Suspense and Dialogue as Aspects of Aesthetics in the Plot of Elechi Amadi’s Trilogy

Abstract:

The greatness of Elechi Amadi in African literature in the divergent assessments of his literary creativity by significant critics over time is in his creative ability. Elechi Amadi’s trilogy: The Concubine, The Great Ponds and The Slave demonstrate aptly his artistry. Suspense in the texts is made manifest in myths and worship of the gods. The trilogy embodies elements that are consequential to the African society and worldviews. Amadi’s trilogy from various perspectives discuss the painful narrative of the spirit-husband myth as seen in The Concubine, inter-village conflict evidenced in the Great Ponds, and the wrath of the gods against Echela’s family in The Slave. The purpose of this paper is to examine suspense and dialogue and how myths are consciously used to effect suspense in the mind of the reader of the texts. Consequently, dialogue by characters also reflects on the myths to create more suspense. This paper in its findings notes that Amadi magnifies the jealousy and anger of the gods over human beings as they must yield to the dictates of the supernatural forces. The aesthetics in the trilogy is on how Amadi successfully explores real and supernatural issues. The paper concludes that Amadi’s trilogy is still relevant in contemporary Nigeria as people still believe in worship at the shrines. This paper recommends a cordial relationship among African traditional religious worshippers, Islam and Christianity for the purpose of unity, and also recommends more research effort on suspense and dialogue as suspects of aesthetics on Elechi Amadi’s trilogy. This paper hinges on Dell Hyme’s Ethnopoetic theory because of its focus on cultural elements in the society. This paper has made a unique contribution to theory, policy and practice.