The joys of Motherhood

Hello everyone,

This blog task is in response to the task assigned by the Yesha Bhatt Ma'am as part of thinking activity. This task is about one of the famous African Novel - The joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta.

Introduction of Writer:-

A Nigerian-born author who has resided in England since 1962, Emecheta is best known for her novels that address the difficulties facing modern African women forced into traditional and subservient roles. Emecheta's heroines often challenge the restrictive customs imposed on them and aspire to economic and social independence. Although some critics have categorized Emecheta's works as feminist in nature, Emecheta rejects the label, stating, 

"I have not committed myself to the cause of African women only. I write about Africa as a whole."

Introduction of Novel:-

The Joys of Motherhood was written by Buchi Emecheta, a Nigerian-born British author, and published by Allison & Busby in 1979. Emecheta has written and published over twenty works, from novels to plays, each of which delve into the complexities of what it means to be a woman and a mother in societies where the morals and traditions are constantly changing. The protagonist of The Joys of Motherhood, Nnu Ego, is a traditional woman living in a rapidly changing world. The life that she grew up expecting for herself does not come to pass. She expects to become a wife and mother, working hard in her youth for her family, but being taken care of and honored by her children in her old age. However, her children grow up in the city of Lagos with very different values than she was raised with. Several of her children even move away to Western countries, and feel little obligation toward their mother. 

1)"The title of Emecheta's novel is patently ironic, for it would seem that there are few joys associated with motherhood after all." Explain

The Joys of Motherhood bears out the fact that this transitional period was particularly disadvantageous for African women. As the plight of the novel's key character reveals, colonialism was a costly reality for those who were forced to walk a fine line between that which was demanded of them by their village communities and that which was demanded of them by the rules of a European political regime.Specifically, they are subjected to new forms of exploitation as they are asked to assume traditional duties and responsibilities under a newly imported economic system that-unlike their native system-fails to validate or reward them for such work. 

Set in the British colony of Nigeria in the 1930s and 1940s, The Joys of Motherhood details the life story of an Ibo woman named Nnu Ego who escapes the ignominy of a childless first marriage by fleeing to the distant city of Lagos to start a new with a second husband. Nnu Ego's simple dream of becoming a mother-a dream rooted in the cultural values of Ibo society, where motherhood is the primary source of a woman's self-esteem and public status-is happily realized several times over in this new setting. The pleasures associated with motherhood that the protagonist so eagerly anticipates, however, are ultimately negated by the difficult economic conditions of her new urban environment. In short, there are so few job opportunities for her husband to pursue and so little ambition on his part to pursue them that Nnu Ego spends her entire life alternately birthing children and working day in and day out as a cigarette peddler to stave off the hunger and poverty that invariably haunt her household. The novel focuses on this grueling battle, a battle that ends in a loss for Nnu Ego, as she witnesses her beloved sons grow up and leave Nigeria for good and her daughters marry and move away. Nnu Ego's hopes of living out her final years in the company of her grandchildren disappear before she turns forty, and she dies at country roadside alone and unnoticed. 

The title of Emecheta's novel is 'The joys of Motherhood'.

The motherhood gave her happiness from Agbadi's side and sadness from her father's side that her inability to bear a son. The girl was named as Nnu Ego.

Ona lived in her father's place with her daughter. The child Nnu Ego, the daughter of Ona and Agbadi was affected by a lump on her head. Agbadi forced Ona to come and stay with him for the welfare of the child. The joyful life of Ona and her own freedom was affected there because of her role as a mother. She was forced to give importance to the child than to her father. She felt worried about her daughter's state and moved with Agbadi. There the motherhood instead of giving joy brought her the sadness.

Once again Ona became pregnant and very sick, it resulted in premature delivery. She delivered a son and both of them died. Now, the state of mother is more pathetic. The delivery brought the fatal end to the mother. So, the motherhood instead of bringing joy, brought only sorrow to Ona and her family. Especially, to her father who was expecting a son at least through his daughter was more disappointed and worried for the death of his only daughter Ona. Now, the chief Obi Umunna lost his priceless jewel. 

 The irony of motherhood did not end here. It continued to the daughter of Ona. Agbadi gave enough freedom to Nnu Ego as her mother wished. She had a happy life as a daughter. But, the happiness was interrupted by the marriage. Nnu Ego married Amatokwu. After her marriage, people around her expected a child from Nnu Ego. Here, the trouble began for Nnu Ego. "Nnu Ego was surprised that, as the months passed, she was failing everybody. There was no child. "What am I going to do, Amatokwu?" she cried to her husband, after the disappointment of another month."

The childlessness of Nnu Ego resulted in her husband's next marriage. The second wife became pregnant very soon and delivered a son. It brought less importance for Ego as a senior wife in Amatokwu's family. The longing for motherhood in Nnu Ego had raised high.She assumed herself as a mother to the child born to her husband and his new wife. She became a foster mother to the child. She started to breast feed the child due to her earnestness for motherhood. It was found later, and she was beaten by her husband and sent to her father's home. Thus, the more she longed to be a mother the more she suffered. Nnu Ego married another man called Nnaife, who was working as a washer man to the white Dr. Meers at Lagos. The second marriage was also a part of her suffering. She did not like Nnaife. But, she lived with him. She wanted to satisfy her father and to fulfil her desire to become a mother. So, she accepted the marriage though she did not like Nnaife. She was successful in her married life and delivered a boy. 

Nne Ego felt very happy and considered it as her success. The happiness was not remained for a long time. The boy named Ngozi, died after few weeks. The short-lived happiness as a mother disappointed her a lot and led her to commit suicide and rescued by a stranger. The joy of being a mother was denied for her at several times. At last, she had attained it and once again that resulted in bringing suffering rather than joy.

Nnu Ego's longing to gain the joy of being a mother had not calmed. She became pregnant again and performed so many rituals for the protection of the child. "And as her father had predicted. all went well. Even the birth of the boy was painless. She was rejoiced." She had named the child as Oshia. Ego attained the joy of being a mother by undergoing a great trouble.

The second child was named as Adim. The mother wanted to give the best to her children. She dreamt of putting Oshia in a good school. She had decided to give a better future for her children. Mean while, Nnaife's brother died and the family's responsibility befell on Nnaife. He had taken Adaku as his second wife after the death of his brother. The family was facing a difficult financial struggle. She gave birth to twins daughter too.

The life of Nnu Ego as a mother was filled with lot of troubles and responsibilities with less happiness. Nnaife was forced to join in the army. His job location was unknown to her. In that situation, she was carrying the next child and had to look after the other children's education. The money sent by Nnaife was shared by his wives and the sufferings of being a mother for many children continued. Her father also died by that time. 

Once a barren woman now became the mother for five children. She had three boys and two girls. The longed motherhood gave her happiness. But, the turmoil to fulfil their needs continued.

Nnaife's absence increased her responsibility. She lost hope in her husband. The lost hope was shifted on the children. She struggled a lot to bring them up with good education. Being a single

parent, she was unable to provide proper education to her children.

Motherhood was the main theme of the novel. The story began with the motherhood of Ona. She wanted to give a male child to her father. It was not fulfilled by her. So, the motherhood did not give her joy. She also died soon. Her role as a mother was less in the novel. Nnu Ego was the protagonist of the novel. She longed for motherhood in the beginning. Later, she became mother for seven children. The joy that she experienced during her first child birth was not found in her later delivery. She felt relieved especially, when a girl child died soon after it's birth. Thus, the joy of motherhood becomes ironic. The happiness was turned a relief after some time.

Conclusion:-

The title of the novel "The Joys of Motherhood" was ironic. The experiences of the mothers in the story Ona and Nnu Ego proved that though motherhood is a blessing and joyful experience, it is not giving the same joy and happiness for the mothers throughout the novel. She considered motherhood as joy. She felt that when she delivered her first son after so much treatment and shame. The joy of being a mother was not long lasting. The joy she earned as a mother was less, while comparing to the turmoil she had faced in her life. The motherhood attainment itself was a great challenge for her. The challenge prevailed in bringing up the children. She was expecting a return in her old age from her children's side. But, that was not offered by her children till her death. After her death, they had given her a grand burial. It showed the more sorrow ridden motherhood of Nnu Ego and not the joys as it found in the title. So, the title of the novel The Joys of Motherhood is considered as ironic.

Word Count:- 1882

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