LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 20:2 February 2020
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Motherhood is Womanhood: Myth or Reality?
A Study of Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood

Rinku Rani, Ph.D. Scholar

Abstract

African culture has a strong belief in the supremacy of motherhood. African male writers have also glorified the image of an African mother. Certain phrases such as ‘mother is supreme', ‘mother is gold' and ‘Mother Africa' have been created to valorize motherhood. Being creator, no doubt, a mother is next to God, but motherhood should not be considered as the ultimate goal of a woman's life. If womanhood is defined in terms of motherhood, then we can imagine the condition of a woman who fails to be a mother. Earlier African male writers have portrayed bright side of motherhood showing the ideal image of mothers. The real image of motherhood has been presented by African female writers. Their image is quite different from that which has been depicted by their male counterparts. Buchi Emecheta is one of them. She interrogates prevailing myths related to African motherhood. She delineates what it means to be a mother in Igbo society and how social expectations make an infertile woman feel herself as useless and failed one. The novel The Joys of Motherhood deals with the pathetic story of mother Nnu Ego. She is ill-treated, despised by her husband, family, and society when she fails to bear a child. She suffers a lot when she cannot conceive but her problems double when she becomes the mother of many children. Emecheta seems to support what Adrienne Rich writes about motherhood. According to Rich, the institute of motherhood defines a mother as an object, not as an individual.

Keywords: Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood, Motherhood, Patriarchy, Burden, Myth, Stigma, Object, Igbo community, Sacrifice, Self-effacement.

Introduction

The importance of motherhood in the life of women is one of those values which is shared by every society irrespective of cultural differences. Motherhood is a significant part of African culture. John S. Mbiti writes that motherhood is a central concept of African philosophy. The theme of motherhood has been of central importance in the twentieth century’s African literature. Many proverbs related to motherhood have been mentioned in the literature. Andrea Benton Rushing mentions an important African proverb, "Mother is gold.” Camara Laye and Senghor emphasize that the mother is the symbol of Africa. Mother Africa trope has depicted Africa as a mother. This theme has been exploited in the works of anti-colonial nationalists in Africa. African mother has also been transformed into a mythical figure by poets and writers. The mother has been eulogized by the male authors. But women writers or some critics have questioned such exalted images and presented the reality of a mother in society. D'Almeida comments that such images are far removed from the reality of women's daily existence (91).

The title of the novel hints that motherhood is a central theme in it. Buchi Emecheta has named chapters as 'The Mother', ‘The Mother's Mother’, ‘The Mother's Early Life’, and ‘First Shock of Motherhood’ etc. to portray the story of a mother. The novel highlights how an Igbo woman, Nnu Ego, is victimized due to myths and stereotypes related to motherhood. Buchi Emecheta delineates how various myths and mores are nourished by an Igbo culture to maintain patriarchal system to control women. Women like Nun Ego internalize such myths and mores to such an extent that they get ready to sacrifice their freedom, identity, and even life for them. Fertility, self-sacrifice and selfless love for family are considered jewels for a woman.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Rinku Rani

Rinku Rani, M.A., PGCTE, B.Ed., M. Phil. M.A. (Education)
JRF (English), NET (Education), Ph.D. (Research Scholar)
Department of English
B.P.S. Mahila Vishwavidalaya, Khanpur Kalan
Sonipat, Haryana
rinkuvishnoiadr@yahoo.com
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