THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL ORDER IN THE NOVELS OF ELECHI AMADI

THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL ORDER IN THE NOVELS OF ELECHI AMADI

ABSTRACT

Social Order is a recurring theme in Amadi’s novels: The Concubine, The Great Ponds and The Slave. Social Order has to do with the roles played by individual members of society towards the society’s survival. In traditional society such as Amadi’s Ikwerre, the backgound of the trilogy, social order is based on the religious beliefs of the community which also spell the norms and values of the society. This study focuses on the theme of social order raised by Amadi in the trilogy. Chapter one begins with the appraisal of the critical works and attempts to conceptualize social order. The chapter discusses the views on social order of functionalists and marxists as applied in Amadi’s work and as a base for examining the Ikwerre concept of what constitutes orderliness and disorderliness in society. A Chapter is given to each novel. Thus, chapters Two to Four discuss The Concubine, The Great Ponds and The Slave respectively. In each case, a look is taken at how, why and by whom social disruption is brought about in each novel. Attention is given to the portraits of the major characters in each novel with a view to tracing orderliness or disorderliness in the society to the flaws in these characters. Social conventions and their ultimate pressure on the characters are also critically looked at. An examination is also made of how the conflicts are settled or contained, whether order is restored in the end and the effects of all these on the societies. Comparisons are drawn with other novelists such as Achebe and Ngugi. Chapter Five, which is the conclusion, summarises the major arguments advanced in the study, re-evaluates Amadi’s literary qualities, draws parallels between the novels, thematically and structurally, and discusses Amadi as a committed writer who quests for order in nation-building.

THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL ORDER IN THE NOVELS OF ELECHI AMADI

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