Concept of Othering as Approached by Post-Colonial Literature - Essay Example

[Coarse The Concept of Othering as approached by Post-colonial Literature Introduction The paper preaches a closer assessment of the texts selected for the purpose of assessing the concepts of othering as well as fixed identity that were themed in the post-colonial literature in an in-depth manner. The first grasp will be undertaken on the text entitled, Jasmine that discusses the notions of society in leading into feeling of being others among individuals. Secondly, Wide Sargasso Sea takes a brief and innovative stance to inform the readers about the events that took place in the history to root-down feelings of othering. Finally, it is Black Mischief, a profound text that enables the discussion in the paper to sum up the context of identity and othering. Colonization has the strong impact on the history of the world that gave rise to the several revolutions, rebellions and different social changes in the society. Post-colonial literature has played a key role, in order to get through of the colonial system of the society. Post-colonial literature gives the sense of distinctive social identity and the otherness due the social culture and norms that are the main source of identification in the world since the early days of its creation. Identity is the element that gives the person realization of his importance in the society whereas Otherness is the distinctive factor that differentiates the person and his abilities in respect to others. Brief Overview Post-colonial literature came into existence as an opposition to the colonial system that ruled the society. It awakened the society to fight for their identity by giving them a sense of otherness in cultural and social aspects1. There are three books that have been discussed below in an account to this, these books belong to the colonial period, and they are also the perfect example of post-colonial literature. The book jasmine has depicted the struggle of the typical Punjabi girl of India and her journey of life in order to attain her distinctive identity in the society and American dream in term of social acceptance and self-contentment. Another book that has been discussed is the ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’, in which Antoinette’s has struggled for the attainment of her identity that has been having been perfectly illustrated in the book... The book gives a sense of otherness by being in a society where the number of other communities was dwelling and struggling to achieve their social identity. The third book that has been discussed in these papers is Black Mischief by Evelyn Waugh. In which the main character Seth can be observe having difficulty in maintaining his social identity and the emerging sense of otherness in the society during colonialism has also been depicted. Post-Colonial Literature Evolution of post-Colonial literature comes straight from the time when political circumstance began to change during colonialism. The term Postcolonial can be referred as the cultural formation and swift change in the cultural values of the society, due to the aroused political circumstances (K. Nayar 14). Post colonial literature is also known as Modern Literature and it poses some major distinctive characteristics such as its opposition to the colonialism (Anne, t-Irons and Federici 121-122). According to some critics, it has been concluded that any literature can be termed as post-colonial literature if it expresses opposition to colonialism, regardless the fact that, even if it was produced during the period of colonialism (nilsOle,). Post-colonial literature often argues on the relation of races and their impacts on society. It mostly accuses colonial societies (Hicks). According to the historians, post-colonialism was the need of the nation in order to achieve identity in the society for those who were facing imperialism caused by Universalists and Eurocentric concepts. There is an array of subjects that have been discussed in post-colonial literature including geographical, religious, social, economic and historical aspects of the ex-colonies. According to post-colonial writers, there are some countries that are still facing colonialism in terms of behaviors and values. Post-Colonial Literature and Fixed Identities In post-colonial literature or writing, writers mostly argue over the issue of identity which depicts their desire to express their identity. Most of the postcolonial work portrays the effects of the clash of external society and the native society with one another. It often deals with the effects of these societies on the psyche of the individual. It has been noted that, in the battle that is between colonialism and post-colonialism, racism and ethnicity have always been the main subject of interest. By analyzing the relationship between post-colonial literature and fixed identity, it can be stated that every human being has their own personal identity that give them a sense of their presence in the society. In Postcolonial literature, writers have used literature and poetry in terms of criticism to attain the national identity. It became possible with the emergence of the concept national identity that resulted in independence from colonial control by promoting new self-awareness. Concept of othering in post colonial literature is the expression for power relations and discrimination in different aspects. It can be observed through the history that othering is interconnected with knowledge and power. Othering is the objectification another group or individual on the basis of cultureless and essentialism. In order to affirm someone’s identity, othering acts as a key element to construct difference and resemblance from other in terms of protection (Mushtaq1-2). Primarily, arrays of concepts regarding othering were inbuilt in the society, which referred women as the other and geography also has been the main factor of discrimination where the individual were referred as the other on due their territorial aspects. Let us now take a closer look at the texts selected for the purpose of assessing the concepts of othering as well as fixed identity that were themed in the post-colonial literature in an in-depth manner. The first grasp will be undertaken on the text entitled, Jasmine that discusses the notions of society in leading into feeling of being others among individuals. Secondly, Wide Sargasso Sea takes a brief and innovative stance to inform the readers about the events that took place in the history to root-down feelings of othering. Finally, it is Black Mischief, a profound text that enables the discussion in the paper to sum up the context of identity and othering. Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee The famous book jasmine is the creation of Bharati Mukherjee. The story gave an idea about the identities in different cultural aspects and the concept of otherness in society. The story of the book revolved around the widowed Punjabi women and her experience of going through the Americanization (Ray). It was apparent through the book that the protagonist undergoes the process of transformation of a number of identities in order to attain self-happiness and self-empowerment and new identity (Warhol-Down). Jasmine was the story of transforming identities in terms of social acceptance. The girl named Jyoti (the main lead of the story) who was born in a poor family. At the age of fourteen, she became married to a man named Prakash, who had modern beliefs and refused conservative customs and norms. He named Jyoti as Jasmine and from there; the journey of Jasmine began as transforming herself into a new woman for changing the concept of fixed identity on the behalf of social acceptance (The Feminist Desconstruction Ontology of the Hypernated 263-264). In this book there were different phases of Jasmine’s life were being depicted were followed by the adoption and transformation of different identities on the basis of otherness and culture while moving from Punjab to Florida and New York to Iowa and ultimately ended up at California(Jain). The author depicted Jasmine’s transformation as Jasmine, Jase, Jazzy and Jane, all according to each new metamorphosis. Although, throughout the book, Jasmine had been facing the discrimination by the white society due to which, the sense of othering became inbuilt in her personality (Menon3-4). Through this book, writer portrayed the postcolonial approach. The setting of the book depicted the post-colonial era in which many farmers were going through the trauma and dwelling a hard life due to economic crises that clearly proposed an idea of othering when British rule was all over the country. That illustrates the over dominance of British culture on the cultural identity of India. The entire book is focused upon the Third-world concept and the issues of racial identity, which also described that how the minority group gets inevitably estranged in America in respect to mainstream culture. The book illustrated the essence of otherness in terms of discrimination with white hegemony. Through different parts of the book, it had been depicted that Violence and Postcolonial consciousness were closely interrelated with each other that was clearly evident in terms of identity politics and otherness in culture. By considering the key facts all through the book, it can be stated that the book Jasmine represented the clear sense of colonization and Post-colonial literature with which identity and culture are strongly interconnected. Wide Sargasso Sea The book was one of the creations of Jean Rhys, it depicted the era of early nineteenth century which was the colonial period The story revolved around the main character Antoinette , where her struggle to attain her identity has been depicted influenced by differently traumatized situations that brought the eminent mark on her life. Primarily, the conflicts that became the main part of the book were between black and white social groups of society that was the source of discrimination on the basis of othering. Aristocracy had the certain dominance over their rights. As it has been stated in the book about black community that, "You dont like, or even recognize the good in them," she said, "and you wont believe in the other side. (Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea 15)". It clearly depicted the certain level of discrimination that was present in the society. During the Colonial period, the aristocracy had no tolerance for the black community that was dwelling around the city.2 This is yet the biggest example of othering that has been well followed by the writer in his post-colonial text. According to the book, there were different key factors including the dominance of masculinity, social identity and the need of having basic rights in the society, which were being in clash in Antoinette’s mind. It represented the impact of these forces on the psyche of Antoinette that encompasses her restless efforts in the search of identity (Chew and Richards 67-68). There was a huge impact of emotional confusion and psychological disorder on Antoinette’s personality that caused her difficulty in understanding the world during colonialism. It left Antoinette with the quest of searching her identity as all the circumstances were against her. According to the author, the name of the book itself represents Antoinette’s set of thought and the dilemma of Antoinette’s life which is ‘The Sargasso Sea. This sea was in between the Caribbean and Europe, and it was so wide. It was so difficult for Antoinette to cross it. Although, it had been represented in the book that Antoinette was in the middle of the sea, and she was unable to reach each of the side of the shore. It was as similar to the ship, which stands calmed in the shallow water of the sea. The conflicts regarding the identity that found in Antoinette’s personality arose because of the uncertainty of her surname due to her father’s suspected promiscuity and mother’s re-marriage. The instance at which when Antoinette escaped from house after Tia in order to save her life that, “We stared at each other, blood on my face, tears on hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking-glass (Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea 29)”3. It apparently described Antoinette’s identity in the society as she was unacceptable by both communities including white aristocracy and black community. It brought an outcast status on her because of which her grieve was beyond her endurance. The act of rejection haunted Antoinette for the rest of her life and caused insecurity dissatisfaction in her life. Altogether, she lost the sense of her identity and spent all of her life doing efforts to achieve it. All of these conflicts led her towards madness, but Antoinette did not give up screaming and raging for the accomplishment of identity till the end. All through the book, Antoinette had always been motivated towards taking extreme steps of self-sacrificing for the sake of her identity and freedom. Throughout the book, Antoinette’s perplexity was so apparent to understand and achieve identity because she was a half blood. She was half Caribbean and Half European. However, it had to be understood by the people of her society that Day and night, white and black, dreams and Reality all are two different sides of the same coin as similar to Antoinette’s identity so that it was impossible to make a clear cut between them. However, the person who permanently marked her as an outcaste was no other but her own husband Rochester who widened the chasm in her personality who blamed her for her alleged blood. After marriage, it became more difficult for Antoinette to achieve her identity due to the circumstances around her that pushed her back towards her dark past (Chew and Richards 67). Her husband Rochester blamed her for her alleged blood. Because in that time period, black women who were the slave were categorize as a ‘Whore. Because it was so often in their society that slaves had relationship with their planter. The question that the society arose regarding Antoinette’s identity by embracing the concept of othering on the basis of racial difference that had the certain impact over her psyche which also caused a dramatic split within her personality. The quoted that perfectly illustrated Antoinette’s state of mind was that, “I will write my name in fire red, Antoinette Mason, née Cosway, Mount Calvary Convent, Spanish Town, Jamaica, 1839”4. It denoted her struggle for her identity that she wanted to have her distinctive identity in the society. It can be said that the book perfectly portrayed the racial and gender discrimination that had been the eminent part of colonization. In the book, the impacts that were caused by the certain discrimination were all well discussed, although it can be said that it was the perfect example of the post colonization literature of its time. Black Mischief Black Mischief is written by Evelyn Waugh. This book significantly depicted the concept of othering and fix identity, in which the author carved out the story in a manner that gave the better understanding of the certain notions including identity, cultural values during post colonialism. All through the book, the main comic figure Seth found to be struggling to retain his identity and also depicted his challenging experience in terms of maintaining his own identity in the nation that had more tribal influence in their norms and culture. All through the book, Seth was found to be unable to understand the norms and the system of the country that was ruled by him. All the circumstances around Seth led him towards losing his self identity due to the increased sense of othering among the nation concerning his own self. It was all because of Seth’s modern thoughts and vision regarding the country which was often misunderstood by his nation due to their typical conservative tribal belonging which acted as the main hindrance in Seth’s way. Basically, it can be said that, the book depicted the clash among the pre -modern and the modern life style that illustrated the notion of identity and the idea of othering in the presence of several religious, racial and cultural differences such as African, Arab, European and Indian culture within the same society. In the book, the main idea was to represent the Progress by mean of modernizing the nation by introducing Western amenities that particularly turned the whole situation into the worst scenario for Seth. It has been observed through the deep study of the book that, it gave the idea about modernization, social practices, modern technologies and the related failures because of imposing modern facets on the pre modern society. As quoted in the book that, “If I had One man by me whom I could trust... a man of progress and Culture... (Portico)5” It particularly depicted Seth’s modern thinking approach that gave rise to the social disturbance in the nation as it was too earlier for the pre modern society to accept and believe the modern norms and culture. Though, the main extract of the book was remain constant that was the interrelation between identify and otherness in various parameters of the society that effectively grabbed the attention of the readers and became controversial. It became disputed and critiqued several times. But, the facts that were being depicted by the author in the book could not be denied. It was because that, they were equally realistic and gave the closer view of identity conflicts during colonialism that were more often to be raised up in the pre modern societies of the particular era. All together, it can be stated that ‘Black Mischief’ was Evelyn’s significant and commendable effort against colonialism. Comparative Analysis According to the book Jasmine, Jasmine struggled to achieve her own distinguishing identity in order to be the part of modern society. Whereas, the Wide Sargasso Sea depicts the efforts of Antoinette in term of getting distinctive but the familiar identity among the people. In jasmine, the sense of othering was belonged to the white community with which she wanted to be interrelated. While, in Antoinette’s story, a sense of othering comprised her half blood identity and his husband’s distrust on her character. In contrast, Black Mischief discussed the modernism in pre modern society and its impacts on the cultural values of the country. According to the book Jasmine, jasmine was the brave and courageous lady who struggled and ended up with the achievement her dream. In contrast, in the Wide Sargasso Sea, Antoinette was a brave lady but she did not have such will power and courage in this way she ended up with getting imprisoned (S. Scott 299-300). Whereas, in black Mischief, the main character Seth was found to be helpless in recognizing his own identity in the cultural tribal circumstances as he was more familiar with modern ideologies of the world that he acknowledged while he was studying in Oxford. In Jasmine, the discrimination was based upon social identity. Whereas, in Wide Sargasso Sea, the inequality was particularly gender and racial based that explained the set of thought with two different perspectives and viewpoints. The book emphasizes Antoinette’s painful struggle for the sake of identity and social acceptance as well as the struggle of slaves as both of the groups were equally demoralized in the society during colonialism. In jasmine, the source of otherness and discrimination of identity were due to American culture and their norms, while, in Black mischief, the respective notions of identity and othering were developed due to the tribal culture. Though, in Antoinette’s case, her battle of identity and a sense of otherness were generated in respect to her own society. Conclusion It can be concluded after a deep study of the books that the identity and othering are the two key factors among many other factors that give the good sense of discrimination in the society in respect to certain system, manner, norms or culture. Moreover, the idea of such discrimination is well portrayed through the book ‘Jasmine’, ‘Black Mischief’ and ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ that has embraced disagreement of colonization in the form of post-colonial literature, when there have been different conflicts regarding the Identity and othering arose within the self or by the society. It was due to the post-colonial literature that the world became able to be freed from typical stereotypes, norms and beliefs of the society. In the light of above analysis it can be concluded that the concept of fixed identity and othering that was themed during colonialism was found to be gender, racial and cultural based. All of the above mentioned books possessed the conflict arose between two opposing forces such as colonialists and colonized. According to the above discussed texts, it comes to understanding that the notion of othering and fixed identities that was deep rooted in the society during colonialism had been reshaped through post colonial literature. Work Cited Anne, Leslie, Boldt t-Irons and Corrado, Virgulti, Ernesto Federici. Rewriting Texts Remaking Images: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2010. Chew, Shirley and David Richards. A Concise Companion to Postcolonial Literature. UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2010. Hicks, Scott. 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And the Birds Began to Sing: Religion and Literature in Post-colonial Cultures. Amsterdam: Rodopi B.V., Amsterdam, 1996. Swietlik, Malgorzata. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys as a Postcolonial Response to Jane Eyre by Bronte. Germany: GmbH, Norderstedt Germany, 2008. "The Feminist Deconstructive Ontology of the Hyphenated." International Jouirnal of Communicationn Research 1.3 (2011): 263-264. Warhol-Down, Robyn. Jasmine Reconsidered: Narrative Discourse and Multicultural Subjectivity. 2008. 22 July 2014. . Read More