This study is based on the main female African characters in Une si longue lettre written in 1979 by Mariama Bâ and Assèze l’Africaine written in 1994 by Calixthe Beyala. Both novels describe the African society and the obstacles that exist for women in this society where men dominate. This study presents the transformation of Ramatoulaye that is a traditional and passive woman but she becomes modern. In addition, it presents the transformation of young Aïssatou that becomes an independent and strong woman, in these two novels. These two women are facing similar forms of discriminations and oppression in the African society and they are struggling against injustice in various ways. The aim of this analysis is to investigate how the image of the African women and the feminism in Africa show and develop through the main characters, Ramatoulaye and Aïssatou. The conclusion reveal that the image of the African women has considerably changed over the years in a positive way and that Femininity is a cultural construction and not a natural construction. The conclusion further reveal that even today a woman is not independent, but is still considered "the Other" in relation to the man.

With a view to conducting a study of the identity portrayal as presented in the film Paljas - and more specifically of the two youth characters, Willem and Emma - a few relevant theoretical concepts are included in this investigation, i.e. developmental psychology, film theory and narratology. By analysing and interpreting the film-related representation of the two youth characters it was possible to establish to which extent and in which way the identity portrayal of the two youth characters enhances the main theme of the film. It was, accordingly, also possible to elucidate facets of the placement of the fictional reality as represented in the film text and the reality as such in parallel correlation. According to the research method that was implemented certain aspects of different related sciences proved to be of integral importance. Such aspects included the psychological development of the child during mid-childhood years, the psychological development of the late adolescent, the application of film-related techniques pertaining to character portrayal and characterisation in narratology. During the course of this research the focus was on the identity portrayal of the two characters, Willem and Emma as youth characters in the film Paljas. An analysis of the identity portrayal of the youth characters implies that the investigation and application of narratology and film theory be incorporated in conjunction with theories pertaining to developmental psychology as specific point of focus. The research results were thus described by means of an integrated method. The children's experience of interpersonal communication at their home exercises an important influence on their identity development. The parents create the primary framework of reference for the children's attitude, value systems and convictions in connection with life in general as well as for their own sense of the self and their self-estimation. Key words: film, film text, film theory, identity portrayal, interpretation, youth characters, late adolescence, mid-childhood years, narratology, developmental psychology, Paljas, reception theory. / Thesis (M.A. (Languages))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 238-244). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Humanities, Department of English, 2007. / Bibliography: p. 239-289.

Thesis--Copenhagen. / Summary in Danish. Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-206).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2007. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2766.

Thesis (M.A.)--Bowling Green State University, 2009. / Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 71 p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Seminary, Portland, OR, 1999. / Abstract. Some parts in Chinese. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 308-312).