Abstract
Literary works are always open to new and diverse interpretations that broaden the understanding of literature as a complex and interesting art form. Like every literary text, it is believed that Amma Darko’s Beyond the Horizon (1995), despite existing critical works done on it, is still capable of instigating new concerns. Thus, this paper seeks to further investigate the text through a comprehensive analysis of how the author handles the critical theme of patriarchy. Specifically, it examines how the novel captures the dynamics of patriarchal influence in an evolving world, in terms of how it strengthens or limits the powers of men in the relationship with women, and the implications for feminism. The paper uses the qualitative analysis approach, which involves subjective and critical interpretation of data primarily sourced from the novel, with secondary sources; such as online journals and textbooks, providing scholarly support. It relies on postcolonial feminist theoretical perspective, which attributes the continued oppression of women to the legacies of colonialism. The paper reveals that men maintain control only over women who adhere to patriarchal philosophy, but whereas they appear incapacitated when confronted by women with modern inclinations. This suggests that while the former is still a possibility in some Africa societies, the latter represents a challenge to patriarchal absoluteness. It concludes that both instances represent the complexity involved in a bid to totally strip men’s privileged position in society.
Keywords: Literature, Feminism, Qualitative Analysis, Oppression, Postcolonial