THE LITERARY ANALYSIS OF AMA ATTA'S ANOWA BY LENE ODODOMU A STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND LITERATURE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF

THE LITERARY ANALYSIS OF AMA ATTA'S ANOWA BY LENE ODODOMU A STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND LITERATURE IN THE

                UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA

Text title: Anowa

Author: Ama Atta Aidoo

Genre type: Play (drama)

Play type: Tragedy

Year of publication: 1970

Theme: Contemporary

   

  

             CONTENTS

1. Author's background

2. Plot Summary

3. Characters

4. Themes

5. Literary techniques

6. The chorus

7. Setting

8. The function of the Old Man and Old          Woman-being the mouth that eat salt     and  pepper

9. Lesson of the play

                        

            AUTHOR'S BACKGROUND

Ama Ata Aidoo, née Christina Ama Aidoo (born 23 March 1942) and she is a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright and academic. She was the Minister of Education under the Jerry Rawlings administration. In 2000, she established the Mbaasem Foundation to promote and support the work of African women writers.

Aidoo began to write seriously while an honour student at the University of Ghana (B.A., 1964). She won early recognition with a problem play , The Dilemma of a Ghost (1965), in which a Ghanaian student returning home brings his African American wife into the traditional culture and the extended family that he now finds restrictive. Their dilemma reflects Aidoo’s

characteristic concern with the “been- to” (African educated abroad), voiced again in

her semiautobiographical experimental first novel , Our Sister Killjoy; or, Reflections from a Black-Eyed Squint (1966). Aidoo herself won a fellowship to Stanford University in California, returned to teach at Cape Coast , Ghana (1970–

82), and subsequently accepted various visiting professorships in the United States and Kenya .

 In No Sweetness Here (1970), a collection of short stories, Aidoo exercised the oral element of storytelling, writing tales that are meant to be read aloud. These stories and Anowa (1970), another problem play, are concerned with Western influences on the role of women and on the individual in a communal society. Aidoo rejected the argument that Western education emancipates African women. She further exposed exploitation of women who, as unacknowledged heads of households when war or unemployment leaves them husbandless, must support their children alone. 

Aidoo published little between 1970 and 1985, when Someone Talking to Sometime, a collection of poetry , appeared. Her later titles include The Eagle and the Chickens (1986; a collection of children’s stories), Birds and Other Poems (1987), the novel Changes: A Love

Story (1991), An Angry Letter in January and Other Poems (1992), The Girl Who Can and Other Stories (1997), and Diplomatic Pounds and Other Stories (2012).

                 PlOT SUMMARY

First of all, plot is the arrangement of the various actions of the characters or events in a play or any other work of art. Also, it refers to the outline surface of a play.

Anowa is a play written by a Ghanian prolific writer named Prof. Ama Atta Aidoo. It is a play taken from contemporary theme whereby it talks about the issue of abandonment and feminism in the traditional African society. The play is based on a traditional Ghanian tale of a daughter called Anowa who rejects the suitors proposed to her by her parents, Osam and Badua but married a man of her choice, a total stranger who ultimately revealed himself as the devil in disguise. 

The play is set in the 1870s on the Gold Coast, and tells the story of the principal character Anowa's failed marriage to the slave trader Kofi Ako. It has a unique trait whereby a couple, an old man-being the mouth that eats and an old woman-the salt and pepper, take the role of the chorus. They presented themselves at the crucial point in the play and give their views on every events in the play. 

The play, however, is divided into three phases, Phase One, Phase Two and Phase Three. The Phase One is titled "IN YEBI' whereby it shows the background of Anowa's family and the people of the land. The Phase Two is titled "ON THE HIGH WAY" and it talks about the journey of Anowa and Kofi from Yebi to Kofi's land after they got married. Then the Phase Three is titled "THE BIG HOUSE AT OGUAA" and it introduces us to the final destination of Anowa and Kofi to his own land and the final scene where Kofi and Anowa appearances fade away.

Traditionally, Anowa was expected to marry the husband proposed by her parents but she completely condemned this decision of the tradition and followed her own decision as civilization controls her mind. Her marriage became ill-fated because she could not bear children for her husband, Kofi and this made him to have the plan of sending her home. Anowa, by being a self-centered, she wanted to marry a second wife for Kofi but he did not buy the idea. But in her later discovery, Kofi was impotent and she accused him of using his manhood to acquire his wealth and slaves and this his idea of slave trading was seriously opposed by her. Kofi could not stand this, so he gently entered his house and shot himself. Also, Anowa tragically drowns herself in the water and died.

                      CHARACTERS

Characters are the imaginary people a writer create in his work. It is the duty and obligation of the writer to make his characters look real and this will create a credibility in the work. The characters in the play, Anowa are:

Anowa: Anowa is the main character as everything in the play revolves around her. She is the only surviving child of her parents, Osam and Badua. She is described in the play as a modern woman because she refused to follow the ways of her tradition. Anowa was proposed to suitors by her parents according to the tradition of their land, but she committed a big taboo by rejecting the traditional offer. Instead, she got married to a man of her choice and vows not to return to her land, Yebi. She married to the slave trader, Kofi Ako despite her parents' warning, especially the mother, Badua. Anowa has the character of being sympathetic-she has feelings for others that's why she opposed the idea of Kofi's slave trading because she believes that putting personal burden on others is like abusing the human feelings. Whereas, Anowa is self-centered. She is self-centered in the sense that she want her decisions to be adhere by others. When Kofi, her husband could not accommodate this attitude and her unable to produce children for him, he declared to send her home. This same attitude was what sent her to her destruction and also result to her tragic end. She drowns herself in a water and died.

Kofi Ako: Kofi Ako is the husband of Anowa who ultimately revealed himself as the devil in disguise. He comes from the Nsona house, which is seen as one of the best houses in Yebi-according to Osam. Kofi is described as a good-looking, "tall and a young man". Kofi is a hardworking businessman who trades animal skin for a living but later his real source of income was revealed which was said to be slave trading. Anowa  sees this idea of his slave trading as an evil one that was why she opposed it......."I shall not feel happy with slaves around......Kofi, no man made a slave of his friend and came to much himself. It is wrong. It is evil", phase 3 (pp 30). Anowa wanted him to marry a second wife so that he can have children......"An adopted child is always an adopted child and a slave child, a slave...... Perhaps I am the barren one. But you deserve a son: so Kofi, I shall get you a wife", phase 3 (pp 54, but Kofi rejected the idea. When Anowa discovered that he is impotent by using his manhood to acquire his wealth and slave trading, he shot himself and died.

Abena Badua: Badua is the mother of Anowa and wife of Osam. She is described as a traditional woman of Yebi who protest over Anowa's marriage with Kofi. Badua wanted Anowa to marry a man proposed by her or the husband-Osam according to the tradition but she rejects the offer.

Osam: Osam is Anowa's father and husband of Badua. He is described as a person who does not like to force others to like what they dislike. Osam feels no concern on Anowa's behavior of not accepting their decision of marriage, instead he advised Badua to let Anowa live by her decisions......."You know that I am a man and getting daughters married is not one of my duties. Getting them born, aha! But not finding them husbands", phase 1 (pp 10). Osam is often seen smoking in the play. He wanted Badua to apprentice Anowa to be priestess, but she refused.

Old Man: He is  half of the "Mouth-That Eats Salt And Pepper". He is projected by the author to take the role of exposition of every event in the play.

Old Woman: The Old Woman is one half of the "Mouth- That-Eats-Salt-And-Pepper". The Old Woman, alongside the Old Man, creates exposition with their dialogue. Both the Old Woman and the Old Man are considered first-person narrators. The Old Woman walks with a stick but is always

restless and often seen moving around.

Boy: Boy is a slave to Kofi and Anowa. Boy is only referred to as "boy" in the play. Although Anowa is barren and without children, boy refers to Anowa as "mother" and Kofi as "father". 

Girl: Girl is a slave to Kofi and Anowa. Girl is only referred to as "girl" in the play. Like Boy, Girl refers to Anowa as "mother" and Kofi as "father". Girl is fond of Kofi and Anowa and wishes she was their child.

Paying: Payin is an eight-year-old slave to Kofi and Anowa. Panyin is the twin sibling of Kakra.

Kakra: Kakra is an eight-year-old slave to Kofi and Anowa. Kakra is the twin brother of Panyin.

                           THEMES

Theme is the subject matter of a play or any other work of art. Apart from being the subject matter-it can be seen as an underlying message or central idea in which the playwright want to pass across to his audience. The themes in the play, Anowa are:

The Theme of Tradition:  First of all, tradition is a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical through not verifiable. However, the theme of tradition is one of the major theme in the play. This theme is based on the belief that before a daughter gets married, her suitor or husband must be proposed by her parents and this is based on the Ghanian tradition according to the play. Therefore, it was this reason that Anowa was traditionally proposed to marry the man of her parents' choice  but she declined and married to the man of her choice, Kofi Ako, the slave trader. By examining this theme, Abena Badua, Anowa's mother is presented  as the mouth piece of the tradition that is why she can be seen at the center of protest to subdue Anowa to obey the tradition.

The Theme of Clash of Culture:  Clash of culture is a conflict arising from the interaction of people with different cultural values. However, the clash of culture in the play, Anowa basically talks about the cultural conflict between the Western culture and the African culture and this could be traced through the character of Anowa who is a modern woman that opposes the traditional Africa for their primitive and retrogressive ways of life and then decided to live be the Western lifestyle which according to her-the progressive and simple culture......" They say she raves hourly against our revered ancestors and sanction their deeds in high tones. She thinks our forefathers should have waited for her to be born so she could have upbraided them for their misdeeds and shown them what actions of men are virtuous", phase 2 (pp 40). Whereas Badua also opposes the Western culture which she believes that destroyed the character of Anowa that controls her mind to deviate from the traditional lifestyle. By examining this theme,  Anowa died due to the fact that she was trying to transform herself from the traditional behavior which made her of making self decision that led her to the destruction.

The Theme of Feminism: Feminism is the advocacy for women's rights on the ground of the equality of the exes. In the play, we can see that the female gender is marginalized based on the fact that every woman is unequal to man. It is believed based on the text that when a woman's womb is unproductive, she is completely not valued as an important member of a family......"And you can't give me the only thing I want from you, a child. Let us part, Anowa", phase 3 (pp 56).  To examine the main fact in the play, the tradition restricted the right of the woman which we can see that Anowa was forced to marry a man of her parents' choice but she abolished this restriction of the female gender by  taken decision by herself. Her self-decision is a victory to prove that the female gender was able to decide on what they want and what they do not want. Therefore, the protagonist’s individualistic approach to self-definition dislocates her from the basis of group behaviour and transforms her into a wayfarer in the process of time. This dislocation is in

itself a step in self-expatriation, which necessitates the choice of an alternative lifestyle or culture because nobody lives in a vacuum. Human life, as it is shown in Emenyi’s Social Determinism… should reflect the realities of its world because the human person is, to a large extent, the product of his/her world (1-). Consequently, Anowa’s responses to life are shaped by the challenges which her choice to marry Kofi. However, the protagonist’s critical spirit provides the

standpoint from where she relates with her world.

The Theme of Barreness:  In simple meaning, barreness is the state of not being able to produce a child. However, the theme of barreness could be traced through Anowa who could not produce a child for Kofi........"And you can't give me the only thing I want from you, a child. Let us part, Anowa", phase 3 (pp 56). In the struggle of wanting Kofi to have children, Anowa wanted to marry another wife for him but he refused to buy the idea......." An adopted child is always an adopted child and a slave child, a slave child.... Perhaps I am the barren one. But you deserve a son; so Kofi, I shall get you a wife" phase 3 (page 54). In Anowa's later discovery, Kofi Ako was impotent and to examine her cause of barreness, it was proved with the fact that he has never make love to her........" Yes, Kofi, we do not have children, Kofi, we have not got children! And for years now, I have not seen your bed. And Kofi, now that I think back on it, you have never been interested in any other woman," phase 3 (pp 61). Then Anowa accused Kofi for using his manhood to acquire slaves and wealth according to the play......Kofi, are you dead? Kofi, is your manhood gone? I mean, you are like a woman.  Kofi, there is not hope any more, you are like a woman. Kofi, tell me, is that why I must leave you? That you have exhausted your masculinity acquiring slaves and wealth?" phase 3 (pp 61). When Kofi could not stand this, he gently entered his house and shot himself.

The Theme of Arrogance: Arrogance is an exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner. It is also an offensive

attitude of superiority. However, the theme of arrogance briefly talks about the character of Anowa who is self-centered and opinionated to live by her own decision. By examining the play, this attitude of Anowa was what led her to destruction by neglecting the advice of her parents, especially the mother.

Theme of Slavery: In a simple meaning, slavery is a condition in which one human being is owned by another. The theme of slavery is one of the major or central theme in the play. This theme talks about the business of Kofi who involved himself into slave trading. However, Adioo suggests a sort of compliance within the community towards the Atlantic slave trade. Anowa's character strongly disagrees with the use of slaves and argues with her husband because of it. In fact, she would rather have him marry multiple women to help with their work than enslave people to do so. In Phase Three of the play, we see Anowa reflect on a conversation between her and her grandmother in which she learned about the slaves for the first time. It is a memory that haunts her and has ultimately moulded her feelings towards her husband's desire to own slaves holding firm in her own beliefs.

                LITERARY TECHNIQUES

Literary techniques simply refer to the artistic devices used by a writer to create his work. The quality of every work of art is depended upon the literary techniques used by a writer in his work. The techniques used in the play, Anowa includes:

Soliloquy: Soliloquy is a situation whereby a character talks to himself without addressing other people on the stage. In this state, the actor makes a loud speech to himself without minding other characters on the stage. However, the use of soliloquy could be traced in the third phase titled "The Big House At OGUAA" whereby Anowa was talking to herself about the whites who trade slaves.

The Use of Flashback: Flashback is the presentation of past events in a play. The actors recalls past occasions to the present scene so as to enhance comic relief. The use of flashback could be traced in the play by looking at the scene when  Anowa was retelling the story of the whites by her grandmother.

The Use of Language:  The language used in the play is also greatly influenced by the linguistic style of oral literature. Throughout the play the playwright uses the oral art form of the proverb. For example in the prologue, the old woman says "Badua should tell her daughter that the sapling breaks with the bending that will not grow straight" (p.8); later, in Phase One, Osam says "Besides the yam that will burn, shall burn , boiled or roasted" (p.13). Aidoo also uses language of abuse reminiscent of Songs of Abuse such as Badua's description of Kofi Ako as "this-good-for- nothing cassava-man; this watery male of all watery males" (p.15); or later when Anowa says to Badua "Please,

mother, remove your witch's mouth from our marriage." (p.18) Another type of oral literary language Aidoo uses is that of the

song of praise. At the beginning of phase three, Kofi Ako's entrance is preceded by a procession singing or reciting a song of praise about him. This is accompanied by music and dancing and is very similar to traditional songs of praise. Aidoo,however, uses this oral tradition to demonstrate the complicity of the procession in Kofi Ako's immorality and shows the way in which oral traditions can be used to portray a glorified image of wealth and power in a way that masks the brutality, greed and materialistic values upon which these are based.

The Use of Prologue: Prologue is the introductory part of a play. It is through the prologue that the writer tell us what the play is all about. This means that it forshasdow what will happen next. In the prologue of the play, Anowa, the old man opens the play with a long monologue which follows traditional oral conventions in style and content, in that it introduces us to the society of Abura, sets the time in the 1870's and introduces the characters

of Anowa and Kofi while also elucidating some of the themes of the play and then followed by the old woman.

The Use of Epilogue: Epilogue is the conclusion or summary of a play. The Old Man-Being-The-Mouth-That-Eats and the Old Woman-Salt-And-Pepper presented the prologue by closing the opening of the play. The play comes to a close after Kofi Ako and Anowa each take their own lives , a conclusion that is tragic but believable, given the circumstances.

 

The Use of Symbolism:  It is an image or a word that stands for something other than a literary meaning. According to the play, Anowa represent the western culture as she is known as modern woman who oppoese African tradition. Also, Abena Badua is a representation of the  tradition who is presented as the mouth piece of the tradition.

The Use of Aside: Aside is a situation when a character makes a snappy remark to the audience, especially when the play is in progress on the stage. The use of aside was presented in Phase Three page 51 when Anowa was having a dialogue with the slave children.

The Use of Figures of Speech: Figures of speech are kind of expressions used to make speeches or written more vividness and comprehension. They are useful in given a compelling expressions to idea. The figures of speech used in the play includes:

1.Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a figure of speech that is based on exaggeration or overstatement use of words e.g And a kind god angered is a thousand times more  evil than a mean god unknown (pp 25)

2. Metaphor: Metaphor is a figure of speech that shows indirect comparison of two objects with another e.g referring to Anowa-she is a devil 2. she is a witch (pp 40)

3. Simile: Simile is a figure of speech that shows direct comparison of one object with another e.g were peeled of our skins, like a lobster that is boiled or roasted

etc.

                     THE CHORUS

In  drama, chorus are those who perform vocally in a group as opposed to those who perform singly. The chorus in  Classical Greek drama was a group of actors who described and commented upon the main action of a play with song, dance and recitation. However, the play, Anowa has a unique trait whereby a couple, an Old Man and an Old Woman, take the role of the chorus. These people presented themselves at crucial point in the play and give their view of every event in the play.

                          SETTING

Setting is the physical environment, background or location in which the work of art takes place. Also, it includes the time in which the actions take place. Generally, setting in drama refers to the serious element in which one knows the period within in which the work of art takes place. However, the play is set in the 1870s on the Gold Coast and the location is Yebi, a fictional village in Ghana.

THE FUNCTION OF THE OLD MAN AND 

                  THE OLD WOMAN

The function of the Old Man-being the mouth that eats and the Old Woman-salt and pepper is same function related to the chorus. They are the commenters, the expository characters and the mouth piece of the author. They are projected with the role to interpret every event in the play. For instance, Kofi dead was not discussed in the dialogue but it was through this mouth piece that we got to know his death....."Puei, puei, puei! This is the type of happing out of which we get stories and legends. Yebi, I wish you dud, dud, dud. May all the powers that be condole with you. Kofi Ako shoots himself and Anowa drowns herself! This is too much. Other villages produce great men, men of wealth, men of name. Why should this befall us? What tabooed food have we eaten? What unholy ground have we trodden?", phase 3 (pp 63)

            

            THE LESSON OF THE PLAY

In short, the central lesson of the play deals with the power of traditions and customs and what happens when a person tries to change those customs and traditions. This is presented clearly in the play that Anowa's attitude towards the tradition by trying to transform herself was what caused her destruction.

                  REFERENCE S

1. Ama Atta Aidoo. (1970). Anowa.           Longman Drumbeat

                  About the Work

This work is designed to help the students of literature in their study of 'Anowa' by Ama Atta Aidoo, especially for the university students. It covers every parts of the text that are required in the analysis of literary work.  However, it is impossible to be perfect. Therefore, I accept the liability for any mindless error that is found within the content of this work.

                  About the Author

Lene Ododomu is a student of English and Literature in the University of Abuja. He hails from Whygirigha-Arogbo, Ondo state, Nigeria. He was a one time PRO of Derimobo Model College Old Students Association (DMCOSA) and currently the Vice President of the Association. He is a Legislative Member of the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS) University of Abuja chapter, and currently-the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Body. Also, he is a member of the NASELS Editorial Committee. He is a lover of literature, and a literati. Inception from his time in secondary school-he has being a student teacher of literature, and he was nicknamed a Professor by the students body. His analyzed literary works include the following:

1. Things Fall Apart (a novel) by Chinua     Achebe

2. The Gods Are Not to Blame (a play) by       Ola  Rotimi

3. Our  Husband Has Gone Mad Again (a     play) by Ola Rotimi

4. Arrow of God (a novel) by Chinua   Achebe

5. Abiku (a poem) by Wole Soyinka

6. Abiku (a poem) by J.P Clark

7. The stillborn ( a novel) by Prof. Zainab    Alkali

He is a student lecturer in the university. He is a researcher, novelist, poet and playwright.