The Joys of Motherhood by Jamie Mallette

The irony of the title The Joys of Motherhood grows more apparent with each passing chapter. It is clear that the title of the novel is meant to point out the inequality and harsh facts of life for women in Nigeria in the twentieth century.

Nnu Ego, the main female character, desires nothing more than to prove that she is a woman by becoming a mother. Through the various trials in her life, it is shown how the art of becoming a mother and having children to care for makes life all the more difficult. Nnu Ego tries to be a good wife and mother as her tribe mandates, but her every action is scrutinized. Throughout her marriages and life, Nnu Ego is vilified. However, nothing is more heart wrenching then the end of The Joys of Motherhood. Nnu Ego dies and becomes a demigod that her family prays to for success in fertility. She is deemed a cruel and selfish woman because she never blesses her progeny with children, “ Stories afterward, however, said that Nnu Ego was a wicked woman even in death…” (224). The key word in that phrase is even, showing that her tribe believed her to be a wicked woman in life despite her later prosperity in bearing copious amounts of children. In my opinion, Nnu Ego is being a responsible “mother” figure by never allowing the women in her family to go through the strife and turmoil that she experienced.

It was difficult the to read The Joys of Motherhood without judging the culture that forces women to become submissive and breed for the benefit and honor of their husband. However, I tried not to make such judgements as an outsider to the Nigerian ways of life. Towards the end of the novel, I began to sympathize for Nnu Ego and the difficulties she faced with little help from her husband and children. The responsibility thrust onto to Nnu Ego, mothers and women, in general, is enormous. As Nnu Ego ages and younger wives are integrated into her household, Nnu Ego’s duties to her husband and family grow. I found the ending of the novel to be an interesting juxtaposition. As Nnu Ego’s worries and responsibilities multiply with age, her tribe and Lagos society believe that her role as mother and wife should be shrinking in magnitude. After Nnaife’s trial, Nnu Ego asks Adaku if Nnaife still owns her and her family, a telling sign of her cultural background. Adaku replies, “I’m afraid even that has changed. Nnaife does not own anybody, not in Nigeria today.” (218) This denotes the changing of the society in Lagos and a movement away from the husband owning his wife and daughters, which Nnu Ego does not realize or accept.

The conclusion that I reached is that ironically “the joys of motherhood” are not so joyful.