AN EXAMINATION OF THE THEME OF BETRAYAL IN THE NOVELS OF MEJA MWANGI.
AN EXAMINATION OF THE THEME OF BETRAYAL IN THE NOVELS OF MEJA MWANGI.
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Date
1987-04
Authors
BENSON, UPAH
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Abstract
This d i s s e r t a t i o n examines a l a r g e l y n e g l e c t ed
theme of Mwangi's n o v e l s , b e t r a y a l . Neglect of t h is
theme r e s u l t s in d i s t o r t i o n , and i n some i n s t a n c e s,
t o t a l m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g of Mwangi. This l i m i t a t i o n is
common with a few c r i t i c s of Mwangi's work. These
c r i t i c s are content with w r i t i n g about t h e obvious; the
i l l s of t h e s o c i e t y without f i r s t examining t he
fundamental c a u s o ( s ).
The d i s s e r t a t i o n t a k e s a c l o s e r look at the novels
of Meja Mwangi with not only t h e i n t e n t i o n of
i d e n t i f y i n g t h e ' o r i g i n a l s i n ' , but what or who was
r e s p o n s i b l e for it and t h e consequences of t h e e n t i re
e x p e r i e n c e . The study p r o v i d e s a t h e o r e t i c a l framework
by f i r s t examining t h e o n t o l o g i c a l d e f i n i t i o n of
b e t r a y a l before reviewing f u n c t i o n a l d e f i n i t i o n s by
o t h e r w r i t e r s.
B e t r a y a l in t h i s context is seen as a n e g a t i o n of
i d e a l s . I n e v i t a b l y , t h e novels of Mwangi are a
s e r i o u s i n d i c t m e n t of b e t r a y e r s who are l a r g e l y l e a d e rs
of t h e p e o p l e . The novels a l s o defend t h e cause of
t h e oppressed as well as p r o f e r , in some i n s t a n c e s,
s o l u t i o n s t o t h e c y c l i c a l a p o s t a s y . The study a l so
examines t h e sources of t h e a u t h o r ' s c r e a t i v i t y , his
v i s i o n and r e s p o n s e s of t h e p e o p l e.
Mwangi's a e s t h e t i c s i n c l u d e an e f f e c t i v e use of
s e t t i n g as well as symbols, e s p e c i a l l y Timau P o l i c e Post
in Carcase for Hounds, Number Nine in Kill, Me Quick
and Development House in Going Down River Road. He also
pays attention to details such as street filth and
odour.
This, reader deduces that the disharmony in colonial
societies and the subsequent chaos in the neo-colonial
era are traceable to betrayal. While this-reader knows
that Mwangi is not radically different from his
predecessors, he acknowledges that he is refreshi ngly
new, blunt and r e a l i s t i c.
Description
BENSON UPAH
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMAIU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF
ARTS IN AFRICAN LITERATURE.
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES,
AHMAEU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARI A.
DATE: APRIL, 1987.