Medidating Mythology, Mollifying Women: Achebe's Anhills of the Savannah

Abstract

Drawing attention to Chinua Achebe's interview with Anna Rutherford, Kofi Owusu has contended that Achebe's new on roles to be designed for African fiction is demonstrated Anthills oftM Savannah. Owusu discerns Achebe's treatment of woman issue hitherto discussion of 8 disembodied female essence or principle that has little to do with of flesh and blood, of mind and voice (468) and finds Beatrice's actions and comments Anthills an exemplification of radical new thinking (469). Similarly, examining the problematic relation between knowledge, power and storytelling and determining ways which power and knowledge impinge upon stories and their tellers (493), Robin Ikegami contends that Beatrice is not only probably the most reliable narrator novel ofmany storytellers but also perhaps the one whom Achebe invests himself most. Rose Acholonu is ecstatic to discern Anthills a definite artistic bias favour of women (318) and is enthralled with the character ofBeatrice whom, she notes, in her clear-sightedness, bravery, intellectual brilliance, and understanding, almost over-shadows the men her world (314). Yet while identifying the Anthills as representatives of 'Idemiii' (319), Acholonu