Theory question 204
Other Set Texts: African ProseLiterature 3. Elechi Amadi: The Concubine
Either (a) Discuss The Concubine as a tragedy
Or (b) Describe Ahurole's character and show how she has contributed to Ekwueme's marriage to Ihuoma.
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(a) Tragic heroine Ihuoma: good woman doomed by fate; suitors die: Emenike, Madume, Ekwueme.
Fate beyond human control (spirit husband); efforts of dibias fail.
Ekwueme shot by Wolu's arrow at the climax; ends in sorrow.
Pity and fear in the reader; noble characters destroyed.
(b) Ahurole: Ekwueme's betrothed from childhood; moody, cries without cause, childish, sulky, quarrelsome.
Nags Ekwueme; on her mother Wonuma's advice obtains a love potion from a dibia, which makes him ill and mad.
Her bad behaviour drives Ekwueme away, so the marriage breaks and he returns to Ihuoma.
Choose one option; give examples from the novel.