NZEH, FAVOUR OLAEDO (2025) RECLAIMING POWER IN A PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY IN CHELUCHI ONYEMELUKWE ONUOBIA THE SON OF THE HOUSE. Other thesis, GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY, ENUGU.
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Abstract
This study critically examines the portrayal of women’s resistance and agency in Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s novel The Son of the House through a feminist lens. Set in a patriarchal Nigerian society, the novel explores the intersecting lives of two women, Nwabulu and Julie, as they navigate the gendered limitations imposed by tradition, class, and cultural expectations. Drawing on feminist theory, particularly African feminist discourse, the research investigates how patriarchal structures shape female identity and how the protagonists resist these constraints through education, economic empowerment, strategic motherhood, and emotional solidarity. Using qualitative literary analysis, the study analyzes key themes across the narrative including the cultural obsession with male heirs, systemic silencing of women, and the marginalization of female autonomy. It highlights how Nwabulu’s pursuit of education and independence, alongside Julie’s redefinition of motherhood and control over her narrative, represent profound acts of resistance and self- reclamation. The study also underscores the role of female solidarity as a sustaining force against isolation and oppression. Findings reveal that while the protagonists do not dismantle patriarchal structures entirely, they reclaim power through self-definition, personal growth, and collective strength. The novel ultimately affirms that even in societies where gender roles are rigidly enforced, women possess the capacity to reshape their destinies. This research contributes to the growing body of African feminist literary scholarship by demonstrating how literature serves as both a critique of patriarchal dominance and a celebration of women’s resilience and transformation.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Other) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education |
| Depositing User: | Uchenna Eneogwe |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Jun 2026 08:30 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Jun 2026 08:30 |
| URI: | http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5752 |
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