Subaltern Voices in the Selected Novels of Buchi Emecheta A Study

Abstract

Nigerian literature comprises the mammoth artistic precipices of its newlineindigenous, migrant; male as well as female scribblers. Their works newlinereverberate the subalterns who are subjugated not only by gweilos but also the newlineaborigines. Colonialism plays paramount role in burgeoning as well as newlinedissipation, it not only mangled but perennially impaired the habitants of the newlineexpropriated expanse. Woman is the worst sufferer of the changing times. She newlineyearns for education which the orthodoxy vetoes. Woman emigrates to newlinedreamland for better prospect where she underdoes bestialities. She is treated newlineas a slave and turns into a commodity. Polygamy and preference towards male newlineprogenies stem penury. Man enforces pregnancies on a woman which havoc newlineher life. Woman is also responsible for her dolor as she never comes out of newlinematernity and feels pride as a mother of sons. She despises arid woman who is newlineexecrated throughout her life and prepares to decimate her for fertility. newlineEmecheta a Nigerian born woman, moves from Nigeria to UK and then newlineto USA. In her autobiographical accounts she presents the doleful picture of newlinevanquished woman who can be categorized as subaltern due to her persistent newlinesubjection by masculine ascendancy. The present research work appraises newlineEmecheta s six works in five chapters and scrutinize the meaning of newlinecolonialism and postcolonialism. While reconnoitering the development and newlinemajor works in Nigerian literature, a brief introduction of Emecheta s life, newlineworks and the concept of subaltern is thoroughly canvassed. The way woman newlinesucceeds despite her discrimination in the adopted land, and her newlinecommoditization who undergoes numerous tribulations and subordination newlinebecause of her allegiance towards traditional notions of motherhood are newlineventilated. The work analyses the ignoble practices that havoc woman, assists newlineto comprehend the way woman succumbs to deceptive practices and sets forth newlineissues like racism, subordination, commoditization and marginalization. newline