17th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
Mother/Daughter Relationships: The Source of Esi's Dissatisfaction in Ama Ata Aidoo's Change
Antonia J. Campbell
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Ama Ata Aidoo’s novel Changes (1991) is a depiction of Ghana society focusing intensely upon females’ roles in their community, specifically through the character Esi. Esi failing attempts to formulate a new life of happiness are contributed to her lack of self discernment, which arises from the deficiencies in her mother/daughter relationships. This paper will examine how the absence of a significant bond between Esi and her mother shapes her sense of self. Esi significantly lacks the connection with her mother at an early age, which promptly allows an establishment of inner discrepancies to arise, inhibiting Esi from identifying with herself. The disconnection between Esi and her mother influences her relationship with her own daughter, Ogyaanowa. However, although Esi remains distant from her daughter, she still, in spite of everything contains motherly instincts causing inner conflicts. Esi’s intense desire to attain self-realization and fulfillment enhanced by various mother/daughter relationships in her life exists as the central element in Esi’s dissatisfaction in her individuality.
Keywords: Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghana, post-colonial, mother/daughter bond, gender
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 19-3
Location: VH 1320
Time: 10:30