Love, the Strongest Force of All

Women have struggled for equality through the ages. Even till this day, there is still a gap between men and women in business, school, and leadership. Women have not always been the minority compared to man. Woman have not always been seen as the fragile creatures that should remain homemakers, rather than trying to do a ‘mans’ job. There are strong woman who challenge the status quo and emphasize their social agency, or independence to make choices. Ngugi Wa Thiong’O, an East African novelist, authored “Wedding at the Cross,” a story about a woman’s love for not-so-rich man, and resentment from her family values of loving a rich and Christian man. Another African novelist, Ama Ata Aidoo, authored “Two Sisters,” a story about two sisters who oppose each other’s ideals of living, after new traditional values have been imposed by outside forces on Ghana. With the two stories, love becomes the ultimate factor on the three women’s urge towards their own social identity. Without the passion for love, each woman would be victims of society.

In, “Wedding at the Cross”, Mariamu, a wealthy grocer’s daughter, falls in love with Wariaku, a poor milk clerk. Mariamu loved Wariaku so much that she rejected her family values in the process. Such a rejection is a clear example of the historical time the story was written. This story takes place in Africa while under colonial rule during the late 1900s. It is evident in this story that the British placed their own traditional values in to the African society. I believe this is why the parents are so adamant on having a wealthy, Christian, war hero, and civilized husband for their daughter. The views of the parents have been changed through the colonial rule as they stress Christianity and lo...

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...s, I have gained a new perspective on the identity of woman in African society. Since imperial countries began to rule Africa, they would place their values and traditions. This led to a ‘salad bowl’ of different identities woman could have. The woman could maintain their past values like Mariamu, they could poorly transition into the new ideals like Mercy, or they can be fully immersed in the new and corrupt society like Connie. These three woman had their identities constrained by the society through the manipulation of traditional values. No matter how much Mariamu wanted true love, society would continue to turn men into colonial machines. No matter how much Mercy wanted a husband, powerful men under colonial rule would buy her under their false love, and Connie would remain a victim of colonization as well, all three were simple pawns in a bigger game of chess.