Disintegrating Bonds: an Exploration of the Effects of War-induced Migration on Family Structures and Relationships in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun
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Uche Nnyagu PhD1
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1Department of English Language and Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
War is futile and should be avoided.
Many creative writers have in their literary works, mirrored the devastating
effects of war in societies with the aim to discourage the youths of the
contemporary era of aspiring to engage in war of any sorts. This study examines
the devastating impact of war-induced migration on family dynamics and
relationships as mirrored by Adichie in Half of a Yellow Sun. The novel,
with its setting as a Biafran land, during the civil war, vividly portrays the
disintegration of traditional family norms, reconfiguration of relationships,
and emotional struggles that accompany forced displacement. This research
adopts Postcolonial theory as the most apt theoretical framework for the
analysis of the experiences of the characters in the text. The research
findings reveal that war does no one any good and that war-induced migration
not only disrupts family structures but also challenges characters’ sense of
self and belonging. This study is significant as it reveals the dangers of war
and the consequent effects of war on individuals and society at large who
participate in wars.