Character Transformation And Social-Historical Awareness In The Novels Of Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (Essay Sample)

CHARACTER TRANSFORMATION AND SOCIO-HISTORICAL AWARENESS IN
THE NOVELS OF MARJORIE OLUDHE MACGOYE
From the novel, ‘Coming to birth’ the author Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye descibes the extent to which the historical, mediated by Macgoye's ideological disposition, shapes and determines character transformation especially when such characters happen to be marginalized women. It argues that Macgoye valorizes women characters detailing issues affecting them in order to sensitize the society to have a fresher glance at their plight. History, according to Macgoye, does not impact homogeneously on both men and women. This is clearly reflected in the progressive social transformation of Macgoye's model female character, Paulina of Coming to Birth while her husband Martin retrogresses. Macgoye's key statement in all her novels may be summarized as change, which is conceived of in the form of a journey motif. The journey is gradual and may occupy the whole of one's life. The journey begins in the village-a symbol of restricted space where men rule supreme and end in the city, which offers economic and social space leading to a holistic transformation. The city is seen as offering the much needed alternative choice for social and economic progress. Macgoye shows clearly that the social economic and political transformation can never be divorced from the historical events that unfold within the larger area of the nation. That is why she tries individual freedom to that of a nation at large. Her characters are presented as tragic individuals freedom to that...