A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF CHIKA UNIGWE’S THE MIDDLE DAUGHTER

Abstract

This paper examines elements of style in The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe. Previous works have not paid adequate attention to how Nigerian indigenous cultural elements generate the employment of a distinctive language, a unique narrative technique, and exemplary literary devices in literary texts. To this end, the study examines Unigwe's use of diction, imagery, and syntax to convey themes of identity, gender, culture, and family dynamics in the African diasporic context. By focusing on the protagonist's journey of self discovery, the paper analyses how stylistic choices enhance the emotional depth and complexity of the characters. The novel's use of a shifting narrative voice, blending both first-person and omniscient perspectives, is explored as a tool for emphasising the protagonist's inner conflict and external struggles. This study adopts Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar as its theoretical framework. Unigwe’s The Middle Daughter serves as the primary text. Findings reveal that Unigwe's integration of Nigerian cultural elements, including folklore, and linguistic features from the Igbo language enrich the narrative, providing authenticity to the portrayal of the protagonist's experiences. This study concludes by highlighting how Unigwe's stylistic approach serves not only to engage readers but also to offer a nuanced commentary on the intersection of personal and collective identity within postcolonial African literature.