ASBTRACT
Literature has some unique features that make it
admirable. It is these features that possess the power that spark off the
change in people. An understanding of these features helps us to understand
literature better. Such features as Theme, Style, Plot, Character and
Characterization, Setting etc. All these deal with peoples' emotions and their
environments. Literary appreciation, as well as criticism has helped to expose and
entrench these features. In sum, literature through its aesthetic and artistry
have shaped and affected the society positively. When you read any literary
work, you find yourself in the work which expresses some of the features
mentioned earlier.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Front Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgment iv
Table of Contents v
Abstract viii
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study 1
1.2 Statement
of Problem 5
1.3 Aims
and Objective of the Study 7
1.4 Significance
of the Study 7
1.5 Research
Questions 7
1.6 Scope
of the Study 8
1.7 Limitation
of the Study 8
1.8 Definition
of Terms 8
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Literature
Review on Opinion of Scholars 11
2.3 Literature
as a Tool for Correcting Societal Ills 12
2.4 Literature
as a Tool for Projecting the Dream of Younger Generation12
2.5 Literature
as a Tool for Liberation 13
2.6 The
Role of the Writer in the Society 14
2.7 Literature
as a Tool against Women Marginalization 16
2.8 Conclusion 17
CHAPTER
THREE: AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND SYNOPSIS
3.1 Introduction 18
3.2 Autobiography
of the Author, The Last Duty 18
3.3 The Last Duty 19
3.4 Plot
Account 20
3.5 Setting 24
3.6 Themes 25
3.7 Major
Characters 27
3.8 Language
and Style 28
3.9 Autobiography
of the Author, Purple Hibiscus 29
3.10 Purple Hibiscus 30
3.11 Plot
Account 30
3.12 Setting 31
3.13 Themes 32
3.14 Characters 34
3.15 Style
and Language 35
CHAPTER
FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.0 Introduction 36
4. 1 Presentation of Data on The
Last Duty 36
4.2 Analysis of Data on Text I 38
4.3 Characterization 40
4.4 Language and Style 41
4.5 Plot Account 42
4.6 Analysis of Data on Text II 43
4.7 Narrative Technique 45
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION
5.0 Introduction 47
5.1 Response to Research
Questions 47
5.2 Findings 48
5.3 Recommendations 50
REFERENCES 51
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
This research entitled "Literature" a vehicle
for social change" sets out to study how literature can bring about change
in the society.
In this research I might use the word "vehicle"
and "tool" interchangeably, in addition to the words "change”
and "development" in order to achieve the objective set for this
work.
The issue of whether literature has the capacity to
trigger off a revolution has been an enduring controversy. Some people believe
it does not, while others argue that literature is of no use if writers write
and no one reads what they write. A work of art becomes effective only when it
is read. A writer and critic, Kole Omotoso has more to say on this;
The society has to use what it produces for literature to
be relevant. For instance, had not responded to some of the 18th and 19th
century novels depicting the suffering in Russia, the Russian revolution would
not have happened. It was when a member of the British parliament read Charles Dickens' representation of poetry in London in
Oliver Twist that they decided in 1832 to come up with an education act.
... I still insist that literature has no function,
except that which is given it by those who read it. On its own, it cannot
change anything unless someone responds to the work and does
something with it. If there is no
response to literature, there is little literature can do (Ezeigbo 2000-13).
What we deduce from Omotoso's assertion is the fact that literature
can be a catalyst to revolutionary change. What is required is for an
individual (a reader) or individuals (readers) to apply the knowledge, the
information gathered from literature to bring social change.
The unrelenting persecution faced by writers all over the
world is a clear indication that literature can indeed be a weapon to achieve
change, which bad leaders dread; hence the persecution of courageous writers.
In apartheid South Africa, in Kenya during the time of Arap Moi, in Nigeria
under Abacha, and in Eastern European countries during the cold war, many
writers faced death sentence, imprisonment and detention as a result of their work and their· activism. Literature is a
threat to dictators. Bad leaders fear and hate writers and their works.
In traditional African society, art was functional, and
the artist, performer or story teller was fully aware of this. The traditional
oral artist knows the didactic role his/her art had to play and geared the performance
towards achieving that end (Ezeigbo 2000: 57-58). Thus in such a society, art
was placed at the service of the society. Modern African writers are a product
of their species of the traditional society. At the African-scandinavian
writer's conference in Stockholm in 1967, Soyinka, among other things, declared
"the artist has always functioned in African societies as the record of
mores and experiences of his society and as the voice of vision in his
time" (21).
Perhaps writers elsewhere have not always thought it their
responsibility to direct their societies. For instance the followers of
"The Aesthetic Movement" believed in the dictum" art for arts
sake" and defended this position in the late 19th century Europe.
This type of attitude has been rejected by most African
writers. Chinue Achebe believes that the writer "should match right in
front" in "the task of re-education and re-generation that must be
done and that the artist is "the sensitive point in his community"
(45). Agreeing, with Soyinka and Achebe, Romanus Egude adds that the literary
artist" dissects the society not only at its political level but also at
its moral levels" (64).
This is what other writers have done over the years Since
Nigerian literature came of age with the publication of Achebe's Things Fall
Apart in 1958. Our writers are among the best in the world; they are contributing through the power
of their imagination and artistic creativity to the growth of literary
productions that are changing the face of world literature, Writers, with award
wining titles, like Chinue Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Buchi Emecheta, Ben Okri, Niyi
Osundare, Femi,
Osofisan, Zainab Alkali, Helon Habila, Chimamanda Adichie, Promise Ogochukwu
and others have put Nigerian literature in the world's literary hall of fame
and contributed to Nigeria's cultural and intellectual development. They have used
art as a means of effecting revolutionary changes in society.
It seems proper to mention the contribution women writers
have made in engendering equity and parity in gender relations and in creating
awareness of the plight of women in the world's largely patriarchal societies.
From Europe to the Americas, Asia and Africa, women writers have consistently portrayed the injustice the female gender faces from birth
to old age. There is no doubt that some of the finest prose writers-novelist
especially-in the world, past and present, have been women. This is even more
evident in the African literary tradition.
Modern writers like Virginia Woolf, Margret Drabble,
Emma Tennant, Tone Morrison, Alue Walker,
Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, Yvonne Vera, Zaynab Alkali, Tess Onwueme, Grace
Ogot etc, raised women's consciousness, addressed the politics, thus drawing
attention to the fact that women are subjugated and marginalized. It is obvious
that culture is pivotal in the consideration of gender difference (Ezeigbo
1996). Culture plays a prominent role in the subordination of women· to a
subaltern position in discourse and in real life (Ezeegbo 2005).
1.2 STATEMENT OF
PROBLEM
As earlier remarked, this research sets out to study how
literature can change the society. There are many ways literature can change
the society I Shall be mentioning few of them.
·
Literature teaches. It
is teach us everything about humanity. It is important to know that no writer
writes in a vacuum. What they depict In their writings is the experience of people in their environments and societies
of which are either good or bad. If good, it is encouraged but if bad, it is corrected. A good teaching generally is designed to bring
about a change in behaviour. If literature goes on to achieve this, then
literature is good and should be encouraged.
·
I also want to point
out here that literature helps to develop and promote language. Apart from
English which has over the years become the official and second language to
most countries of the world, including Africa, most African local language have
entered into English lexicon what we have as Nigerian language today is part of
the development and promotion of language. There is no other field of discipline
that develops and promotes language like literature. It is only in a literary
piece you can find such Nigerian English as "Oga", "botton
power" "go-slow", "garri", "agbada".
·
Literature promotes
and preserves culture. You, get to know about people's culture through their
literature. African culture and tradition have commanded attention of many
people of the world through their literature, just like people from other
continents of the world. For instance, the culture of the Igbo people in the
eastern part of Nigeria is captured in Acbebe's Things Fall Apart before the corning
of the Whiteman. The younger generations are brought to
the knowledge.
·
Literature preserves
history. For instance, the Nigerian civil war story would have been forgotten
if writers like Adichie in her Half of the Yellow Sun and the playwright
Onyebuchi's Bleeding scare (2005) to mention a few.
·
Literature also
entertains. It is meant to entertain. It brings happiness. Literature
elicits the beating of nature. It is for relaxation. It mirrors the society.
1.3 AIMS AND
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research work is to sensitize the society
on the need to develop a reading culture on literary works. It is also aimed at
exposing the hidden powers that literature possesses. Literature is not just
for pleasure. There is more to it in our quest for societal changed
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The significance of the study will be drawn as we progress
in the course of this research work.
1.5 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
In the course of this project work, the following
questions will be addressed;
·
Has literature the ability to change the society?
·
What are those
features in literature that helps it achieve
this change?
·
Are the societies
willing to change?
·
What is the
relationship between literature and history?
·
What is the
relationship between literature and culture?
·
How is the government
encouraging up-coming artist?
1.6 SCOPE OF THE
STUDY
The scope of this study captures little part of English, American, East
African and finally narrowed down to Nigeria.
1.7 LIMITATION OF
THE STUDY
This study can only be limited by time and non-availability
of data etc.
1.8 DEFINITION OF
TERMS
Different terms will be used in the course of this
research work and they will be well defined
·
HISTORY: This is the events of the past records of people, nations
and their culture.
·
CULTURE: This is the way of life and value of people.
·
RELIGION: This is the relationship between God and man through
indirect and direct contact.
·
SOCIETY: It is a cluster of people with the same speech and
cultural belief.
·
SETTING: It is
the location and time of an event.
·
THEME: It is the central idea of a story.
·
DICTION: It is the choice of language.
·
PLOT: It is the story-line of the event.
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