APQ - APPON PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY

This study examines the metaphysical conflict between the spiritual and human realms in the novel by Elechi Amadi. The narrative is situated within the broader framework of African cultural beliefs. African cosmology is fundamentally characterized by the interconnectedness of the visible and invisible worlds, where spiritual forces actively influence human existence. Drawing on myth criticism and structuralist theory, this paper explores how the tragic experiences of Ihuoma and her suitors reflect an enduring tension between human agency and supernatural determinism. Through qualitative textual analysis, the study interrogates key thematic elements such as fate, freewill, spiritual jealousy, and the inevitability of destiny as mediated by divine forces, particularly the Sea-King. The findings reveal that the novel reinforces traditional African ontologies that perceive misfortune not as random occurrences but as spiritually orchestrated happenings. Furthermore, the narrative underscores the limitations of human autonomy within a cosmological system governed by unseen powers. This paper argues that The Concubine serves not only as a literary text but also as a cultural document that encodes indigenous epistemologies about existence, morality, and the consequences of violating spiritual order. The study contributes to African literary criticism by foregrounding the continued relevance of myth and spirituality in interpreting human experiences and conflicts. Its methodology is qualitative and analytical, falling within the area of philosophy of literature

Open Full Text (PDF)