Abstract
"The Metaphor of Life as a Journey in Shackles of Freedom" delves into the intricate interplay between the concept of life as a journey and the paradoxical notion of being bound by the pursuit of freedom. Drawing upon philosophical, literary, and existential perspectives, this study explores how individuals navigate the complexities of existence while grappling with the inherent tensions between liberation and constraint. Through a close examination of key themes and motifs in the novel "Shackles of Freedom," the research illuminates the metaphorical significance of life as a journey. It delves into the protagonist's quest for emancipation amidst the constraints imposed by societal norms, personal limitations, and existential dilemmas. The narrative unfolds as a symbolic odyssey, wherein the protagonist embarks on a profound inward journey, seeking meaning, purpose, and self-realization amidst the constraints of external reality. Furthermore, the study delves into the nuanced nuances of freedom and explores how the pursuit of liberty can paradoxically lead to psychological, emotional, and spiritual shackles. It examines the dialectical tension between the desire for autonomy and the inherent responsibilities and burdens that accompany freedom. Through a multidimensional analysis, the research elucidates how individuals grapple with the existential paradoxes of freedom, autonomy, and self-determination within the framework of life's journey. By contextualizing the metaphor of life as a journey within the thematic tapestry of "Shackles of Freedom," this study offers profound insights into the human condition and the perennial quest for meaning and liberation. It underscores the intricate dialectics of freedom and captivity, autonomy and responsibility, as individuals navigate the labyrinthine pathways of existence, striving to transcend their limitations and embrace the fullness of human experience.
Keywords: Life Journey Metaphor, Shackles of Freedom, Metaphorical Analysis, Life's Struggles and Freedom, Philosophical Exploration
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
1.3 OBJECTIVE/ PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
1.5 SCOPE / DELIMITATION AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION/HYPOTHESIS
1.7 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER FOUR: THEMATIC ANALYSIS
4.1 THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL
4.1.1 THE THEME OF MARRIAGE
4.1.2 THE THEME OF MILITARY
4.2 REACTION OF THE CHARACTERS.
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION/SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION
5.1 CONCLUSION
5.2 SUMMARY
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This research entitled The Metaphor of life as a journey in Shackles of Freedom is a metaphoric discourse of the phenomenon of life as a journey. To explore this study, it require a qualitative exploration of the metaphorical environment. Metaphor is described as a figure of speech that compares one thing to another without correlation. It could come in form of a word or phrase of that is used for another thing in order to suggest relative semblance even though the words maybe opposite in meaning. It appears ungrammatical in some occasions which have made it undoubtedly figurative. George Lakoff defined metaphor as a novel or poetic linguistic expression where one or more words for a concept are used outside of its normal conventional meaning to express a similar concept. He asserts that the generalization governing poetic metaphorical expression are not in language but in thought. Lakoff draws instances from the famous lines of Dylan Thomas and Wallace Stevens poem; "Do not go gentle into that good night"– Thomas and Steven's; " Death is the mother of beauty". These are what classical theorists have refer to as metaphor since Aristotle has also align himself with this school of thought. The poetic language in words like "mother", "go", and "night" are not used in their denotative or everyday senses. In this case, metaphor is seen as a matter of thought and not language. In short the focus of metaphor is not in language at all, but in the way we conceptualized one mental domain in terms of another. The general theory of metaphor is given by characterizing cross domain mapping, and in the process, everyday abstract concept like state, time change, causation and purpose have turn turns out to be metaphorical. The implication is that metaphor is absolutely central to ordinary natural language semantics, and that the study of literary metaphor is an extension of the everyday metaphor. The research title; "Metaphor of life as a journey in Shackles of Freedom" shall examine life metaphorically with the primary text. The journey of life is a metaphorical expression as what we prescribe do not happen exactly the way we have expected. We often expect to become something and on the long-run ends up as another. This is not without cause anyway, since life itself its a struggle for survival. The journey of life surrounded by natural and manmade impediments which must be tackled or managed in order to become what you want to be in life. Onyeka Ike's Shackles of freedom is a metaphorical novel as the title suggest. The lexemes shackle or shackles are a noun that denotes something that confines the legs or arms, making it difficult or impossible to move forward. In other words it is a metal ring or band that is worn around a person's wrist or ankles, that is connected to a chain. Shackle of freedom is the connection between the challenges of life and the liberty thereoff for persistence and determine individuals. In the secular world, people often question or blame their failure in life to these challenges surrounding them, assuming that successful men were born with silver spoon. In other words they are born and raised without challenges. This study shall inform the audience of the various shackles that have shaped a man into success or failure. The author use the experience of Nigerians during the military regime. In this fictional universe. The study delves into the shackles of dictatorship in the novel. The research employs the analytical methodology for it's analysis. It also considers the psychological theory for it's framework. The bulk of this research work shall base on the primary text, however references shall be made to secondary materials for efficient delivery of the research work. This study shall be beneficial to scholars of African literature as it aimed at solving societal problem.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The sociopolitical challenges faced by Nigerians during the military regimes have informed the emergence of many research works which have keenly focused on the theme of oppression, disenchantment, poverty etc. However, little or no attention had been given to metaphor of life as a journey in Shackles of Freedom. The study holds that no society is entirely free of life shackles and it will come out of it naturally.
1.3 OBJECTIVE/ PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study is to build the conceptual domain be of the reader beyond the surface of peripheral aspect of life journey it will serve as a resource material for scholar in African literature as it delves into the theme of dictatorship, greed, tyrant and oppression by African post colonial military regime.
The study examines the following objectives:
1. Examine the metaphorical journey in the primary text.
2. Examine the reaction of characters to the oppression by the military regimes as portrayed in the text.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research work shall serve as relevant resource material to scholars of the African literature as it deals with issues bothering the African continent with specific reference to the giant of Africa: Nigeria. It will enable students of literature to have a clear understanding of metaphor and its application to contemporary discourse.
1.5 SCOPE / DELIMITATION AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The discussion in this study is focused on the metaphor of life as a journey in Onyeka Ike's Shackles of Freedom. It takes a look at the Nigerian experience after independence, also known as post-colonial period. The effects of a failed government on the citizens and the possible reaction(s) of these citizens. However, references are made to other secondary materials but the bulk of the work is on the primary text.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION/HYPOTHESIS
How does the various challenges of life reshape a child/nation?
Do the challenges of life are what defines a person's success or failure since they force one to struggle for survival?
1.7 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The psychoanalytic (also known as psychological) literary criticism is traceable to the work of Sigmund Freud (1856-1930). Fraud is the proponent of this literary approach theory. It was originally a medical technique in or method of therapy for treatment be of mentally ill patient which helps them understand the source of their symptoms. It is a method of interpretation of the patients words actions and attitudes. Freud relies need on literature to diagnose his patients illness. He used the Oedipus complex to explain the natural erotic attachment of a young infant to the mother. Fraud's tripartite of the human psyche are the "I'd", "super-ego", and "ego". These three parts of the human mind have diverse goals and desire and function according to different principle. The site of natural drives it's the "Id". It is that area of the mind which passion knows only desire and has no sense of moderation of limitations. To be super-ego is an internalized archetypal of the authority of the father and of society. The ego moderate between the authoritarian demands of super-ego and the unmitigated desire of the "I'd". The ego is to the conscious thinking mind and it interfaces between the psyche and the outside world. Freud also postulated that dreams are repressed desires in the human unconscious. Fraud dealt with the technique of interpreting dream and critics have found it useful to the interpretation of theory texts.
The word psychoanalysis is to reveal the insight about the way the human mind work's in literature. It works perfectly well as a method of analyzing character, actions, and motivation. Psychoanalyst trust that all actions are influenced by the unconscious mind. It is imperative for human beings to repress many of their desires in order to live peaceful with others. These repressed desires often emerge in the unconscious, motivating actions. Freud holds the opinion that the content of dreams is too complex to be completely interpreted, just as literary scholars have argued that no single interpretation of literary work can ever be complete. He further suggest that the making of a dream is synonymous with that of a literary text. A dream is constructed through four basic processes; condensation, displacement or symbolization, consideration or represent ability or dream images and further disguise of certain elements. It is obvious that all the process of dream construction have similarities with the construction of a work of literature.
Modern psychological critics continue to sing praises to Freud's theories for it massive contribution to literature. Whereas, earlier critics focused on authors and characters recent critics have turned their attention to readers and texts. Norman Holland argues that reader’s psyches respond subconsciously to certain aspects of works of literature. The reader in effect makes the text so that the text is different for every reader. Similarly, Jacques Lacan posits ideas about how readers respond to literary texts. He combines Freud's theories of the conscious with Saussurian linguistics. That our conscious and subconscious minds are born into language (a system of signifier).
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