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Struggle And Survival In A Cowrie Of Hope By Binwell Sinyangwe And The Cardinals By Bessie Head
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THE CONCEPT OF THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
This is a phrase
originating in evolutionary theory as an alternative description of
natural selection. The phrase is today commonly used in contexts that
are incompatible with the original meaning as intended by its first two
proponents, the British polymath Philosopher, Herbert Spencer (who
coined the term) and Charles Darwin. Herbert Spencer first used the
phrase “survival of the fittest†after reading Charles Darwin‟s On the
Origin of Species. In his Principle of Biology (1864), he draws
parallels between his own economic theories and Darwin‟s biological
ones, writing “This survival of the fittest which I have here sought to
express in mechanical terms, is that which Mr. Darwin has called natural
selection or the preservation of favored race in the struggle for lifeâ€
(vol. 1 p 444).
In Amanda Ripley‟s book, The Unthinkable Who
Survives When Disaster Strike – and Why? Is outstanding account of real
life scenario of people‟s struggle to survive different challenging
situations, especially disasters. It also provides psychological reason
why they act the way they do in this situation. The author discusses
that during any type of disaster, a person travels through three phases:
denial, deliberation and decisive moment. Reality is full of unforeseen
events. The end results of these unforeseen events depend on the choice
the person makes during the three phases the disaster occurred.
Tess
Penniston outlines three survival concepts he thinks could save life on
his web page “Ready Nutrition†(May 2010) as first taking
responsibility for your own survival, second, sorely relying on someone
else to save you is foolish and naïve, and third, train yourself to act
without fear.
Statement of Problem:
At the moment, there exist
innumerable literary assessment by scholars, especially the literary
critics, on the creative works by African writers. The volumes of
“African Literature Today†(ALT) series and other available critical
works attest to this. Many books from the stable of many renowned
creative writers have been given some levels of attention by critics.
Nevertheless,
much has not been done, at project level on themes of Binwell
Sinyangwe‟s A Cowrie of Hope. This informs the desire to work on this
project, hence the theme of struggle and survival in Binwell Sinyangwe‟s
A Cowrie of Hope and Bessie Head‟s The Cardinals.
Purpose of Study:
The
main objective of this project work is to take a critical look at
themes of struggle and survival in our primary texts namely, Binwell
Sinyangwe‟s A Cowrie of Hope and Bessie Head‟s The Cardinals. Struggle
for survival is what the organism goes through in order to survive in
his chosen environment. This project is subjected to critical
examination of how the characters struggle to wriggle themselves out of
the harsh realities life bestowed on them.
Significance of Study:
The
problem of struggle for survival is as old as the human race. The issue
presents myriad of questions such as: Are we having pity against
ourselves? Why must man struggle in order to survive? Why must there be
much suffering and injustice? Many erudite scholars have dealt with
these questions over the years. Different view and debates on the
subject have tried often to offer a reasonable solution to the problems.
Apart
from adding to the already existing literature, this work through its
illuminating insight is very significant especially in our contemporary
time, where there is quest for breakthrough. It will serve as a
veritable source of material for future researchers. It is hoped that it
will continue to give a critical evaluation for better understanding of
the nature of struggle and survival, especially as articulated in the
two novels explored here.
Scope of Study:
The problem of struggle
and survival is very complex. Its complexity is to the extent that a
single researcher cannot be exhaustive. It is, however noteworthy that
while acknowledging that there are other evaluations and appraisal of
problem by other authors which can help in understanding and solving the
problems of struggle and survival as it were, we shall limit our
analysis and critical evaluation in this research work to the two
novels, A Cowrie of Hope and The Cardinals by Binwell Sinyangwe and
Bessie Head respectively.
Research Methodology:
The basic sources
of information for this project are the novels, A Cowrie of Hope by
Binwell Sinyangwe and The Cardinals by Bessie Head. Secondary materials
are from the internet, library and journal articles.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]ABSTRACTLife is a battle for struggle and survival. Struggle and survival are as old as man. Every second, man is on the move, thinking of what to do and how to do it in order to survive. This project, therefore, examines the ways the two novelists presented their characters in their attempts to depict the various methods people adopt in their struggles for survival in this hard and harsh environment. This work also explores the artistic features as were conveniently deployed in their works by t ... Continue reading---
