Breaking the Patriarchal Enclave: Wariinga the Female Protagonist Emerges a Heroine in Ngugi’s Devil on the Cross
Subject Area
Comparative Literature
Abstract
This paper addresses the challenges that women are exposed to at the hands of men. Guided by feminist theory this paper projects Wariinga, a woman who breaks the male chauvinistic strongholds and educates herself acquires an education with professional qualifications. She first studies typewriting and later mechanical engineering and finds work as a mechanic, which is a male dominated area. She stands against men’s sexual advances and takes charge of herself and her world. She evolves into a new, dynamic character, determined to assert her strength squarely on her hunters who hitherto viewed her as a bounty. She shoots her former paramour and counters the men who had earlier tormented her with a gun, a weapon usually associated with masculine power. Equally, women in Zambia and elsewhere in the globe can become the Wariinga in the Devil on the Cross by shaking off the male chauvinistic yoke by learning to assert themselves to bring change in their own lives and destinies and of those dependent on them. (167 words)
Brief Bio Note
Mr. Jive Lubbungu holds a Masters of Literature and Bachelor of Arts (BA Ed) Degrees obtained at The University of Zambia; specialised in comparative Literature. He is currently a Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in the Department of Literature and Languages. He was an adjunct lecturer at Rusangu University between 2012 and 2014 and he also worked as a Tutor in Literature at the University of Zambia from 2010 to 2011. He is a part time lecturer at Mulungushi University. He is also a PhD candidate in Literature at Africa Research University (ARU) in Zambia. He has contributed to the advancement of knowledge through teaching, Research, administrative experience and Paper Presentations at local and at international platform. He has also published articles in internationally referred journals. He has also published two academic books while three are at editorial stage. His research interest lies in comparative Literature, Gender in Literature, and Contemporary Issues. Mr Lubbungu organises seminar paper presentations in the University (Kwame Nkrumah) and he is the Patron of the Student Club called Kwame Nkrumah Art Club. He is also a vice Patron for Kwame Nkrumah French Club. He helps edit/proofread students’ write-ups and those of colleagues. He has a passion for writing books and academic papers.
Keywords
Male dominance, Women, Chauvinism, Wariinga, Ngugi Wa’Thiongo, Devil on the Cross.
Location
Afternoon Session 3 (PARB 239)
Presentation Year
April 2019
Start Date
4-12-2019 6:00 PM
Embargo
12-22-2018
Recommended Citation
Lubbungu, Jive, "Breaking the Patriarchal Enclave: Wariinga the Female Protagonist Emerges a Heroine in Ngugi’s Devil on the Cross" (2019). South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL). 57.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/seccll/2019/2019/57
Breaking the Patriarchal Enclave: Wariinga the Female Protagonist Emerges a Heroine in Ngugi’s Devil on the Cross
Afternoon Session 3 (PARB 239)
This paper addresses the challenges that women are exposed to at the hands of men. Guided by feminist theory this paper projects Wariinga, a woman who breaks the male chauvinistic strongholds and educates herself acquires an education with professional qualifications. She first studies typewriting and later mechanical engineering and finds work as a mechanic, which is a male dominated area. She stands against men’s sexual advances and takes charge of herself and her world. She evolves into a new, dynamic character, determined to assert her strength squarely on her hunters who hitherto viewed her as a bounty. She shoots her former paramour and counters the men who had earlier tormented her with a gun, a weapon usually associated with masculine power. Equally, women in Zambia and elsewhere in the globe can become the Wariinga in the Devil on the Cross by shaking off the male chauvinistic yoke by learning to assert themselves to bring change in their own lives and destinies and of those dependent on them. (167 words)
