| Peer-Reviewed

Transgressions and Sanctions in Two Nigerian Novels

Received: 19 June 2023     Accepted: 11 July 2023     Published: 4 August 2023
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

The Igbos make up one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. They are both egalitarian and patriarchal in nature and they believe in the principles of justice and fairness. Consequently, they operate a cultural worldview which compels every member of the society to operate by the society’s rules and standards of behaviour and the transgression of which attracts some sanction. As a patriarchal society, they place a high premium on paternal honour and respect. This is reflected in one of their proverbs: “Nwata tulie nna ya elu, ogodo nna ya ayochie ya anya”. (A child who dishonours his father by treating him like a toy is blinded by the father’s loin cloth/scrotum). This illustrates the fact that the Igbos demand for justice on acts of paternal/parental dishonour. This proverb is brought home in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958, henceforth Things) and Adichie's Purple Hibiscus (2006, henceforth, Purple), two novels set in Igbo community and authored by Igbo writers These two works are related in their heroes’ dishonourable treatment of their fathers and the grievous sanctions that come with such despicable acts. This essay adopts the above Igbo proverb and Jeremy Collier’s view of literature as a discipline that encourages virtue and condemns vice (P. 97). It argues that the protagonists’ transgression of the Igbo code of filial relationship spells their disastrous end, and concludes on the note that Achebe and Adichie, two Nigerian Igbo writers, inscribe their cultural worldview and identity in these novels.

Published in English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 8, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13
Page(s) 44-50
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Igbo Culture, Transgressions, Sanctions, Paternal Dishonour, Protagonists

References
[1] Achebe, Chinua. “Africa and Her Writers.” Morning yet on Creation Day. London: Heinemann, 19-29, 1975.
[2] Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann, 1958.
[3] Adichie, Chimamanda. Purple Hibiscus. Lagos: Farafina, 2006.
[4] Awoonor, Kofi in Ojimmah, Umelo. Chinua Achebe: New Perspectives. Ibadan: Spectrum, 1991.
[5] Bird, Otto. The Idea of Justice. New York: Fredrick Praeger, 1976.
[6] Collier Jeremy. “A Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage.” English Literary Criticism: Restoration and the 18th Century. Hayes, Samuel. Ed. New York: Appleton - Century Crofts, 1963. 85-97.
[7] Dasylva, Ademola O. “Culture Matters: African Literary Traditions, Organic Ontologies and Epistemological Roots”: An Inaugural Lecture. Ibadan University Press, 2017.
[8] Dick, Angela Ngozi. “Interface of the Environment and Characters in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus” English Linguistic Research Vol. 7, No. 4: 2018. 31-35. Retrieved from http://elr.sciedupress.com on 18/9/21.
[9] Echemin, Kester. “Cultural Hero in the Novels of Chinua Achebe”. The Nigerian Journal of the Humanities, 8 (1996): 1-13.
[10] Eze, Chidiebière. A Practical Guide to Literature. Nsukka: University of Nigeria Press, 2009. Ezeigbo, Akachi. Artistic Creativity: Literature in the Service of Society. Inaugural Lecture. Lagos: University of Lagos Press, 2008.
[11] Ezeigbo, Akachi. Artistic Creativity: Literature in the Service of Society. Inaugural Lecture. Lagos: University of Lagos Press, 2008.
[12] Ezeigbo, Akachi. Snail Sense Feminism: Building on an Indigenous Model Monograph Series. Lagos: University of Lagos Press, 2012.
[13] Inyama, Nnaemeka. F. “From Homestead Dictator to National Tyrant: Evolution of the Father/Protector Image in Achebe's Novels”: Eagle on Iroko: Selected Papers from Chinua Achebe International Symposium 1990, Ihekweazu, E. Ed. Ibadan: Heinemann, 216-223, 1996.
[14] Maiwada, Ahmed. “Purple Hibiscus, Adichie's Debt to Achebe?” Nov., 2012, Web.
[15] Marwala, Tshilidzi. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus and Gender-Based Violence. July 20, 2020, 1-5. Retrieved from http://www.voices360.com/lifestyle/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie on 30/8/21
[16] Ngara, Emmanuel. Ideology and Forms in African Poetry: Implication for Communication. London: James Currey, 1990.
[17] Nnolim, Charles. "The Artist in Search of the Right Leadership: Achebe as a Social Critic:" Eagle on Iroko three: Selected Papers from the Chimua Achebe International Symposium 1990. Ihekweazu, E. Ed. Ibadan: Heinemann, 170-177, 1996.
[18] Nnolim, Charles “Literature as Philosophy of Life". Keynote Address at the International Conference of the Literary Society of Nigeria in Honour of Romanus Egudu in Benin, 16-19 Nov., 2010. 3-8.
[19] Nnolim, Charles. Issues in African Literature. Lagos: Malthouse, 2010.
[20] Okuyade, Ogaga. "Changing Borders and Creating Voices: Silence as Character in Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus". Journal of Pan African Studies. 1: 9, 2007 Oct. 28; 2010. Web.
[21] Oladitan, Olalere. From Literature Towards a Law-Culture Discipline: An Unending Quest for Justice. Inaugural Lecture, Ile-Ife: OAU Press, 2011.
[22] Osunbade, Niyi."Explicatures in Conversational Discourse in Adichie's Purple Hibiscus. Nordic Journal of African Studies. 2009 18.2, 138-153.
[23] Raji-Oyelade, Remi. “My Mandate is to Reposition ANA for Institutional Support.” Guardian Nigeria, Friday Dec., 2011, 1-3. Web.
[24] Shelley, Percy B. In an online call for Papers lnternational Conference on Comparative Literature, Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Cairo, Egypt a Cairo University International Journal of English an E-Book held 12-15 Nov., 2012. Conference Theme: "Creativity and Revolution". Nov., 13, 2012. Web.
[25] The New King James Bible, Version, Thomas Nelson Inc. USA, 1982.
[26] Thelwell, Michael. “Telling the Truth is the Only Way...” Eagle on Iroko: Selected Papers from the Chinua Achebe International Symposium, 1990. Ihekweazu, E. Ed. Ibadan: Heinemann, 1-21, 1996.
[27] Trilling, Lionel. “Manners, Moral and the Novel”. Essentials of the Theory of Fiction. Haffman, M. J. and Murphy, P. D. Eds. London: Leicester UP, 77-91, 1996.
[28] Ugwuanvi, Kingsley O. “Western Mentality and Emasculation in Chimamanda Adichie's Purple Hibiscus”. Journal of the Literary Society of Nigeria (JLSN) 3: 1, 35-44, June 2011.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Abigail Obiageli Eruaga. (2023). Transgressions and Sanctions in Two Nigerian Novels. English Language, Literature & Culture, 8(3), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Abigail Obiageli Eruaga. Transgressions and Sanctions in Two Nigerian Novels. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2023, 8(3), 44-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Abigail Obiageli Eruaga. Transgressions and Sanctions in Two Nigerian Novels. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2023;8(3):44-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13,
      author = {Abigail Obiageli Eruaga},
      title = {Transgressions and Sanctions in Two Nigerian Novels},
      journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
      volume = {8},
      number = {3},
      pages = {44-50},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20230803.13},
      abstract = {The Igbos make up one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. They are both egalitarian and patriarchal in nature and they believe in the principles of justice and fairness. Consequently, they operate a cultural worldview which compels every member of the society to operate by the society’s rules and standards of behaviour and the transgression of which attracts some sanction. As a patriarchal society, they place a high premium on paternal honour and respect. This is reflected in one of their proverbs: “Nwata tulie nna ya elu, ogodo nna ya ayochie ya anya”. (A child who dishonours his father by treating him like a toy is blinded by the father’s loin cloth/scrotum). This illustrates the fact that the Igbos demand for justice on acts of paternal/parental dishonour. This proverb is brought home in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958, henceforth Things) and Adichie's Purple Hibiscus (2006, henceforth, Purple), two novels set in Igbo community and authored by Igbo writers These two works are related in their heroes’ dishonourable treatment of their fathers and the grievous sanctions that come with such despicable acts. This essay adopts the above Igbo proverb and Jeremy Collier’s view of literature as a discipline that encourages virtue and condemns vice (P. 97). It argues that the protagonists’ transgression of the Igbo code of filial relationship spells their disastrous end, and concludes on the note that Achebe and Adichie, two Nigerian Igbo writers, inscribe their cultural worldview and identity in these novels.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Transgressions and Sanctions in Two Nigerian Novels
    AU  - Abigail Obiageli Eruaga
    Y1  - 2023/08/04
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13
    T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
    JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
    JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
    SP  - 44
    EP  - 50
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-2413
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230803.13
    AB  - The Igbos make up one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. They are both egalitarian and patriarchal in nature and they believe in the principles of justice and fairness. Consequently, they operate a cultural worldview which compels every member of the society to operate by the society’s rules and standards of behaviour and the transgression of which attracts some sanction. As a patriarchal society, they place a high premium on paternal honour and respect. This is reflected in one of their proverbs: “Nwata tulie nna ya elu, ogodo nna ya ayochie ya anya”. (A child who dishonours his father by treating him like a toy is blinded by the father’s loin cloth/scrotum). This illustrates the fact that the Igbos demand for justice on acts of paternal/parental dishonour. This proverb is brought home in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958, henceforth Things) and Adichie's Purple Hibiscus (2006, henceforth, Purple), two novels set in Igbo community and authored by Igbo writers These two works are related in their heroes’ dishonourable treatment of their fathers and the grievous sanctions that come with such despicable acts. This essay adopts the above Igbo proverb and Jeremy Collier’s view of literature as a discipline that encourages virtue and condemns vice (P. 97). It argues that the protagonists’ transgression of the Igbo code of filial relationship spells their disastrous end, and concludes on the note that Achebe and Adichie, two Nigerian Igbo writers, inscribe their cultural worldview and identity in these novels.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of English and Literature, Faculty of Arts, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria

  • Sections