THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL ORDER IN THE NOVELS OF ELECHI AMADI
THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL ORDER IN THE NOVELS OF ELECHI AMADI
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Date
1986-06
Authors
Umoren, Anthonia Inyang
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Social Order is a recurring theme in Amadi's
novels: The Concubine, The Great Ponds and The Slave.
Social Order has to do with the roles played by
individual members of society towards the society's
survival. In traditional society such as Amadi's
Ikwerre, the backgound of the trilogy, social order
is based on the religious beliefs of the community
which also spell the norms and values of the society.
This study focuses on the theme of social order
raised by Amadi in the trilogy.
Chapter one begins with the appraisal of the
critical works and attempts to conceptualize social
order. The chapter discusses the views on social
order of functionalists and marxists as applied in
Amadi's work and as a base for examining the Ikwerre
concept of what constitutes orderliness and disorderliness
in society.
A Chapter is given to each novel. Thus, chapters
Two to Four discuss The Concubine, The Great Ponds
and The Slave respectively. In each case, a look
is taken at how, why and by whom social disruption
is brought about in each novel. Attention is given
to the portraits of the major characters in each
novel with a view to tracing orderliness or disorderliness
in the society to the flaws in these
characters. Social conventions and their ultimate
pressure on the characters are also critically
looked at. An examination is also made of how the
conflicts are settled or contained, whether order
is restored in the end and the effects of all these
on the societies. Comparisons are drawn with other
novelists such as Achebe and Ngugi.
Chapter Five, which is the conclusion,
summarises the major arguments advanced in the study,
re-evaluates Amadi's literary qualities, draws
parallels between the novels, thematically and
structurally, and discusses Amadi as a committed
writer who quests for order in nation-building.
Description
A Thesis
submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the
Requirements for the Award of the Degree
of Master of Arts in African Literature
Department of English
Ahmadu Bello university
Zaria, Nigeria
Keywords
QUEST, SOCIAL, ORDER, NOVELS, ELECHI, AMADI