Nzipụta Obi Nkoropụ Na Igbu Onwe N’iduuazị Igbo A Họọrọ Nke Si N’aka

Abstract

Depression and suicide are topical issues in the society at present. Difficult conditions people find themselves usually push them to these ugly states of depression and suicide. Igbo literary writers depict these experiences in their literary works to expose the readers to the consequences of such actions and ways to minimize them. This lacuma motivated this research to examines these selected Igbo prose; Ụkpaka Mịịrị Onye Ụbịam and A Tụọrọ Ọmara in order to find out ways in which Igbo literary writers depict this act in their literary works. The researchers employed Sigmund Freud’s Psycho-Analysis theory in analyzing the select Igbo literary texts. This theory is adopted because of its relevance to the subject matter. The researchers read the selected literary works thoroughly as well as other works related to this study to enable credible acquisition of data necessary for this research. The data were presented descriptively. Findings shows that: Igbo literary writers depict depression and suicide in their literary works; depression starts when one begins to disassociate himself/herself from the things that fascinates him/her which in turn leads to suicide; suicide occurs when Id tends to occupy one’s mind and character which hinders one from having a rational thought before act execution; some people think about suicide and strategically plan and execute it; depression, shame and hopelessness can lead one to suicide. This research is beneficial to the society to expose them to the causes of depression and suicide and ways to avert them.