Shipahu, Bernard2021-07-152021-07-152021http://hdl.handle.net/11070/2967A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of master of Arts in English StudiesThis study analysed the representations of the marriage institution in Neshani Andreas’ The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (2001) and Valerie Tagwira’s The Uncertainly of Hope (2006) through the explications of Masculinity Theories and Nego-Feminism. Marriage is a topical and contentious issue in both social and legal spheres of life. Marriage is a sacred institution that must be well prepared for as failure to plan before entering the union is planning to fail after entering the union. Every marital relationship is bound either to succeed or fail depending on the attitudes and inputs of the spouses involved. The study examined how the literary texts portray the complex and intricate qualities of marriage. The study’s use of Masculinity Theories and Nego-Feminism to analyse the texts necessitated the incorporation and analysis of numerous issues such as marriage failure, marital in/stability, violence and abuse (specifically from male partners) and quality, functional marriages, and causes of marital dissatisfaction and marital breakdown in the texts. The study used a desk-top qualitative research and employed content analysis in the interpretation and analysis of the selected novels. The study observed that by analysing The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (2001) and The Uncertainty of Hope (2006) as compeers, served as living testimonies to some rich narratives, as the novels provide a coherent and common understanding of the growing complexity of marriage and family. The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (2001) and The Uncertainty of Hope manifest marital relationship issues in relation to society. The study findings revealed that the common understanding of marriage is a ubiquitous institution as it encompasses all cultures, races, ethnic group or religious formation. Moreover, the study further found that the common causes of marital dissatisfaction and marital breakdown were extra-marital affairs, abusive husbands, alcohol abuse, and in-laws’ interference among others. Extra-marital affairs were more prevalent amongst married men than married women. The study noted that from the evidence from a number of existing literary perspectives on marriage, it seems that for some, marriage turns out to be a loveless entrapment while for others, marriage is a one miserable long-life experience. The study also observed that there are sometimes satisfaction, stability and functional marriages. The study recommends that for the future, studies be carried out on the possibility of female abusive partners within marital relationships.enLiterary representationMarriageThesis