
Abstract: This study examines the Theme of Disappointment in the Novels of Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood and Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. With response to psychological pain and agony in the characters under investigation, the study portrays that disappointment, suffering and the emotional trauma caused by a situation which is appraised as an absence of a positive outcome. Emotional disappointment captures two different emotional experiences Outcome-Related Disappointment and Person-Related Disappointment while Outcome-Related Disappointment has implications in a more individual context such as motivational, decision making and achievement. Person-Related Disappointment has implications in a more social context. These experiences occur in different situations that are phenomenological different and have different behavioural consequences as exhibited by the characters concerned.
Disappointment could be seen as not getting what one wants or getting what one does not want and it could be also absence of a positive outcome or the presence of a negative outcome. This study is to throw more light on the questions of whether disappointment can occur without expectation or more precisely whether expectation is indeed a prerequisite for the use of the term disappointment. The above mentioned perspectives are what this research analyses as they relate to characters in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibsicus, and Naguib Mahfouz Midaq Alley .To achieve this objective, this work is organized in five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction which explores the meaning and origin of disappointment. Chapter two is on Representation of Disappointment in The Joys of Motherhood, Purple Hibiscus
Theme of Disappointment in the Novels of Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood and Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Disappointment is traced to the Middle English by way of the old French word disappointer. Literally, disappointment is to remove one from office. It is the result of expectations that was unfulfilled and was initially desired or hoped for; when performance falls short of expectation we have disappointment. It is also an emotional and psychological experience and can have the same emotional effects with such powerful emotions such as love, hate, fear, sadness, grief, anger and jealousy. On this notion, Lawson opines that disappointment presupposes some expectations and he notes
‘’responses to experiences of disappointment will vary according to the social context in which the person finds himself or herself and to the level of expectation (85). This consequently forms the research topic on the theme of disappointment in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood and Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. For instance, one of the major disappointments women face in the society as portrayed by Buchi Emecheta and Adichie are seen especially not able to produce a male child… the punishment is to drive out such a woman or replace her with another woman… and such a woman is seen as incomplete in other words, barreled. From the study, we have been exposed not only to the
various definitions made by scholars but also able to distinguish between disappointment and
related negative emotions like regret, sadness, anger. Emecheta portrays this instances in The Joys of Motherhood were one of her female characters, Adaku, Nnaife’s wife who was unable to produce a male child for her husband. According to the author, one of the Chiefs said to Nnu-Ego Nnaife’s wife thus:
You are the mother of the male children that make him a man. If Adaku dies today, her peoples not her husband’s people will come for her body. It is not so will you (159).
The above statement proved that a woman passes through various disappointments especially when it comes to child bearing as seen in the statement above.
On the other hand, for a long time now, women have been labeled mothers, child bearers, wives and home keepers, with the kitchen as their office and everything weak has been ascribed to the female. This statement makes female writer like Ruth Sheila in her essay entitled Issues in Feminism to say thus:
No real man may tolerate within himself at least the tender qualities he must deny himself any tendency towards them, any personal experience of them. Instead, these traits must be projected outward. The compliment of his masculine character is settled on his sexual complement, woman… I am man; she is woman. I am tough; she is tender. I am self-sufficient; she is needful (45).
Women, therefore, serve in patriarchy as a negative image of men. They go through various humiliation, oppression, victimization, frustration and disappointment by their male counterparts. For instance, Emecheta displays some women in her novel, The Joys of Motherhood, as those who are able to pass through difficulties at the same time those survive those difficulties.
On the other hand, Adichie in Purple Hibiscus portrays how women pass through humiliation, discrimination and emotional trauma. She demonstrates this instance through the character of Eugene who uses his religious beliefs to ensure his family. No doubt, in African society, especially Nigeria, male children are preferred to female ones. Parents discriminates against the female children… these children are not treated equally and not allowed the same human rights in the home. All these instances from the research work under investigation.
According to Debbie, Neill, “Igbo society upholds the nation of manliness as fundamental social norm. Violence against women is justified, African women languished on the fringe of their Universe neglected, exploited, degenerated, and indeed made to feel like outsider” (26).
The above statement has shown that males are valued as the stronger and great achievers in contrast to the females are who are regarded as weak vessels.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Buch Emecheta and Ngozi Adichie through their novels under investigation condemned the African culture that gives impetus to men and preaches the quality of both sexes.
In some African societies, women are not expected to be seen at the village square and argued with the men.
In the same vein, if a husband dies and the women is still young, her husband’s brother can inherit the woman whether or not she likes it. But, when a woman, dies the husband can marry as many wives as he wants. All these issues form the research problem with reference to the research topic.
Theme of Disappointment in the Novels of Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood and Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this research work is to examine the theme of disappointment in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood and Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The research work will be of significance to other researchers who would find this work important. The study will also be of great significant to the entire African society how African cultural practices affect the female emotionally and psychologically. The study will also be of immense significance to students of English and Literature about the important of studying Literature.