The Theme of Psychopathy in Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, The Serial Killer

Abstract

Psychopathy is severe emotional derangement that culminates into aggressiveness and antisocial behaviour. A psychopathic is a person suffering from emotional or mental disorder; an aggressive, antisocial and highly impulsive person, who feels little or no guilt and is unable to form lasting bonds of affection with other human beings. This paper explores and highlights the character of Ayoola in Oyinkan Braithwaite’s novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer as it conducts thorough analysis of the presence and manifestation of psychopathic traits, behaviours and tendencies. It also explores the underlying psychological factors and environmental impact in the character under investigation which forms a major theme in the text. The paper employed a qualitative methodology and relied on the psychoanalysis of Ayoola’s character to unravel and determine the presence and manifestation of psychopathic traits, behaviours and tendencies. It also explores the underlying psychological factors and environmental influences that contribute to Ayoola’s psychopathic behaviour and actions. It examines how the relationship between Ayoola and her sister has helped ignite the conflict in the novel. The paper examines the impact of Ayoola’s psychopathy on the narrative structure, plot development, and interactions with other characters in the novel. The paper concludes with a recommendation that the novel should be read based on the theme of psychopathy in order to curb this deviant behaviour in the society.