Thematic Analysis of Jasper Eberendu the Withered Flower
Abstract
Jasper Eberendu’s The Withered Flower is a piece of literary work through which the author intends to relate life phenomenon carefully and systematically using thematic. “If only it were possible to turn back the hands of time, many would have grabbed the opportunity to make amends”.
The opportunity a girl has to get married lasts within her days of blossom, because ignorance is not excuse. It is an ideal piece for literary studies and vocabulary development. This piece of literary work informs and educates everybody in the society. This piece of work informs and educates both the young and old, male and female etc.
Introduction
In every literary work, the idea and philosophy of the writer is embedded in the theme, to uncover themes and meanings, begin the analysis by making verifiable observations, like a scientist, through careful reading. Observations that are verifiable are those that can be pointed out and agreed upon by others.
These observations are the raw data of literary analysis; they are objective facts. Objective facts are the third person accounts that indicate who is doing what in the story or poem. They establish the when; they confirm the where. They recognize interesting key words and repetitions.
They record character dialogue, and they note specific devices used by the poet. Keep in mind that the author made a decision about each of these objective elements. Your role as a reader/analyst is to determine why these creative decisions were specifically made.
At the same time, it is very important to pay attention to the personal thoughts and emotional reactions that surface when reading the details of the story. This type of information is subjective. Subjective information arises while experiencing the literature.
Subjective information is the thoughtful first person “I think, I feel, I know” responses that come from the reader’s background of knowledge and personal experience. These subjective responses are valuable for making initial critical connections to the details within the author’s work.
Your probing “I wonder why” questions initiate from subjective responses. Just like the tendency to focus only on surface details – don’t make the mistake of only reporting your subjective impressions, reactions, and opinions. To conduct a thorough analysis which results in the identification of themes – surface details, subjective information, objective data, and inferences must all be reintegrated to reveal the big picture of theme and deeper meaning.
Eberendu’s Withered Flower seeks to discuss the life of a young woman who at her prime did not adhere to the advice of her parent but believe in her beauty and firm, this gives way to the following themes
The Concept of Thematic Thrust
Thematic analysis is sometimes claimed to be compatible with phenomenology in that it can focus on participants’ subjective experiences and sense-making; there is a long tradition of using thematic analysis in phenomenological research.
A phenomenological approach emphasizes the participants’ perceptions, feelings and experiences as the paramount object of study. Rooted in humanistic psychology, phenomenology notes giving voice to the “other” as a key component in qualitative research in general. This approach allows the respondents to discuss the topic in their own words, free of constraints from fixed-response questions found in quantitative studies.
Thematic analysis is sometimes erroneously assumed to be only compatible with phenomenology or experiential approaches to qualitative research. Braun and Clarke argue that their reflexive approach is equally compatible with social constructionist, poststructuralist and critical approaches to qualitative research
Thematic Analysis of Jasper Eberendu the Withered Flower
- Theme of Arrogance and Pride
In this context, it can be said that “Beauty without character”, is like tooth brush without tooth pest. Beauty is not complete without character and to achieve that one has to be of Good and loving heart towards his/her fellow human.
This context also tries to explain how intelligence, beauty and hove Jennifer gets everything she wants at her back and call, we can agree together that all these without character is nothing. Jennifer mum said to her daughter, that she should “make hay while the sun shines”. This implies more on the place of advice in our daily endeavour. This can be seen in the conversation below;
,” Mike returned. Jennifer only waved at her friend as she was leaving the room. “So Jenny, how are you and your studies? I hope no problem.”“Yea, all is well. We thank (; d.”“Good. Well, I think it is better we start planning for our wedding now that…” Wait….Wait . . . is that why you are here?” She snarled.
Without a chance for him to speak, she continued, “Well, as you can see, final year is full of academic activities and we don’t even have time for ourselves. I believe you saw things for yourself when you came in here and met us very busy. So my dear, you just have to wait till I graduate.” Mike got infuriated and felt so sullied.
He imagined himself, being the dream of every well- established and educated lady, who had many of them clustering around him, to be humiliated and disappointed by Jennifer. Being a responsible and disciplined man, he didn’t utter a word. He simply got up from his seat and left the room. (p.23)
Cynthia in the context of Eberendu’s novel believes that honestly pride goes before a fall. The prides has come and gone, now is the fall. Now she realized all that her friends were advising her then but instead she dumps them and so things her own way.
It also brings to mind the result of disobedience and wickedness, and the rewards came to her when she least expected them.
- The Theme of Love and Romance
In the novel, Eberendu portray the theme of love in the text by using the relationship between Jenifer and Mike, two love birds whose destiny was not meant to be. Love is deeply portray in the conversation between mike and Jenifer which supposed to be the engagement party thus;
Mike was another suitor Jennifer fell in love. Mike was a medical doctor in his late Twenties, very charming and loving, tall and handsome. Their relationship was so intimate that people thought they would end up in marriage, On one of the dates in an exquisite restaurant in town, Mike, for what seemed like the umpteenth time, proposed marriage to Jennifer.
“Please, Jenny marry me,” he humbly requested with a ring in his hand. “How many times will I tell you that I’m not ready for marriage now? Ok, ok… because of my love for you I will no longer wait till I graduate from school. Once I get to my final year, we will ct married.”“Are you serious?”“Of course, ”Can you have the: ing now?” “On dear, it is not necessary; I’ve given you my word.
” Mike was so happy that he started making preparations for the marriage ceremony. He began to inform his friends and relatives of the recent development. He didn’t bother to wait till Jennifer (p.13)
- Theme of failure
As portrayed by Eberendu, Jennifer in the context of the novel failed to understand the fact that husband is the pride of every woman. Jennifer had much opportunity thrown away. A failure is seen as one who is plundered in life and not able to catch up with the immediate needs of life.
Jennifer in the context of the novel failed in achieving the pride of a woman which is her husband due to lack of understanding about life structure, this could be seen thus ;
‘Why the sudden nightfall when I thought the sun was about to rise’? Can there be nightfall in the morning? Is it possible for a man to revoke his marriage proposals when all hopes of getting married have reached the climax? Maybe I may not know because I have never experienced such before.
Instead, the reverse was the case as I was always the one to disappoint, and not even the men who proposed to me. Now I see what these men suffered in my hands, especially Mike. (p.75)
As portrayed by Eberendu, Jennifer’s failure in life was as a result of her arrogant and pride because she had all the necessary opportunity ranging from parental love and care, acquaintance and peer intimacy but she still failed in the quest of life.
As portrayed by Eberendu, Jennifer’s failure in life was due to her inability of recognizing that patriotism is of great element of life.
- Theme of patriotism
As portrayed by Eberendu, advice is a very key tool in our day to day activities, the teacher says “you can be one of the great ions of excellence of you face your studies with diligence and avoid gallivanting about, indulging in frivolities that abound in and outside this campus.
“Education is the best gift”, has it been that the teacher had not pass through the system; you will agree with me that he would have had no way to face the class and the students there. This could be seen in the text thus;
“Good morning students.”“Good morning, Sir”“You are welcome to this great university that has produced great personalities in the history of Africa. You can be one of these great icons of excellence if you face your studies with diligence and avoid gallivanting about, indulging in frivolities that abound in and outside the campus. (p1)
The context here tries to tell us how friends should be. Had it been that Cynthia was not here to give Jennifer help, who knows what would have happened to Jennifer on the day that she was critically ill. Thus could be seen thus;
She thanked him and left to the dormitory. Initially, Cynthia was scared when she saw someone still in the classroom by that time of the day. The classroom blocks were deserted, but she Summoned courage and made her way into the classroom.
She went straight for her book without minding the person in the classroom. On her way out to the door, she glanced at the student and was able to recognize her as one of her class mates. She then went to her and discovered that she was ill. She helped her to the sick bay where she gave her name as Jennifer Jacobs, and was properly treated.
Meanwhile, Cynthia didn’t stop at taking her to the sick bay but also visited her frequently to offer her assistance. That was how their friendship began, and by that time they were just two weeks old in the SS 1 class. Coincidentally, they met themselves again in the same university, the same department, offering the same courses, and therefore, had no other choice than to continue from where they had stopped. (p.5)
This also proves the saying “Every disappointment is a blessing”. Cynthia was on her way home when she realizes that she had forgetting her textbook in the classroom.
Cynthia would have not known anything happening to Jennifer has it been she was with her textbook when she was going home from, but only for her to realize that she had forgotten her textbook.
Eberendu shows us as humans that it is always good for us to show concern about one another; Cynthia was pointed out as having this darling act unlike the one of Jennifer. Therefore, it’s good for us to love and care for one another.
- Theme of Retribution
As portrayed by Eberendu, the novel intends to relate the effect of perpetuating evil. Though it may seem that karma does not exist according to the view of many but it is pertinent to know that what goes around comes around. From the view point of the author he focuses on the effect of karma in our today society thus;
“Listen to me Joy or whatever you call yourself, for your own good keep away from my brother as well as my entire family. I don’t want to set my eyes on you in my house again. Go back to the slums where you belong and will always belong.
I will not repeat this warning, you senseless gold-digger!” Joy was speechless, she couldn’t believe her ears. Before she could regain herself to say a word, Jennifer was some meters away from her. She quietly went back to her friends who were curious to know what transpired. (p.38)
Jasper Eberendu in the context of the novel also focus theme of time and chance. Jennifer tried to plot against her innocent course mate, same happened to her when she was about getting married to Anderson, there her evil deeds speaks against her and turned her fortune to misfortune. Jasper Eberendu portrays the theme retribution putting it to the society that what goes around comes around.
Conclusion
Jennifer failed to take the chances knocking at her door; thinking it will keep coming till she dies or it will wait for her forever. It also brings to mind the reward of evil plans towards other. What Jennifer, tried to plot against her innocent course mate happened to her when she was about getting married to Anderson, there her evil deeds speaks against her and turned her fortune to misfortune.
This is to say that if pays to be of good behavior and obedience not to be insolent and disrespectful. For a saying says that “what goes around comes around”.
Jasper I. Eberendu in his context also tries to capture the picture of life illusion in the life of Jennifer. Jennifer mum said to her daughter, that she should “make hay while the sun shines”. This implies more on the place of advice in our daily endeavor.
What a lesson to learn? Opportunities they said come and go, and to some they says it comes and goes. Jennifer failed to take the chances knocking at her door; thinking it will keep coming till she dies or it will wait for her forever. Jasper Eberendu in the context also brings to mind the reward of evil plans towards other. Jasper Eberendu in the context of the novel focus on the theme of time and chance.
Eberendu context also tries to explain how intelligence, beauty and love parent should show to their ward, though we can agree that all these without character are nothing.
Jennifer’s mum said to her daughter, that she should “make hay while the sun shines”. This implies more on the place of advice in our daily endeavour. Thematic is relating to a particular theme or topic, a subset of a general topic.
Work Cited
Jasper, E (2012).The Withered Flower; Mid-Field Publishers Limited
Chomsky, N. (1986). Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin and Use. New York: Praeger.
