Digital Humanities, Social Science and Cultural Preservation
A Multi-Theoretical Deconstruction of Matrimony in Adesuwa Oâman Nwokediâs The Marriage Class
Abstract
Adeleke Emmanuel Adegboyega
This paper presents a comprehensive critical analysis of Adesuwa O’man Nwokedi’s novel, The Marriage Class, using a multi-theoretical framework to deconstruct the complexity of modern relationships and the institution of marriage in the novel. The study investigates the complex interplay of personal desire and societal pressure, arguing that the novel functions as a social miniature where the forces of patriarchy, class, psychology, and culture merge to shape romantic destinies. The methodology involves a close reading of the text through four distinct critical lenses: Nego-feminism by Obioma Nnaemeka, Marxism of Karl Marx and Pierre Bourdieu, Psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan, and Socio-Cultural Theory of Pierre Bourdieu’s habitus and postcolonial critique. The analysis reveals that the characters’ journeys are not merely personal but are deeply mediated by negotiated gender strategies, economic determinants, unresolved psychological traumas—including the pervasive theme of unrequited love—and the tension between traditional norms and contemporary identities. The findings conclude that a successful, authentic union requires exceeding or skillfully negotiating these external and internal forces, moving beyond marriage as a social mandate or economic strategy towards a practice of mutual recognition and commitment, a central tenet of Nego-feminist praxis. This analysis is expanded to include a detailed examination of all ten couples, incorporating their specific relationship durations, a deeper psychoanalytic exploration of Abi’s trauma and deceit, and a broader socio-cultural discussion on age-gap relationships and the dynamics of love across divides.