Joys Of Motherhood

 Greetings! I am Avani Jani, writing this blog as a Thinking Activity on Buchi Emecheta's novel 'The Joys Of Motherhood' assigned by Megha Ma'am.

“God, when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody’s appendage? she prayed desperately.”

                                                                ― Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood

Who is Buchi Emecheta?

Buchi Emecheta, born Florence Onyebuchi Emecheta on July 21, 1944, in Lagos, Nigeria, and passing away on January 25, 2017, in London, England, was a renowned Igbo writer. Her novels predominantly delve into the challenging and unequal status of women within immigrant and African communities, grappling with the clash between tradition and modernity.

At the age of 16, Emecheta entered into marriage and subsequently migrated with her husband to London in 1962. Her early experiences in England, including the difficulties she faced, served as inspiration for her writing. Initially featured in New Statesman magazine, her stories were later compiled into the novel "In the Ditch" (1972), followed by "Second-Class Citizen" (1974), both later combined in the volume "Adah’s Story" (1983). These works lay the foundation for Emecheta’s key themes: the pursuit of gender equality, self-assurance, and human dignity.

Differing slightly in style, Emecheta’s novel "Gwendolen" (1989), also known as "The Family," tackles immigrant life in Britain, a theme further explored in "Kehinde" (1994) and "The New Tribe" (2000). The majority of Emecheta’s other novels, such as "The Bride Price" (1976), "The Slave Girl" (1977), "The Joys of Motherhood" (1979), "Destination Biafra" (1982), and "Double Yoke" (1982), are rooted in Nigeria and offer realistic portrayals of life there. Among her most powerful works is "The Rape of Shavi" (1983), set in a fictitious African kingdom and delving into the upheavals caused by a plane crash involving Europeans seeking refuge from an imminent nuclear disaster.

As we have some questions to discuss like given below :

1. “The most celebrated female character in African creative writing is the African mother.” by Marie A. Umeh according to this, is the character of Nnu Ego celebrating motherhood or not? Explain.

2. The basic narrative lends itself toward neo-feminism. The main female characters struggle to shed the conditioning which forces them to act out roles that bring little fulfillment. With reference to this, study The Joys of Motherhood by applying a feminist theory.

3. “God, when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody’s appendage? I was born alone, and I shall die alone. What have I gained from all this?” Why does Nnu Ego say this? Write your views on this.

4. “The title of Emecheta's novel is patently ironic, for it would seem that there are few joys associated with motherhood after all.” Explain.

In Nigerian literature, there emerges a novel trend wherein introspective female characters boldly express their emotions. A prime example of this shift is seen in the classic novel "The Joys of Motherhood," which courageously confronts the daunting expectations imposed on women under the guise of the ideal motherhood. This groundbreaking work not only challenges societal norms but also plays a pivotal role in establishing a literary tradition that amplifies the voices of African women.

Through the perspective of the traditionalist character Nnu Ego, Emecheta deftly explores the notion that women bear a collective responsibility to both critique and shape societal norms. The novel's title, borrowed from the poignant closing line of Flora Nwapa’s renowned novel "Efuru," further underscores the interconnectedness of these narratives and their contribution to the African literary landscape.

"God, when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody's appendage? I was born alone, and I shall die alone. What have I gained from all this? Yes, I have many children, but what do I have to feed them on? In my life. I have to work myself to the bone to look after them. I have to give them my all. And if I am lucky enough to die in peace, I even have to give them my soul. They will worship my dead spirit to provide for them: it will be hailed as a good spirit so long as there are plenty of yams and children in the family, but if anything should go wrong, if a young wife does not conceive or there is a famine, my dead spirit will be blamed. When will I be free?"

In the story, the main character, Nnu Ego, feels deeply lost and questions the purpose of her life. She wishes for a world where women can find happiness without having to fit into traditional roles. Her thoughts, like "I was born alone, and I shall die alone. What have I gained from all this?" show her inner struggle with her identity.

The book talks about how society expects women to have many children to be considered successful. But it also shows how much mothers have to sacrifice for their children. Nnu Ego wonders if it's fair to judge a woman's value only based on her ability to be a mother.

The story is set in Africa in the 20th century, where traditions strongly influence people's ideas about motherhood. Nnu Ego realizes that despite her efforts, she can't bring true happiness to her family. This realization hits her hard, especially after she has twin daughters.

Nnu Ego's story reflects the challenges and sacrifices mothers face. Even though she tries her best, she learns that just having children doesn't guarantee a good life. The author, Buchi Emecheta, wants us to rethink what it means to be a mother and challenges old-fashioned beliefs.

The book's chapters, from "The Mother" to "The Canonized Mother," show Nnu Ego's journey and struggles. She faces discrimination and hardship in a society that expects women to conform to certain roles. But her story teaches us that being a mother isn't the only way for a woman to find fulfillment.