CONFLICT IN T.M. ALUKO: A STUDY OF T.M. ALUKO'S NOVELS
CONFLICT IN T.M. ALUKO: A STUDY OF T.M. ALUKO'S NOVELS
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Date
1985-05-10
Authors
GEORGE, NWORAH ANASO
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Abstract
The h i s t o r y of Nigeria from c o l o n i s a t i on
u n t i l independence d e p i c t s a number of s t r u g g l es
which are milestones in N i g e r i a ' s growth to
nationhood. These s t r u g g l e s are r e l i g i o u s,
p o l i t i c a l and c u l t u r a l and operate both at t he
i n d i v i d u a l and s o c i e t a l l e v e l s . The i n d i v i d u al
o f t e n finds himself at the crossroads of c u l t u r al
c o n f l i c t between t r a d i t i o n and Western c u l t u r e.
The same c u l t u r a l s t r u g g l e engulfs the s o c i e t y in
g e n e r a l . Aluko's novels p o r t r a y t h e s e c o n f l i c ts
i n operation and in watching Aluko's c h a r a c t e rs
and s o c i e t y r e a c t to t h i s c u l t u r a l c o n f l i c t , we
see the n a t u r e of t h e s e c o n f l i c t s and the v a r i o us
landmarks recorded in the c u l t u r a l s t r u g g l es
going on at each s t a g e.
Aluko has often been seen as an uncommitted
w r i t e r by c r i t i c s because h i s e a r l y novels do not
appear to b r i n g out suggestions as to how t he
s o c i e t y can be developed or modernised. Again,
t h e y gee Aluko as an a n t i - t r a d i t i o n a l i s t . This
study h i g h l i g h t s t h e s e various c r i t i c i s m s of Aluko,
r e l a t e s them to Aluko's works and then t r a c e s the
p r o g r e s s made by the n o v e l i s t.
Chapter One is a survey of existing critical
studies on Aluko, showing the need for further
investigation to make for a comprehensive understanding
of Aluko. chapter two is a study of the
Early-Aluko and it examines Aluko's early novels,
One Man, One wife and One Man, One Matchet in terms
of Aluko1s vision of conflict in the society. The
argument in this chapter is that Aluko's depiction
of traditional life is prejudiced by his preference
for western ideas. Chapter three studies the
middle Aluko as seen in the two novels: Kinsman
and Foreman and Chief the Honourable Minister.
The middle period shows that Aluko realises that
Western education does not solve Africa's backwardness
and that tradition is an indestructible
force In society. Chapter four is the Later-
Aluko and concerns His Worshipful Majesty and
Wrong Ones in the Dock. This chapter examines the
writer's change in attitude which improves his portrayal
of the cultural conflict in his society,
as reflected in the last two novels. Chapter five
is the conclusion and argues that Aluko has progressed
and become an increasingly better critic
and a more objective writer than he had been
earlier in his career.
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
Ahamadu Bello University
Zaria, Nigeria.