Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Cases of marital conflicts have been on the rise in different families. Causes of these marital conflicts are not clear although some literary works have focused on marriage as an institution. This study aimed at exploring the depiction of marital conflicts in three selected Kiswahili novels: Utengano by Said Ahmed Mohamed, Kidagaa Kimemwozea by Ken Walibora and Mwisho wa Kosa by Burhani Zainabu. Marital conflict is one of the emerging issues that has not been adequately studied in literature. The study sought to fill this gap by examining the representation of marriage in the selected novels. The objectives of this study were: examinining the causes of marital conflicts, clarifying the effects of marital conflicts on the family and society and investigating possible ways of dealing with marital conflicts as depicted in the selected novels. This study was guided by the Theory of Realism. This theory states that the works of literature depict real situations. The research involved the analysis of themes related to marital conflicts, characters and characterization in the selected novels. This was a library research in which the selected research novels and any other work related to the research topic: marital conflicts were read. The sampling procedure used was purposeful sampling. Three selected novels were studied. These were: Utengano, Kidagaa Kimemwozea and Mwisho wa Kosa. Data collection and analysis was based on the textual analysis of the selected novels of study by putting emphasis on: causes of marital conflicts, effects of marital conflicts to the families and investigating possible ways of dealing with marital conflicts as depicted in the selected novels: Utengano, Kidagaa Kimemwozea and Mwisho wa Kosa. The data was analyzed using qualitative descriptive method. The findings of this study show that there are causes of marital conflicts, effects and ways that can be applied to minimize the marital conflicts. It is hoped that the study will be of use to students and researchers of Swahili literature in relation to the area of stylistic devices and themes especially marital conflict in the selected research novels.
