Gwendolen (novel)
Gwendolen (United Kingdom title) a 1989 novel by Nigerian-born
writer Buchi Emecheta,
also known by its United States title The Family. It is her tenth
novel.
Plot summary
Gwendolen,
pet
name June–June, is a young black Jamaican girl growing up with her maternal grandmother Naomi. Her
African-ancestry parents Winston and Sonia Brillianton emigrate to England when
she is still a child. Sonia does not claim her until Gwendolen is 11, paying
for her passage to England.
In
Jamaica Gwendolen is sexually abused by a middle-aged neighbour Uncle Johnny.
She tells this secret to her grandmother, who confronts the man and reveals it
to the rest of their neighbours, thus bringing shame to Gwendolen.
In
England Gwendolen attends school and helps take care of her two younger
brothers, Ronald and Marcus, and their youngest sister, Cheryl.
When
her mother goes back to Jamaica for an extended visit to attend to her dead
grandmother Naomi, Gwendolen was again sexually abused – this time by her
father Winston. She becomes pregnant; however, it is believed that the baby
belongs to Emmanuel, Gwendolen's teenaged Greek boyfriend. Gwendolen is institutionalized in a mental
hospital after going hysterical,
but she tells no one the parentage of her unborn child for fear that her father
may be imprisoned. Coincidentally, Winston is killed in a work accident. After
giving birth to a healthy daughter, Gwendolen names her "Iyamide", a Yoruba
name meaning "My mother is
here". Seeing their resemblance, Sonia then realizes her dead husband is
the true father of Gwendolen's child.
No comments:
Post a Comment