The document compares and contrasts women characters from two pieces of literature: The African Literature from 1958-1980 and The New Literature from 2003-2011. It analyzes the characters of Kusum vs. Alu, Sophie Neveu vs. Mumbi, and Veronica Mary Elizabeth Ford vs. Ekwefi. Overall, it finds that characters in The New Literature are more bold, independent, and complex, while characters in The African Literature have more traditional roles as wives and mothers, though some still show boldness when needed. The comparison seeks to observe how the role and status of women in society has changed over time through literature.

1. The African Literature
Parmar Dipali K.
Roll No: 24
Topic: Comparison Of the women characters from ‘The African
Literature and ‘The New Literature’
M.A. Sem. 4
Batch: 2015-’17
Email Id: dipaliparmar247@gmail.Com
Department Of English (M.K.B.U.)

2. Comparing women from two literatures….
African Literature The New Literature

3. Index
 Introduction
 Kusum vs. Alu
 Sophie Neveu vs Mumbi
 Veronica Mary Elizabeth Ford vs Ekwefi
 Over all Observation
 Conclusion

4. Introduction
 In this presentation I have tried to compare main women characters from
two papers: The African Literature and The New Literature.
 The African Literature is mainly written by Black writers and the
duration of their writing is 1958 to 1980.
 The New Literature is the modern literature written by either white
people of Indian modern writers. The duration of the writing is 2003 to
2011.
 It is very interesting to observe the changing role of a woman and their
status in the society by studying theses texts.
 I have tried to compare women characters from both of the literature
and pointed out some interesting facts.

5. Kusum vs. Alu
 Kusum is Balram’s Grandmother and
matriarch in family.
 She was threatening and cunning.
 She tried to apply her power over
Balram.
 She forced Balram to leave study and
help family financially.
 She also puts Dharam's responsibility
on Balram and by this Balram had an
extra tension.
 Alu is the wife of Makuri and mother
of Igwezu and Awuchike.
 Alu is a loving and a loveable
mother.
 She has more concern for Awuchike,
who is in the city.
 She is hospitable.
 Alu’s understanding of the world is
very limited.

6. Sophie Neveu vs. Mumbi
 Sophie is quick-witted, agile, and
devious when she needs to be.
 When she helps Silas she looked
confident.
 She is caring and compassionate.
 She feels the loss of her family deeply
and mourns the death of her
grandfather.
 Both brilliant and sexually attractive,
Sophie combines a masculine toughness
with typically feminine qualities.
 The beautiful sister of Kihika who dreams
of sacrifice and noble deeds.
 She falls in love with Gikonyo when she is
young and longs for him while he is away in
the detention camp.
 She is having a baby of Karanja during the
time of Gikonyo’s camp.
 But at last she wants to re-build her
relationship with Gikonyo.
 She is a house wife and never show any
boldness towards the male members of her
society.

7. Veronica Mary Elizabeth Ford vs. Ekwefi
 She is spiky and enigmatic ex-girlfriend of
Tony. Her character is very complicated.
 Her behavior in her own house seemed
mysterious.
 Veronica wasn’t very different from
other.
 She knew everything but did not revel
anything.
 Veronica was made shy and complex
person by her mother Sarah.
 Ekwefi is Okonkwo’s second wife. Once a
village beauty.
 Ekwefi suffers quite a bit under Okonkwo’s
forceful and aggressive rule of the
household.
 Ekwefi is the most spirited of Okonkwo’s
wives.
 She is capable of withstanding much pain and
disappointment.
 She shows masculine strength and boldness
that makes her favourite wife for Okonkwo.

8. Overall Observation
 The characters from ‘The New Literature’ consists boldness, intelligence, sometime
mysterious or complex to understand.
 They like to remain independent. Interested in affairs but not in marriage.
 Matriarchy is also reflects through some characters.
 Where as in ‘The African Literature’ women’s role is little bit minor.
 They like to be wife of the man.
 Having children and doing household work is considered the main job for women.
 They haven’t their own identity. But they have the same boldness that can be seen
in the characters of ‘The New Literature’ which they show when needed.

9. Conclusion
 I have taken only few women
characters.
 Further research can be done on
other characters also.
 But by this observation we came
to know that women’s role is
changed very much now-a-days.
 She is not mere a housewife but
she has her own identity too.