You need to read this book, Trisha. She marries her lover, Chike. Jane thank you for the insightful contribution:-), Indeed, not to sound too cliched, women are our won enemies. Thank you so much John for your contribution. The Bride Price is powerfully and poignantly written, compelling and passionate. I am glad you finally retrieved your novel from your friend. I must say that I did not like how the story ended, though I empathized so much with Aku-nna and her lover and wanted them to soar above all their predicaments. But as Aku-nna approaches womanhood her ambitious uncle makes plans to marry her off for a high bride price. Publication Date: First published by Allison and Busby in 1976. Click to learn more, Works Cited, References, and Bibliography, The Princess Bride Characters and Analysis, The Princess Bride Quotations and Analysis. Inigo’s loyalty towards his father and his quest for revenge never ceases even after years,  he relentlessly seeks to track down the object of his vengeance. As with the Joys of Motherhood, Buchi Emecheta is concerned with the effect of the second World War on families of post-colonial Nigeria, particularly the Igbo people. But I guess scientific reasons could convincingly explain Aku-nna’s unfortunate demise  and make nonsense of the superstition surrounding her death. I was able to relate to the story of “The Bride Price” because I am also of the Igbo tribe as the author and characters in the story. All rights reserved. I felt sad for days after reading it. Your voice is so important, Celestine! This Study Guide consists of approximately 59 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Some days I feel we are making progress, and then slide backwards twice as much. Get professional writing assistance from our partner. Genre: Fiction Great review. When I saw the title of the book I thought to myself that it was a good book. The chief would marry another wife if his wife could not bear a female child. Here, Aku-nna, her mother Ma Blackie and younger brother Nna-ando all come under the heavy-handed and often sly protection of her uncle Okonkwo who nurses the ambition of marrying Aku-nna off for a handsome bride-price. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. By clicking "Log In", you agree to our terms But beyond the love story, lies the compelling story of young, intelligent, passionate, courageous and determined girl, bent on defying the traditions of her people, which sought to keep her chained to a mediocre present, and a future of nothingness. And with her death recently, perhaps, the power of her writing, and her ability to evoke so much passion and emotion in us her readers, is the legacy she has left behind. . But Chike wins her with his kindness, deep love and concern for her well-being. Aku-nna’s lover and later husband Chike, is a slave born to slave parents and therefore she is forbidden to marry him. The Princess Bride is a story of fantasy, therefore all stories of fantasy require a certain suspension of belief. Author: Buchi Emecheta i will watch out in my next review , You write the best reviews they make me want to go out and get the book to read. I didn’t like the end either. The greatest difference between men and women, however, concerns the act of marriage. Count Rugen and Prince Humperdinck both share the same character flaw of cowardice that is masked by their arrogance and sadistic acts, in reality they are too cowardly to ever fight fair. It is the narrator's voice that must inform the reader about certain facts concerning the culture that Aku-nna herself has not yet learned. Me thinks these barriers have taken too long in breaking. The Bride Price had a similar effect on me after reading it. sounds like a beautiful story! May Buchi Emecheta rest in perfect peace. Her book illustrates how cultural norms imprison women, in particular, but it does offer some hope that, someday, these barriers will be broken. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I’m no expert but I vaguely remember a 19th century English tradition of romantic novels always ending with the woman’s death–as if she were too good to be allowed to live. It is an exception, especially in the Ibuza village, for a girl to go to school. I have read the novel, and must say you are spot on. ( Log Out /  Aku-nna’ rises above her situation and becomes a teacher. Hmm, as for this spoilers, I know I am guilty of it all the time. Thank you, Mary. I’ll have to check it out. I will buy a copy of the book and try to make out time to read it again. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy. Posted by readinpleasure in African Women Writers, Fiction, TBR List, Title: The Bride Price Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), johannisthinking@wordpress.com; pedalpushingthoughts@wordpresss.com, The Brunel University African Poetry Prize, readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2020/10/30/hai…, readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2020/10/23/hai…, readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2020/10/15/car…, readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/hai…, readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2020/10/02/hai…. Worry no more! Binding: Paperback The novel itself is so rich, but the ending is jarring. Buchi Emecheta's The Bride Price covers many themes from bride price to tradition and the caste system in Nigeria. Love. Meanwhile Westley’s own loyalty is evident through his constant pursuit of Buttercup even after all this time he would happily risk his own life for her and respond to her every command with “ As you wish”. I couldn’t agree more. We maltreat our maids and house-helps, look down on less fortunate women, and even at the workplace, you would expect the women bosses to put a humane face to the practice of human resource, but it is not so. What was the most interesting part of the story? I did not enjoy the spoiler at the end though. Pride and Prejudice contains one of the most cherished love stories in English literature: the courtship between Darcy and Elizabeth. I seem to talk too much. ‘Always remember that you are mine’, says Aku-nna’s father before he dies. Anyway… such is life. ( Log Out /  This edition published in 1995, Reason for reading: For my African reads and also on my TBR. )The next book that had a similar effect on me was “The Mayor of Casterbridge” by Thomas Hardy which I read two years later. Gender Roles. They assemble the deadliest beasts and torture them in order to mask their own cowardice. I recommend The Bride Price to all lovers of African literature and all those who  love to read romance, particularly in an African setting. (she was underage and pregnant), A powerful book nonetheless. ( Log Out /  Thank you Nana. I used to read it mainly at night with kerosene lantern because we did not have electricity but it was fun. Aku-nna’s lover and later husband Chike, is a slave born to slave parents and therefore she is forbidden to marry him. Emecheta could possible have adapted this you know Otherwise I see no reason why Aku-nna should not have lived. This is a very elaborated review. Inigo’s pure love and sheer loyalty for his father motivate his thirst for revenge for all those years. Thank you so much for coming by Marilyn . The tragic ending of the book devastated me. You are very welcome, Heather. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. I’m adding it to my list! The family suffers when their only source of income is no more and they have to re-locate to the village of Ibuza. Buchi Emecheta’s The Bride Price covers many themes from bride price to tradition and the caste system in Nigeria. But Chike wins her with his kindness, deep love and concern for her well-being. For a teenage girl who is fatherless and whose guardian is only interested in marrying her off to the highest bidder, whose mother is now married to her brother-in-law and therefore has minimal interest in her daughter, Chike’s attentions are more than welcome. The most striking reflection of Rugen and Humperdinck’s cowardice is the Zoo of Death. Publisher: African Writers Series (Heinemann) Pages: 177 Glad you like it . Next, out of embarrassment she refuses t… Even if she does attend, her education stops when she is married, usually around the age of fourteen.

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