Themes of forced and forbidden love : cross-cultural trends in language literatures with special reference to Zulu novels

Abstract

This study is a thematic exploration of forced and forbidden love. These themes are not only cross-cultural but also exhibit many sub-themes. Chapter one is a general introduction that sets out the aim of the study; the motivation behind the selection of the topic; a literature review on women's issues; the scope and composition of subsequent chapters and the definition of key terms that are crucial for this study. An eclectic approach offers itself as suitable for this study. The second chapter discusses three literary theories. Womanism proved to be an indispensable literary method as this study analyses the extent to which the cultures of forced and forbidden love have affected women's lives. Literary onomastics exposes the relationship between the name and its bearer and the power the name imparts to its bearer. Psychoanalysis, as the final tool of analysis, exposes the psychological effects, caused by the cultures of forced and forbidden love, on female as well as on male characters. Chapter three examines the social stereotypes contained in these novels. It also demonstrates how African names in particular determine sex roles. The psychological effects that women experience because of their marginalisation and because of how their names eventually determine their peripheral-position-in-society are also explored.In chapter four the themes under scrutiny are explored to expose other salient themes inherent in them. Chapter five gives a cross-cultural representation of the cultures .of forced and forbidden love from various African language literatures. Chapter six is the last chapter. It is the general conclusion of the study, which presents observations and future suggestions.