Journal Article

The New African Woman

Matmer, Dalila, Boutouchent, Fadhila Sidi Said

2024

Overview

In Flora Nwapa's One is Enough, the protagonist Amaka is engaged in a quest for independence and self-discovery. She is first introduced as oppressed, childless, and being humiliated by her family in law. However, she ends triumphant; first, as a mother and later as a successful business woman. This paper explores the heroine's journey for emancipation where the writer, Nwapa, made her female character stand as a heroine, the type described by Joseph Campbell's in The Herowith a Thousand Faces. Our analysis in this paper has used Joseph Campbell's concepts in relation to the hero's journey focusing on the different stages such as: the \"Call to Adventure\", \"Meeting the Mentor\", and the \"Return\". Along her journey, Amaka faced difficulties and problems; yet, she finally emerged as a heroine who has successfully overcome all the imposed societal norms and expectations of the patriarchal system. At the end, she achieved a \"self-actualization\", becoming economically independent and a significant vocal member of her society to incarnate the new African woman, expressing Flora Nwapa's voice.

• Publisher: جامعة مولود معمري تيزي وزو - مخبر الممارسات اللغوية
• Subject: أدب الرواية / الاستقلال الاقتصادي / المرأة الإفريقية / تحقيق الذات