Beyond The Emancipated Woman: Revisiting Fictional Experiences In Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman At Point Zero And Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.

Abstract

Like Marxism, feminism finds its roots in the struggle against prevalent social power and ideology relations. Using enlightenment discourse as a potent tool, it stresses the idea of an independent woman, who is rational and sovereign to decide her destiny. This, feminism has been able to partially achieve, but not in all quarters. Back in Africa, feminism has landed on various fronts: political, literary, cultural, and economic among others. The clamour for the emancipated Black Woman, who should be free from traditional denigration and oppression, is almost deafening. African female novelists have championed this course with their creative writings. But then, after Black Woman has secured her much desired emancipation, what becomes of her newly acquired freedom? This paper shall examine the nature of Black Woman’s emancipation as portrayed by Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.

Keywords: Culture, Emancipation, Female, Oppression, Woman.