facts (Welleck, 1970) In writing, symbolism is the use of a word, a phrase, or a description, which represents a deeper meaning than the words themselves This kind of extension of meaning can transform the written word into a very powerful instrument In the African literature, according to Dzobo (1992), symbols are sources of insights into African orientations to life Signs and symbols are distinguished in relation to the degree of qualitative information that is conveyed through them While signs provide simple information, symbols are used to communicate complex knowledge A good example is the powerful significance of color in African culture: Black being symbolic for death, red bearing a spiritual and religious significance, and white standing for joy and purity

According to Bae & Young (2008), both flashback and foreshadowing

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are narrative techniques that present story events out of temporal order They can be important tools for the author to communicate with the readers for a dramatic effect, link his events and create an authentic and realistic setting Both techniques contain features of repetition and the narration of a specific experience

Flashback may be defined as the narrator’s interruption of the chronological sequence of events in a literary work (Mafela, 1997) By inserting past events into the present ones, the narrator relates both sets of events Flashback has certain and specific functions, such as reminding readers of past events, foregrounding themes of the texts and arouse emotions such as suspense, curiosity, and surprise in narrative generation, contributing to the readers’ sense of satisfaction Flashback intensifies the climactic effect with a presentation of events in the past that are relevant to unfolding a story’s surprising revelation (Cuddon, 1979)

Foreshadowing may be defined as hints of what is to come and gives only implicit or partial information (Chatman, 1978)

According to Crystal (2004), irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words While a figure of speech that makes a direct

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comparison between two unlike things is called metaphor

To conclude, the use of symbolism, flashback, foreshadowing, and figures of speech in Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga’s fictions would be examined in order to highlight the beauty of the African way of life Besides, through analyzing these literary techniques, readers are made aware of these writers’ excellent writing talent as well as their writing purposes

Critical Approaches for Novel Analysis Literary approaches include

reading, interpretation and comments of a specific form of literature Despite the fact that approaches can be used separately, many critics combine approaches in analyzing literary texts to suit their needs and purposes Besides, when analyzing African literature, Irele (1990) discusses approaches

of African literature in his work The African Experience in Literature and Ideology While positioning himself within the sociological field,

Historical approach is one of the most basic approaches in analyzing literature In historical approach, the Sdfi.edu.cn Website (2015), literature is not only the product of authorial intention but also a product of its historical, social and cultural circumstances

Historical approach offers lots of good issues for readers such as: necessity of using historical research to understand the works fully; historical

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knowledge from analyzing different aspects of literary works such as the history of its author’s time, the history about the time in which the work is set; and the history of different eras Roberts and Henry (1995) states that the historical approach centers on the writer’s life, the period of the writer’s work as well as the socio-historical and intellectual ideas of the time - without ever considering the meaning, importance and value of the work itself

In summary, the historical approach marks the interest in the influence of historical events of a period on writers and their works, offering readers and students many possibilities for inquiries into literature, history, and their intricate correlation Therefore, this study aimed to show that there is a link

between No Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions and the

actual historical experiences of Africa For this, the researcher, firstly, attempted to study the actual African society in the reality and in the novels to see how the works of these authors are a representation of the historical reality

of traditional culture; and secondly, showed the specific historical events embedded in the three novels

Sociological approach underscores the relationships between the artist and society Selden and Widdowson (1993) cited that this approach centers on literature as the expression of man within a given social situation Sociological

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