| dc.description.abstract | This thesis entitled "IMAGES AND SYMBOLS IN
NURUDDIN FAHAH'S NOVELS," examines the following
five titles: From a Crooked Hib, A Naked Needle,
Sweet and Sour Milk,Sardines and Close Sesame. The
last three are a trilogy collectively known as
Variations on the Theme of an Africap Dictatorship.
We believe this thesis may be the first detailed
study of Nuruddin Farah's works of fiction. To
achieve its objective, the study adopts an approach
that gears towards an appreciation of each text and a
demonstration of how images and symbols effectively
express ideas, hence the content of each text. The
approach also demonstrates how the author uses images
and symbols to relate characters and conflicts so as
to make the meaning of each text as clear as possible.
In so doing, the sturly demonstrates the crucial role
of how images and symbols bring out the totality of
a work of· art ,
Nuruddin Farah's artistic work can be seen as
an examination of the conflicts within an individual
in a callous society. 'I'h e individual works towards
self-discovery and towards understanding the society
he lives in. But the callousness of the society he
seeks to understand always supresses him through
brutal force, intimidation and murder.
- ix -
Forces of oppression and repression which dwarf
man's attempts towards individual and collective
liberty and fulfilment include male chauvinism,
dependence, clannish prejudices leading to nepotism,
political dictatorship and ensuing brutality and
terrorism, both physical and psychol?gical.
Most significantly in Farah's writing,the family
is used as a symbol of the state while cosmic images
of the sun and the moon signify conflicts between·
patriarchy and matriarchy. The latter symbolise the
imposition of dictatorship of the ruling oligarchy
and the apparent submission of the subdued masses
respectively. In this process of imposition and
submission underlies the realisation that dictatorial
r,
regimes will put to use, without discrimination,
various means to destroy whatever form of opposition,
real or imag;ined. 'I'he author, through the exploration
of common images and symbols, saves us from a
pessimistic withdrawal by entrusting the future
struggle for human dignity ..to the younc; men and women
born durinf, the chaos of the regime they so much
despise and hate | en |
