WOMAN-WHORE-GIRL (CHILD) : A PSYCHO-REALIST PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORKS OF CALIXTHE BEYALA.
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Date
2003
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Publisher
The Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry.
Abstract
Calixthe Beyala’s work is a clear departure from the literary tradition of contemporary African writers. We would not undermine the seriousness of her themes and concerns by categorising them as cheap sex thrillers; however, the pornographic details and incisive sarcasm in the portrayal of debilitating patrocentric traditions constitute a stark reality of her world. The study adopts a psycho-realist approach to explain and analyse her narrative strain, the multiplication of erotic and sexual scenes, pathetic living conditions of the poor people that she has chosen to write about and the psyche of women who seem to find unlimited pleasure in prostitution.
Description
CALIXTHE BEYALA WRITES WITH SARCASM DENOUNCING THE RULE OF THE PHALLUS AND MAY BE ASKING FOR THE TOTAL ANNIHILATION OF MEN, WHO SHE CONSIDERS THE CAUSE OF HUMAN PROBLEMS. SHE RAISES THE ISSUE OF THE OBJECTIFICATION OF THE FEMALE BODY THROUGH GENITAL MUTILATION, RAPE, EARLY MARRIAGE AND PROSTITUTION. THE REALITY APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF SOME HER NOVELS SHOWS HOW SHE REFLECTS HER SOCIETY, CAMEROON AND THE PROBLEMS THAT WOMEN FACE THAT MAY NOT BE CONFINED TO HER IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY. EVEN THOUGH HER HYPERBOLIC REPRESENTATIONS ARE VERY PUNGENT AND SEVERE. BEYALA'S REPRESSED ANGER AGAINST PATRIARCHY AND NEGATIVE SEXUAL EXPERIENCE MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MULTIPLE PHALLIC OR VAGINAL IMAGES IN HER NOVELS.
Keywords
REALISM, FORCED PROSITUTION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC DISINTEGRATION, SEXUAL IMAGES, PORNOGRAPHIC, HATRED, PHALLUSES, REPRESSION OF PASSIONS, SUBLIMATION OF PASSIONS, GIRLS, WOMEN, EQUALITY