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HISTORICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL
DIMENSIONS REFLECTED IN THE NOVELS
OF SELECTED AFRICAN WRITERS

A Dissertation
Presented to the
Faculty of the Graduate School
Batangas State University
Batangas City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
of Doctor of Philosophy
Major in English

by
NGUYEN THI MINH LOAN
2015


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APPROVAL SHEET

This dissertation entitled “HISTORICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL AND
PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSIONS REFLECTED IN THE NOVELS OF
SELECTED AFRICAN WRITERS” prepared and submitted by NGUYEN THI
MINH LOAN in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy major in English has been examined and is recommended for
Oral Examination.
MARIA LUISA A. VALDEZ, Ph.D.
Adviser

PANEL OF EXAMINERS
Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a grade of _______.

DR. MATILDA H. DIMAANO
Chairman
DR. AMADA G. BANAAG
Member

DR. FELIX M. PANOPIO
Member
DR. MYRNA G. SULIT
External Representative

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

degree of Doctor of Philosophy major in English.

Comprehensive Examination: PASSED

________________
Date

MATILDA H. DIMAANO, Ph.D.
Dean, Graduate Studies
College of Arts and Sciences


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ABSTRACT
Title:

HISTORICAL,
SOCIOLOGICAL
AND
PHILOSOPHICAL
DIMENSIONS REFLECTED IN THE NOVELS OF SELECTED
AFRICAN WRITERS


Author:

Nguyen Thi Minh Loan

Degree:

Doctor of Philosophy

Major:

English

Year:

2015

Adviser:
Maria Luisa A. Valdez, Ph.D.
_______________________________________________________________
Summary
From the beginning of colonial situation, literature was the sharp weapon of
African writers to oppose colonialism and proudly assert the values of the cultures
that the colonials had tried to destroy. Therefore, many of African writers chose to
use their works to explore, portray, and expose these social experiences in their
different works. Among African writers, Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah and Tsitsi Dangarembga are the pioneers in using the pen as the weapon against
colonialism.
The wisdom embodied in the selected works of these African writers
could be one of the motivating factors that could help readers in the world
understand about internal and external pressures African people suffered as



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well as the values they lost in colonial and post-colonial periods.
The representative literary works were analyzed: No Longer at Ease by
Achebe, Fragments by Armah and Nervous Conditions by Dangarembga. The
said selections were chosen because of the correlation between the
aforementioned themes, literary devices and approaches which helped in
unveiling the authors’ philosophy of life.
The study yielded the following findings: Although No Longer at Ease
cannot strictly be considered a historical document, it is still an ethnographic
record of a chaotic African society in a period of social transformation from
traditional tribal life to modern urban life and from colonial to postcolonial.
Fragments deploys the image of a neo-colony in order to sustain the fact that
Ghana in particular and Africa in general are still controlled by the West. Set in
the Rhodesia of the 1950s to early 1970s, Nervous Conditions spans important
historical periods in the history of Zimbabwe. Although for a reader unfamiliar
with Zimbabwe’s history, the political significance of some important years is
not apparent in the novel, three events all allude to the national events.
Sociological characters of the time conveyed through these novels refer to the
following issues: customs, traditions and beliefs. These writers mention a fact
that the old African ways and customs have been nearly or completely



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abandoned for the new system in their novels.
The literacy devices used in No Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous
Conditions play a crucial role in enhancing these novels’ themes and bring the
novels their widespread acceptance as quality pieces of literature. The author’s
talent is highly appreciated with their flexible use of symbolism, flashback,
foreshadowing, and figures of speech.
In the treatment of Achebe’s three novels, the study used the following
approaches. The historical approach attempts to show that the function of
Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga's fiction is to investigate historical
conditions of African societies. Secondly, using sociological approach, the
researcher clarified the elements of the African society including customs,
traditions and beliefs social organization in No Longer at Ease, Fragments and
Nervous Conditions.
Finally, the philosophical approach clarifies African philosophy in three
novels such as fatalism, principle of balance and co-existence, the notion of life
and death, and the philosophy of unhu. The study drew Achebe’s philosophy of
life as a realist and Armah’s philosophy of life as an existentialist. Dagarembga
may be considered as a feminist in the way that she functions as a role model
for African women to fulfill their own dreams.


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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researcher wishes to express her personal thanks and appreciation
to those, in one way or another helped her accomplish this work.
First and foremost, to Batangas State University and the Thai Nguyen
University, for giving her the opportunity to finish this dissertation under their
International Academic Cooperation Program.
Sincere thanks also goes to Dr. Dang Kim Vui, the President of the Thai
Nguyen University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Assoc Prof. Dr. Dang
Xuan Binh, Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Hung, the former Directors of the TNU
International Training and Development Center, Dr. Hoang Thi Bich Thao, the
current Director of TNU ITDC, Dr. Le Hong Thang, the Dean of the TNU
School of Foreign Languages, for their motivation and wisdom that helped
hasten the completion of this study.
She also would like to thank Dr. Maria Luisa A. Valdez, the Dean of
Colleges and Head of the Graduate School of the Batangas State University
ARASOF Nasugbu Campus, the researcher’s dissertation adviser, for her
constant motivation, support, and patience, which inspired diligent research for
the realization of this study.
To Dr. Matilda H. Dimaano, the Chairman of the Panel of Examiners, for


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her thorough dissection and candid remarks that drew up the essential and
relevant dimensions in this research.
To Dr. Amada G. Banaag, Dr. Felix M. Panopio, and Dr. Myrna G. Sulit,
the Members of the Panel of Examiners, for their valuable suggestions and
criticism which motivated conscientiously the researcher during the conduct of
this study.
To Dr. Remedios P. Magnaye, the Recording Secretary and Ms. Le
Quynh Anh, the ITDC Administrative Staff, for their words of encouragement
and kind gestures.
To the writers whose works were included in this study for their
emboldened wisdom in every page of this dissertation.
The researcher’s colleagues and friends, all of whom generously gave
their time, advice, and prayers. They made her realize the value of truth and
principles about people and human experiences.
The researcher is also very grateful for the wholehearted support and
love that her husband, Pham Duy Hiep and her children, Minh Pham and Quan
Pham along with her parents, have extended during the writing process.
Their spiritual support accompanied the realization of this paper.
Nguyen Thi Minh Loan


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DEDICATION
To the essence of my existence, my loving husband Pham Duy Hiep and
my ever dearest sons Minh Pham and Quan Pham,

Nguyen Thi Minh Loan


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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE........................................................................................

i

APPROVAL SHEET............................................................................

ii


ABSTRACT.........................................................................................

iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT........................................................................

vi

DEDICATION.......................................................................................

viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................................

ix

LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………..

xi

CHAPTER
I. THE PROBLEM
Introduction............................................................ 1
Statement of the Problem ..................................... 7
Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study..... 8
Significance of the Study ....................................... 10
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Conceptual Literature............................................. 13
Research Literature................................................ 31



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Synthesis.............................................................. 37
Theoretical Framework ......................................... 41
Conceptual Framework ......................................... 44
Definition of Terms................................................. 47
III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design .................................................. 52
Treatment of Materials........................................... 53
IV. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION............................. 57
V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary of Findings............................................. 188
Conclusions ........................................................... 194
Recommendations ................................................ 195
BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................197
APPENDICES…………………………………………………………….. 204
Summaries of the Novels……..……….………………………… 205
CURRICULUM VITAE…………………………………………………… 210


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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure

Title

1

Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

Page
46


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CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM
Introduction

History plays a fundamental role in shaping literature in the way that
every literary piece is influenced by the social context, the author and the
whole community that frames the whole work. Readers cannot understand the
work if they are not provided with the historical context in which the work is
written. Simultaneously, readers can investigate the history and culture
through literature. That literature is a reflection of the society has been widely
acknowledged. Literature influences the society, and the society is reflected in
literature; therefore, there has been a close interaction between them. The
readers can explore a variety of historical and socio-political themes in many
works of famous writers such as colonialism, post-colonialism, morality, racial
identity, oppression, politics, leadership, gender issues, war and many others.
A literary work can provide a more detailed picture of a society in terms of
cultural, social, religious, and political dimensions more than any history
textbooks and anthropological records do (Diamond, 1989).
Sociological character refers to an individual’s manifestation of behavior
that is characteristic or ideal to a behavior that is likewise manifested by a


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majority of the society. This congruence with the behavior of others warrants
its classification as being within the acceptable standards of a particular
society’s norms. A person’s character thus is considered normal depending on
its manifested adherence to the specific limitations determined by the society

as having historical, religious, educational, political and philosophical bases.
This illustrates the close link between philosophy and literature. While
philosophy supplies ideology and themes for literature, literature, on the other
hand, provides vivid illustrations of the meaning and abstract thought of
philosophy. Literature is considered as a channel to show the author’s
philosophy of life. Indeed, in literature the philosophical theme is conveyed
through literary works and is an essential part of their aesthetic value. There is
a considerable number of well-known works in the world of literature in which
philosophical views are put forward, suggested, or play a central role such as
Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment, and The Idiot;
Tolstoy’s War and Peace; Proust’s In Search of Lost Time; Mann’s Magic
Mountain, etc. By studying literary works, readers are introduced to central
philosophical issues in relation to freedom, responsibility, religious belief and
personal identity.
Furthermore, a literary work clarifies not only historical and cultural


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context, philosophical issues but also literary techniques that the author
employs. These techniques are used to express artistic meanings through the
use of language. They combine information, function and aesthetics in
conveying ideas. In other words, literary techniques are added to make the
author’s message clear to the reader and add more beauty to the work. Based

on the use of literary techniques, readers can partly decide an author’s tone
and style.
African literature is closely tied with historical, cultural and societal
issues. For the countries in Africa, the experience of colonialism is considered
as the one of the most important factors in understanding the present condition
of the African continent, the African people and their history. Therefore, a close
examination of the phenomenon of colonialism is essential to assess not only
the economic and political development in Africa but also the African people’s
perception of themselves. From the beginning of colonial situation, literature
was the best weapon used by African writers to oppose colonialism and
proudly assert the values of the cultures that the colonials had tried to destroy.
Many of African writers chose to use their works to explore, portray, and
expose these social experiences in their different works. According to Ojaide
(1992) there is no art for art’s sake in Africa. It means that every literary


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work has a social function.
Among African writers, Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah and Tsi-tsi
Dangarembga are the pioneers in using the pen as the weapon against
colonialism.
Chinua Achebe is one of the most widely read African writers in the
world. He has played such a pivotal role in the development of African

literature that he is called as father of modern African literature. Indeed, he
takes up the responsibility as an Igbo writer to help his people regain belief in
itself and dignity that is destroyed by Western colonialism. He defines his
writings as part of a process of re-storing peoples who had been knocked
silent by the trauma of all kinds of dispossession (Achebe, 2000).
Ayi Kwei Armah is undoubtedly one of the most excellent writers of the
second generation of African writers which comes after Achebe. In an
autobiographical article, “One Writer's Education” (Armah, 1985), Armah
described himself as not simply a Ghanian and a West African but most
significantly as an African. His writings are realistic descriptions of the African
continent in such a way that his novels can be seen as a sociological report on
the social and political situation of Africa.
In contrast, Tsi-tsi Dangarembga is an astonishing African female


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writer. Her writings transmit political messages regarding both female
oppression and colonial domination. She attained much praise from literary
critics because of her complex and expressive depiction of racial and gender
struggles in Zimbabwean society.
The researcher, being an English teacher of School of Foreign
Languages at Thai Nguyen University, is motivated to analyze the three novels
by Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga respectively: No Longer at Ease (1960),

Fragments (1971) and Nervous Conditions (1988) because these novels are
typical African novels that address the cultural and social changes in African
society. The novels of Achebe and Armah provide a powerful and impressive
view of the role of the artists and intellectuals in modern Africa. They reveal
their seriousness of purpose, their creativity and are relevant to all
generations. Nervous Conditions, on the other hand, raises several important
questions about the status of women in pre-independent Rhodesia and in
postcolonial African countries. Furthermore, an exploration of the three chosen
writers of the three different African countries namely Nigeria, Ghana and
Zimbabwe and of two sexes would reveal a number of common concerns in
terms of historical, sociological and philosophical dimensions. The historical
basis for this search is that throughout Africa there are close similarities in both


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traditional cultures and contemporary situations. The researcher attempted to
make comparisons and drawing parallels among these novels by Achebe,
Armah and Dangarembga in order to generalize the whole Africa.
The wisdom embodied in the selected works of these African writers
could be one of the motivating factors that could help readers in the world
understand about internal and external pressures African people suffered as
well as the values they lost in colonial and post-colonial periods. Therefore, the
readers may establish their high appreciation of African culture and history.

Although many scholars have already studied the various themes of No
Longer at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions such as classes, cultures,
corruption, and others, there is not much analysis on the historical, social and
philosophical insights of these novels. While these studies have made insight
interpretations of content and meaning of the African works, less is known of
the influence of the African traditional roots on African literature and the
influence of African writers as philosophers on African people’s perception.
Also, these African writers’ philosophy of life gleaned from the three novels has
not received enough attention from the literary circles. Further, Achebe, Armah
and Dangarembga’s life, works and life philosophy exemplify noble values of a
person and a nation, which is worthy of attention.


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Given this background, as a teacher, the researcher would like to
expose her students to literature and culture outside of an Eastern country.
She wants her students to gain an appreciation of a foreign culture while also
gaining insight into their own culture, seeing their own society through a
different and objective lenses. Moreover, she wants to equip her students with
a sense of values to guide and allow them to embrace a good philosophy of
life and clarify life goals.
Statement of the Problem
This study primarily aimed to analyze the historical, sociological,

philosophical dimensions in the novels of selected African writers.
Specifically, the study answered the following questions:
1. What historical events are reflected in the novels of Achebe, Armah
and Dangarembga?
2. How do the novels convey the sociological character of the time as regards:
2.1 customs;
2.2 traditions; and
2.3 beliefs?
3. What literary techniques are utilized to highlight African way of life in
terms of:
3.1 symbolism;


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3.2 flashback;
3.3 foreshadowing; and
3.4 figures of speech?
4. What literary approaches are prevalent in the treatment of the
selected novels?
5. What philosophy of life of the writers may be gleaned from the
analyses of the novels?
Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study
This study analyzed the historical, sociological and philosophical

dimensions embodied in Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga’s selected literary
pieces and pointed out their philosophy of life. Specifically, this paper tried to
present the historical events, sociological character of the time, the literary
devices and literary approaches used in unveiling these African writers’
philosophy of life.
This study employed the qualitative method of research in analyzing the
authors’ philosophy in the representative literary works chosen. Likewise, this
analysis used the historical, sociological and philosophical approaches as the
bases for analysis. In particular, the historical and the sociological approaches
are supported by the Edward Saids’ Theory of Post-colonialism and Franz Uri


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Boas’ Theory of Cultural Relativism as well as on Frankl’s Theory of Meaning of
Life. Other approaches in literary criticism that may be employed in the analysis
like the biographical criticism and psychological criticism were not part of this
study. Likewise, the study is only limited to the sociological character of the time
as regards customs, traditions and beliefs.
This paper also involved content analysis, which is a systematic
technique in analyzing message content and message handling. The data
analysis in this research centered on data seeking and the extraction of
meaning from Achebe, Armah and Dangarembga’s selected literary works.
Much effort was focused on the task of recording narrative data or making

notes through concepts and categories; linking and combining abstract
concepts;

extracting

the

essence;

organizing

meaning;

writing

an

understanding; and drawing conclusions.
The essential features in the treatment of materials were considered by
the researcher in the conduct of this study. The general rules cited by Alkiere
(2014) as regards the four standards a piece of literature particularly that of a
novel should abide to in order to be considered literary guided in the selection
of works under study.
The representative literary works were analyzed: No Longer at Ease by


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Achebe, Fragments by Armah and Nervous Conditions by Dangarembga. The
said selections were chosen because of the correlation between the
aforementioned themes, literary devices and approaches which helped in
unveiling the authors’ philosophy of life. Typical for African novels, No Longer
at Ease, Fragments and Nervous Conditions address the cultural and social
changes in African society. They illustrate the effects of the social, economic
and political situation on the behavior and mental conditions of the characters.
Although these novels have been the subject of much critical study and
debates within and outside the literary circles, but enough attention has not
been paid to a study of these novels to bring about Achebe, Armah and
Dangarembga’s philosophy of life.
Significance of the Study
This study is essential to spell out how this study is beneficial to
academic managers, working professionals, college instructors of literature,
students of literature, members of the community, and other researchers.
Academic Managers. This paper will help academic managers include
developmental priorities, programs, projects and policies in the educational
institutions to ensure to integrate literary appreciation and critiquing in the
academe. They will be also inspired to involve activities related to humanizing


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education through the study of literature in the curricula.
Working Professionals. This study will be beneficial for them in the
sense that at whatever circumstance they may find themselves their own
philosophy of life from their readings of the selected works. It has given a
deeper meaning to their existence. Likewise, they may be inspired to highly
appreciate the folklore and culture in the past and their roles in affirming the
dignity of their people. These initiatives may help these working people to
embrace a good philosophy of life, clarify life goals, and revitalize working
relationships within their workplaces.
College Instructors of Literature. This dissertation will be helpful in
the instructor’s methodology in teaching literature as an inquiry into using the
appropriate literary theories and approaches in literary analysis. In addition, this
will provide them with opportunities to touch the concept of historical,
sociological and philosophical dimensions in selected works in their literature
classes and open their students’ mind and hearts to the philosophy of life of the
author.
Students of Literature. This study will give them an extensive and
profound outlook in life as regards the historical, sociological, and
philosophical dimensions of literature through the lives and experiences of the


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characters in the selected literary pieces. It will also make them realize that
literature may be the writers channel for philosophical human transformation
and inspire them to engage in literary analysis as an academic activity.
The Researcher. The researcher will be benefitted by this study
through the analysis and treatment of materials, and through the careful
investigation of both theme and form in literary genres. Likewise, this paper will
enlighten her on the process of drawing out literary theories and utilizing
critical approaches in literary analysis.
Other Researchers. Future researchers conduct other literary works for
academic enhancement to have a cross dissections of views of life and to
substantiate the present study.


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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
This chapter presents the review of literature that is critical in the
establishment of concepts and theories that would effectively substantiate the
study. Likewise, the synthesis of the literature reviewed, the theoretical and
conceptual frameworks as well as the conceptual and operational definitions of
terms were included.

Conceptual Literature
The review of conceptual literature yields four constructs, which may be
used in the analysis and interpretation of the works dissected. These
constructs include: literature and philosophy of life, significant works of African
writers, literary techniques and critical approaches in novel analysis.
Literature and Philosophy of Life. It is widely acknowledged that
literature reflects society and depicts human life. According to Plato, an ancient
Greek philosopher and author of philosophical works of unparalleled influence
in Western thought, literature imitates life, that is, it represents the world as it
is. As an imitation of human action, literature presents a picture of what people
think, say and do in the society through characters who convey certain
messages for different purposes through their words and actions. A literary
piece is based on authors’ intention and includes the attitudes, morals and


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values of the society because no writer can live out of the world around him.
Tomeldan, et al. (1986) also said that literature is a product of life and about
life. It offers an experience in which people can participate as they read and
test what they read by their own experience. By reading literature, people can
get something of value such as an understanding, a new awareness, a feeling
of pleasure, etc. In essence, life illuminates literature as much as literature
illuminates life. Therefore, literature is one of the best media people can use to

understand their society and even themselves.
There are different forms of literature such as essays, short stories,
dramas, or novels. However, in representing different aspects of the society’s
life, a novel becomes increasingly popular compared with other forms of
literature. On the one hand, they can expand social scope. It means that
novels can address the domestic and social concerns of different classes in
the society. A good illustration is Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, which consists
of nearly six hundred characters of different classes from the aristocracy to the
poor.
On the other hand, novels commonly trace the depth of an individual, a
group of people, or a world. For example, African novels shared a similar
reaction to the negative views about the history of Africa and Africans. African