aithfulness. Efuru's marriages fail because her husbands are unfaithful, ungrateful, and irresponsible where she is concerned. Efuru survives her failed marriages. After her marriages end she gains strength and an increase in her stature.She eventually finds fulfillment in her worship of Uhamiri. As well, her business expertise and strength of her character enables her to leave her husbands and continue with her life. Her marriages to both of her husbands were her choice and she doesn't blame anyone but herself. She offers a life of service to her community; an example would be when she helps those that have felt ill by calling on the doctor for them, and her worship of the Lake Goddess. Throughout all her trial and tribulations Efuru had the support of those in her age group. Throughout her ordeal those of her age group advised her to have patience with Adizua. She felt like it was up to her to terminate her marriage to him when it becomes burdensome as well as destructive to her. She remains self-reliant and independent in her action though. In Efuru, Flora Nwapa illustrates to us the traditional Igbo woman and their relentless capacity to survive despite all the odds that are against them and their determination to achieve economic independence and a measure of fulfillment as human beings in their communities. To me, the Lake Goddess is kind of used to criticize the tradition that values women as only being useful for the sake of procreation rather than a human being with aspirations to attain self-fulfillment and independence. The image of the goddess symbolizes the potential of Igbo womanhood. They can aspire and achieve great things in life; they are not only here on this earth for the sake of procreation. All women are not only here on this earth for the sake of procreation. It also represents the glory and beauty of womanhood. The Lake Goddess gives women the power to aspire, whether it's economic aspirations, political aspirati...
