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Defense Date
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
English
First Advisor
Dr. Tom De Haven
Abstract
Sky-high Flames is about Ofunne Ofili, an intelligent and ambitious young woman in a Nigerian oppressive patriarchal society who, nevertheless, dreams of becoming a teacher. Once in school, her high spiritedness leads her to constant trouble. After her mother falls ill, Ofunne's father demands that she withdraw from school. But she completes her education with the help of Reverend Sister Dolan, who was her school principal, and who was drawn to Ofunne's personality. After graduation, Ofunne's father insists that she marry a man she barely knows. She consents only because the man is both Catholic and educated. After three years of marriage, her in-laws threaten her with divorce because she has not yet produced a child. While suffering from the guilt of childlessness, Ofunne discovers that her husband has infected her with syphilis. Sky High Flames is about how our hopes and dreams can turn out to become the very tools that destroy us.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
6-13-2008
VCU Only:
Off Campus Download
Comments
Part of Retrospective ETD Collection, restricted to VCU only.