A Critical Analysis of Treatment of the Woman Character in four Selected Stories from "Half A Day and other Stories" and "Voices of Change"
Keywords:
Critical Analysis, Treatment, Woman Character, storiesAbstract
The purpose of this study was to critically analyse the treatment of the woman character in four selected stories from two short stories "Half a Day and Other Stories" and "Voices of Change".This study assessedgender roles, the impact of patriarchy on woman character and how rhetorical questions have been used in the selected texts to portray treatment of the woman character in the four selected stories.The study wassignificant,because it depicted the treatment of the woman not only as second class citizen but also the ill- treatment, humiliation, depression, and exploitation denies women rights from enjoying equal status with men in all aspects of life in society. In addition, the study formed an analysis from the selected texts on how the writers assign roles to the woman character, impact of patriarchy to the woman character and how writers have used rhetorical questions among other styles, to portray treatment of the woman character. The findings of this research study also contributed valuable knowledge to the past research on the treatment of woman character in literary texts and therefore formed a reference material to other scholars. The selected short stories helped to bring out the objectives of this study. The findings of the study aimed to benefit the Ministry of Gender in formulation of policies relating to gender discrimination and violence against women and girl child. The study was premised on the Feminist Theory using the strand of Socialist feminism. This study was purely a library-based research. The study adopted an exploratory mode that used a descriptive design to critically analyse the treatment of the woman in four selected stories fromtwo Short Stories Ayebia C (2004) Half a Day and Other Storiesand Abubaker,B,D.(1998)Voices of Change.Data was collected by use of contextual analysis method and was analysed through qualitative method.The findings inspired further scholarly research into the subject of gender discrimination, identified its inherent weaknesses and recommended improvements that may be adopted to make it more effective. The conclusions of this research study can influence studies like: Gender issues and feminist studies. In addition, they can contribute future research on the treatment of the women in the society, which is a contemporary issue. The researcher therefore concluded that, the set objectives of the study were achieved. The selected stories portray the women roles, patriarchy system and use of stylistic devices. Therefore, these bring out the way the treatment of the women in these stories.
Key Words: Critical Analysis, Treatment, Woman Character, stories
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