Introduction
The
purple Violet of Oshaantu looks concentrates on the way women were treated
during those days when the author wrote about the book. During that time women
were treated without all the respect comparing to these days. With reference to
page 91 of the play, we also note that people preferred to eat their
traditional food even the top officials during that time. We see the government
officials going to buy their food at the market from the meme’s. During the
period when the novel was published we can see that men did not have respect
over women and women were treated so badly.
Brief summary of the book.
Set
in a village in the Northern Part of Namibia is the book written by Andreas
Neshani “Purple of Violet of Oshaantu”. In the novel the author focuses on
gender roles in society as depicted in the picture. During the period when the
novel was published we can see that men did not have respect over women and
women were treated so badly. Even though Kauna got ,married when she was young
still she suffered enough in the hands of her husband Shange who kept on
abusing her young wife mee Kauna. Meme Maita referred to men as dogs when she
was giving a lecture to Kauna. The book clearly illustrates that women were not
happy with the way they were treated in the book. This is revealed by Mee Ali,
mee Kauna and mee Maita. Kauna had to suffer after the death of her husband since
she was accused of being the one who had the hand in Shange’s death since
Shange last ate the food that was prepared by his wife Kauna.
Gender role in the use of language by male
when addressing women
Ø This book talks about men using their masculine gender
role.
Ø Words used to depict gender insensitivity, including
the use of Namlish.
Me
Kauna was accused by almost everyone in the village for murdering her husband. This
shows that women were not treated fairly during this time when the book was
written. The author points to us how badly women were treated in the society and
in the hands of their husbands, for example the whole village knew how Shange
used to beat his wife but nothing was done about it.
*
How men use their power to treat women. Masculinity
as a concept was used in order to magnify the construction of the male identity
as it has a lot of bearing on the character of men. The male figures identities
are a product of a social construct which differs from community to community,
and are constantly subject to change. As portrayed by Andreas, some men are
good and some exploit the macho dividend of power and hold on to the
characteristics of hegemonic masculinity.
What does the norm say about position of men
in society?
Gender portrayal in the traditional
Namibian society.
Cultural barrier regarding men
*
Men cannot carry the wife’s handbag “kutulwamo”- perceived as being demeaning
to the male gender.
*
Shange is a chef at work but when he is at home he forces his wife to cook for
him.
When
his wife came across Shange’s old picture when he was working at the mine as a
chef, he was angry and furious for his wife to know that he was cooking for
other men. The reason why he was furious like that was because at home he
wanted to put himself up that ‘I am the father and the head of the house and cooking
its ladies work.”
Interview
After conducting two
interviews with Meme Embula and Tate Onesmus Ndangi Namundjebo from Okongo
Village, I found several interesting themes which illustrate gender roles.
Mrs
Ndapewa Embula:
Mrs
Embula is in her mid-50s. From the interview I had with her it clearly
corresponds with the play The Purple Violet of Oshaantu. She did not mind
opening up to me the bad way she was being treated by her in-laws especially. She
also said that she got married at an early age and did not have the opportunity
to go further with her studies since it was regarded as not really important
for girls to go further with school but instead to get married. Though she was
in an abusive marriage whereby her husband used to run after young girls whilst
she was busy nursing their kids at home no one could understand her dilemma and
she was suffering from inside. It was only then when her father took her back
when she was beaten to death by her husband in the hands of her in-laws and now
she still has those scars from that time. She said if only she could turn back
time maybe she should have not being married by that man and it is the lesson
she is always telling her children to follow their hearts when it comes to
marriage. Finally she pointed out that there is nothing good in life like
Education.
Mr Onesmus
Ndangi Namundjebo:
Mr Namundjebo’s tale also
matches the one in the play though he ran away from the point of him abusing
his wife of 33 years. He stated that it was not something new to hear of a man
having a lot of wives or abusing his wife since such stories was happening almost
every day. He pointed out that he was against that issue but little was he able
to do otherwise he was going to be mocked at by his fellow men.
Conclusion
As a result The Purple Violet
of Oshaantu written by a Namibia Andreas Neshani illustrates the Namibian society
during the period it was written. In my opinion, this was abuse which should
not be tolerated especially with thie new generation.
Source: http://quotesgram.com/men-who-beat-women-quotes/
