THE RETURN OF NIGHTMARES IN YEJIDE KILANKO’S DAUGHTERS WHO WALK THIS PATH
Keywords:
Mother, Pain, Parents, Past, TraumaAbstract
Post-2000 Nigerian literature in English demonstrates an extraordinary admiration for the child narrator. These narratives are presented from the perspective of a child to truthfully portray sociopolitical issues, and to present situations in which they are victimized by their elders. The victimized child-character symbolically represents vulnerable members of the society who are being exploited by the powerful. This article emphasizes on the fact that furtive problems, no matter how untellable they are, need to be addressed. Symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, fear, disturbed sleep and anxiety are clear signs of psychological trauma. The protagonist of the selected text has to continuously negotiate with her past. She gives vent to her frustration by torturing her own body and soul. Narration can operate as a catalyst for the recovery of the self. I integrate nightmares, a significant symptom of trauma due to sexual violence with deteriorated mental health. The novel becomes a medium to promote survival and resistance within African society, implicating readers as witnesses to assure change.
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