THE INTERPLAY OF LANGUAGE AND MORALITY IN ACHEBE'S CHIKE AND THE RIVER: A STUDY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSION AND ETHICAL LESSONS

Abstract

This study explores the interplay of language and morality in Achebe's Chike and the River, focusing on the cultural expressions and ethical lessons embedded in the novel. The ethical literary criticism is the framework of the study. Achebe uses language as a powerful tool to convey the moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist, Chike, while reflecting the values and traditions of Igbo society. Through proverbs, idioms, and culturally rooted dialogues, Achebe teaches important ethical lessons about honesty, courage, and the consequences of disobedience. The novel also highlights the conflict between traditional African moral values and the influences of Western culture, revealing how language bridges this cultural divide. By examining Chike’s growth, this study uncovers how Achebe skilfully intertwines cultural expression with ethical education, offering both young and adult readers moral guidance. The study adopted qualitative research design. It adopted Ethical literacy criticism. The findings demonstrate how Achebe’s language choices are integral to communicating the ethical framework within which Chike navigates his world, making the novel significantly contribute to African moral literature.