The use of the image of the body to portray corruption and revolution in Ngugi wa Thiong' o' s :Devil on the Cross

Abstract

This research examines the portrayal of corruption and revolution in postcolonial African literature and questions the role of the African writer as a social custodian. It puts under study Ng.g. wa Thiong fo fs novel Devil on the Cross and scrutinizes its use of the image of the body as a literary technique. The author uses this technique grotesquely to highlight corruption and moral degradation of some characters, and authentically to picture revolution and patriotism of some others. This dissertation aims at answering two main questions: How does Ng.g. wa Thiong fo fs use of the image of the body as a literary device in Devil on the Cross to mirror corruption and revolution in postcolonial Kenya? A second intriguing question is: Why does Ng.g. wa Thiong fo use the body as a reference to corruption and revolution? ...