A STUDY OF THE PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN NWATA RIE AW? AND ERIRI MARA NGWUGWU

Abstract

This study examines the portrayal of women in some Igbo literary works. Literature is an aesthetic creative work of art viewed from different dimensions. The three major genres of literature are prose, drama and poetry. Each genre has its structure and form peculiar to it. Prose is known to be verbose in nature, play takes the form of dialogue/conversation while poetry is concise in the choice of words. One common thing about these three genres of literature is that they are vital in mirroring societal norms from positive or negative perspective. This study examines how women are being portrayed in the society with particular reference to the themes of betrayal, satire and corruption as exemplified in the plays of Onyeka?nw?: Nwata Rie Aw? (2004) and Eriri Mara Ngwugwu (2006). The study adopts a descriptive approach and data were elicited from the selected plays as well as any other relevant work. Findings indicate that the character exhibited by some of the women involved in the play include betrayal of husband/betrothed, corruption and other societal ills. Often times, it is the society that pushes the women to act in an awkward manner in the bid to redeem their self-worth and esteem in the society in which they found themselves. The study advocates that women should be more proactive with the men in their lives and desist from actions inimical to their personality wherever they find themselves. The study among other things recommends that women should endeavor to be firm over certain issues of life and not allow the society to push them around.