Modern Irish Poetry Focusing on Postcolonial Theory - Essay Example

Modern Irish Poetry focusing on Postcolonial Theory Introduction: The postcolonial theory as an epistemology, relates to politics and ethics addressing matters regarding gender, race, ethnicity and challenges that are involved in developing the post colonial national identity in regard to how the colonized people’s knowledge worked against them in the service of the colonizers. The central question in regard to the identity of the cultural Irish people and its critical writings is simply not caused by the influence of contingent political preoccupation. Instead, it indicates crucial function that is performed by literature in attempt to articulate these preoccupations. For most Irish poetry, the focus has been on the critique of postcolonial theory whereby the Irish poets reflect post colonial theory either negatively or positively in their poems (Lloyd, 78-134). Most modern Irish poets believe that postcolonial theory does not offer a mere path towards resolution but an ultimate solution to the problems pertaining political identity, passiveness and subjection. They believe that it uncovers a common ground beneath the cultural conflicts between gender, class and religion which are usually viewed as a common phenomenon in the Irish society. However, critics believe that the interpretation of the poets do not substantiate the validity of their postcolonial theory. D.F. McCarthy points out that the knowledge of the people’s genius is usually incomplete unless people base the knowledge upon the revelations that that they make and confessions uttered. He therefore points out that Irish poets lack substantial knowledge about their country’s post colonialism that could construct a distinctive cultural identity and therefore, they end up corrupting the Irish people by portraying them as stereotypes that they never were. To find out whether both statements are contradictory or whether only one statement is correct, Evan Boland who is among the most famous Irish poets (Sewel, 99-165) will be evaluated. Eavan Boland boland Poem, ‘A Nation’: I am not a nationalist. It isn’t always in linear time that nations flow along and define themselves. They crystallize in different individuals, at different times, in different voices and images. A ‘nation’ is a potent, important image. It is a concept that a woman writer must discourse with…And I know that as a woman, I do couldn’t accept the idea of nationwide, as it was formulated for me in Irish literature. I will always choose a past that was real and actual and was composed of private, enduring dignities (Villar-Argáiz, 199) Evan Bolan, a modern poet views post colonialism is an outcome of the restrictive powerful ideology and imperialism. She finds it difficult to come into terms with decorative images posted on women in poems like Cathleen ni Houulihan, Poor Old Woman and Dark Rosaleen. To her, the idea of feminine being fused with post colonialism is unacceptable and is only a monopoly of the Irish poetry. In the post-colonialism poems, the idea of a woman is a subjective and passive female who posses as a virgin or a mother. However, Bolan does no approve this and therefore sees the simplified images of women as corruption. To her, this misrepresentation has structured the position of poets in masculine terms hence preventing women to construct themselves as enduring dignities. The intense passivity of the female implies that the male principle is reserved the right to act and expression and hence, a dichotomy is established between male and female (Villar-Argáiz, 200-207) However, Bolan admits that she cannot do without her nation, a clear indication that she is also rooted in one country that has one poetic inheritance. This clearly shows that in spite of her not being a nationalist or advocating for the Irish post- colonial poetry, womanhood (gender equality) and nationhood are two constituents that make Boland’s fulfilled identity. In her dependence and reliance on nationhood as a viable narrative, she shares the ‘post-colonialism’ theory as described by Quinn (Pg. 120-134). Graham points out that rejection of exclusive tendencies of cultural post colonialism does not imply the rejection of post colonialism. He puts across that when one moves beyond nativism, one does not mean that he or she abandon nationalism but rather thinks of his or her local identity as not exhaustive and therefore, the person is not anxious to confine oneself in one sphere. Boland therefore re-invents the Ireland notion as an inclusive country that bears defeat of the Irish history and the Irish women sufferings. Thus, Boland rejects traditional exclusive and the narrow post colonial conception for the new Irish identity; private and enduring human dignities. However, Graham puts across that nationalism is a resultant of post colonial effects and is also linked with culture and politics. This implies that if Boland abandons nationalism or post colonialism in her poetry, she abandons culture and politics, things which are fundamental in form people’s identity. Boland seems to reject exclusion and binarism which are Irish cultural identity (Wolfreys, 120-167). Synthesis: From the discussion, it is clear that Evan Bolan is trying to dismantle the need for post colonial theory by the modern theory. The two questions posed by poets in regard to the importance of post colonial theory in defining the Irish Identity also arouse mixed feelings. As we have seen, even though Evan Bolan tries to neglect the fact that post colonialism has played a role in defining her new Irish identity, it is evident that it is from scrutinizing the post colonial poetry and literature written by other poets coupled with reading extensively about how pre-colonial women used to be that she has managed to come up with the new identity that describes Irish woman as private and enduring human dignities. Hence, we can simply say that the post-colonialism offers solution to the problems pertaining passiveness and subjection because Boland has managed to influence a lot of Irish women through her poetry to view themselves as enduring and private human dignities rather that subjects and passive women, hence having a positive impact in the Irish women lives (Villar-Argáiz, 208-215) However, her denial to come into terms with the post colonialism Irish lifestyle has also made her deny the Irish women the identity that they deserve. She rejects the decorative images posted on women in poems like Cathleen ni Houulihan, Poor Old Woman and Dark Rosaleen which are the real images of the Irish women. She also does not come into terms with the Irish women as virgins and mothers, things which were a sense of pride to Irish women. Just like most modern poets, Evan Bolan has denied the Irish women their identity by denouncing colonial elements that formed them. Both statements put forth by the critics and modern poetry are both true in both perspectives. However, the question that arises is whether it is right for poets to discard the post colonialism theory and address matter of gender, culture, ethnicity and other post colonial national identities without incorporating the theory or whether the colonials theory perspective should always be addressed by poets when addressing matter of gender, culture, ethnicity and other post colonial national identities (Villar-Argáiz, 217-234). Works Cited Lloyd, D. (2007). Anomalous states: Irish writing and the post-colonial moment. Emarald: Duke University Press Quinn, J. (2007).The Cambridge introduction to modern Irish poetry, 1800-2000. London: London: Cambridge University Press, Sewell, F. (2000). Modern Irish poetry: a new Alhambra. London: Oxford University Press Villar-Argáiz, P. (2008). The poetry of Eavan Boland: a postcolonial reading. Vatican: Academica Press, LLC Wolfreys, J. (2006). Modern British and Irish criticism and theory: a critical guide. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press Read More