Struggle And Survival In A Cowrie Of Hope By Binwell Sinyangwe And The Cardinals By Bessie Head
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Struggle And Survival In A Cowrie Of Hope By Binwell Sinyangwe And The Cardinals By Bessie Head
ABSTRACT
Life is a conflict of struggle and survival. Struggle and survival have existed from the beginning of mankind. Every second, man is on the move, thinking about what and how to do in order to exist.
This research investigates how the two novelists presented their characters in their attempts to depict the many tactics people use in their struggles for existence in this harsh and difficult environment.
This book also investigates the artistic qualities that the novelists used conveniently in their works. (There are inequalities in the world because man is striving for survival, and it is critical that man considers how he approaches this).
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION:
Life is full with struggles. Man lives in a harsh and difficult environment in which he suffers, toils, and labours day after day in order to exist.
Every living thing on Earth, including plants and animals, battles for survival. Plants strive for sunlight to survive. Even lesser creatures with low brain capacities battle for survival. Humans are not left out. A baby in the womb battles for sustenance and seeks a way out during labour, demonstrating that human challenges begin in the womb.
There are various forms of struggles, including political struggle, economic struggle, family conflict, and so on. But all of these challenges lead to one thing: survival.
The seventh edition of the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines struggle as “to try very hard to do something when it is difficult or when there are many problems,” while survival is defined as “the state of continuing to live or exist, often despite difficulty or dangers, or something that has existed from an earlier time” (1491). Webster’s Dictionary defines struggle as “to exert great effort to labour hard; to strive; to contend forcibly; as in a struggle to save one’s life” (203).
While all of the above definitions are appropriate, we have chosen to agree with an online posted material that adds that “survival is meeting your basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and health care”.
Survival is inextricably linked to achievement.
According to Davil Salti, a Palestinian living in the Middle East, those who are unaffected by life’s challenges are either immature or have transcended it. The goal of every human being in this world is to achieve humanity’s perfection, which necessitates what we term life’s struggle. Because life entails an ongoing conflict.
Success, failure, happiness, and misery are largely determined by one’s knowledge of the conflict. According to www.goggles.com, understanding the battle of life is crucial, regardless of one’s career or level of expertise.
When a man loses the fortitude to face life’s challenges, he bears the weight of the entire world. However, he who continues to struggle through life is the only one who succeeds. One must examine the nature of existence and comprehend the psychology behind this fight. To comprehend the fight, consider three aspects: internal, interpersonal, and external.
One individual may be able to struggle with himself, but this is insufficient; another may be able to struggle with others, but this is also insufficient. A third person may respond to the demands of situation, but this is not sufficient. What is required is the study and learning of the three, as well as the ability to manage the battle in all three directions.
The smartest person is the one who suffers with himself first, since he has had to deal with the most severe struggle. He will find it easier to overcome the remaining obstacles.
What exactly is the nature of the conflict with oneself? The first part is to align one’s thoughts, speech, and actions with one’s ideals while also expressing natural urges and desires. The second component of the conflict with oneself is trying to fit in with others, with their diverse ideas and expectations.
For this, a man must make himself as narrow or wide as the space that he is asked to fill, which is a sensitive topic that is difficult for everyone to understand and practise. The third component of self-struggle is accommodating others in one’s life and heart, no matter how big or tiny the demand.
When considering the struggle with others, we must consider three things. The first is to control and govern people and activities that are our duty and responsibility.
Another part is knowing when to allow people to use our time, energy, work, or patience, and where to draw the line. The third issue is to conform to the standards and conceptions of distinct personalities who are at different stages of development.
The concept of survival of the fittest
This phrase originated in evolutionary theory as an alternate explanation for natural selection. The word is now widely used in settings that contradict its original meaning as intended by its first two proponents, the British polymath philosopher Herbert Spencer (who invented the term) and Charles Darwin. Herbert Spencer coined the expression “survival of the fittest” after reading Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.”
In his Principle of Biology (1864), he draws parallels between his own economic theories and Darwin’s biological ones, stating, “This survival of the fittest which I have here sought to express in mechanical terms, is that which Mr. Darwin has called natural selection or the preservation of favoured race in the struggle for life” (vol. 1, p 444).
Amanda Ripley’s book, The Unthinkable, explores who survives when disaster strikes and why. This is an exceptional portrayal of real-life scenarios of people struggling to endure hard situations, particularly during disasters.
It also presents psychological explanations for why they act the way they do in this situation. The author explains that amid any form of calamity, a person goes through three stages: denial, debate, and the decisive moment.
Reality is full of unexpected events. The outcome of these unforeseen events is determined by the decisions made by the individual during the three phases of the tragedy.
Tess Penniston suggests three survival concepts on his website “Ready Nutrition” (May 2010): first, take responsibility for your own survival, second, relying solely on others to help you is dumb and naive, and third, train yourself to act without fear.
Problem Statement: Scholars, particularly literary critics, have conducted numerous assessments of African writers’ works. The “African Literature Today” (ALT) series and other critical works support this claim. Critics have paid attention to various books by well-known creative writers.
However, there has been limited project-level work on the ideas of Binwell Sinyangwe’s A Cowrie of Hope. Binwell Sinyangwe’s A Cowrie of Hope and Bessie Head’s The Cardinals both explore themes of struggle and survival, which inspired this effort.
This study aims to analyse themes of struggle and survival in two primary texts:
Binwell Sinyangwe’s A Cowrie of Hope and Bessie Head’s The Cardinals. The struggle for survival is what an organism goes through in order to survive in its chosen environment. This project is critically examined in terms of how the protagonists struggle to escape the harsh truths of existence.
Study’s Importance: The struggle for survival has been a long-standing issue for humanity. The issue raises a slew of issues, including: Are we pitying ourselves? Why must man battle to survive?
Why is there so much misery and injustice? Many erudite intellectuals have addressed these issues over the years. Different perspectives and debates on the subject have frequently attempted to provide a suitable solution to the problems.
Apart from adding to the existing literature, this work is particularly relevant because of its illuminating perspective, especially in our current time, when there is a search for breakthroughs.
It will be a valuable resource for future studies. It is intended that it will continue to provide critical analysis for a greater understanding of the nature of struggle and survival, particularly as articulated in the two novels discussed here.
Scope of Study: The issue of struggle and survival is multifaceted. It is so intricate that no single researcher can be exhaustive. It is worth noting, however, that while other authors’ evaluations and appraisals of problems can aid in understanding and solving the problems of struggle and survival, we will limit our analysis and critical evaluation in this research work to the two novels, A Cowrie of Hope and The Cardinals, by Binwell Sinyangwe and Bessie Head.
Research Methodology:
The novels A Cowrie of Hope by Binwell Sinyangwe and The Cardinals by Bessie Head serve as the primary sources of information for this project. Secondary materials come from the internet, libraries, and journal papers.
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