Narrative Perspectives of A Distant Shore by Caryl Philips and Kehinde by Emechet - Essay Example

In What Ways do Themes of Exile and Migration – Both Historical and Current – Shape the Narrative Perspectives of A Distant Shore by Caryl Philips and Kehinde by Emecheta? Name Course title Tutor Date In What Ways do Themes of Exile and Migration – Both Historical and Current – Shape the Narrative Perspectives of A Distant Shore by Caryl Philips and Kehinde by Emecheta? The African fiction writers living in Diaspora have their own way of showing their literary explorations; these writers try to bring up the horrors experienced in their motherland. Those who have chosen Europe as a permanent home after migrating from Africa have taken writing as a tool for survival, and it is through writing that they show their complicated and unstable positions towards Africa, their homeland. Their memories are linked to the disillusionment of the postcolonial period, and these historical memories have remained in their lives up to present1. These historical memories have shaped the way they narrate their stories, for instance, writers Caryl Philips and Emecheta have used the themes of migration and exile to present their ideas and feelings. This paper will explore the theme use of these two themes in “A distant shore” by Caryl Philips and “Kehinde” by Emecheta and how they were shaped by historical and current events. A Distant Shore is a fiction book written by Caryl Philips, in this novel, he reveals to the reader that England is not paradise as it is thought; according to her, calling England paradise is like an empty myth. She presents the theme of migration in The Final Passage; Philips develops this theme through Leila. Leila thinks that she has escaped all evil that she seen in Africa, but she is disillusioned by England2. All the fantasies about England are now replaced by reality. Also through Gabriel, Philip shows the experience by black immigrants in the English society; Philip deconstructs this through the lives of Solomon and Dorothy. Philip through the meeting of Gabriel and an English girl and the event that follow brings back memories of crime against women by men. Gabriel is taken in an abandoned house for shelter by his friend Bright, and given food by an English girl, but later he is accused of raping her, which he did not do3. In Africa, women were mistreated, and rape cases were so high; this is shown when Gabriel remembers witnessing his two sisters being raped. However, in England the crimes are against race and ethnic groups4. In exile, white males were considered to be more superior while black males were associated with crimes. According to Davis, an African-American author, in her book ‘Women, Race and Class’, she accounts for sex-related crimes. According to her, rape is a crime that is produced and maintained to terrorize people of color. The black males were framed as rapists recurrent, and evidence conjured to convince and justify that they were involved. Philips shows the image of black men in the historic Africa, and in the current England, the black man is portrayed as a man who is inseparable with rape. Black women, on the other hand, are seen as promiscuous; this shows that the whole black race is associated with bestiality. In the current, men see women as objects used for sex, and black women welcome white men’s sexual advances; therefore, any cry of rape by black women is not taken seriously, because they are considered as loose women. In A Distant Shore, Gabriel’s sisters are not allowed to scream for the pain; they are raped after being shot, this shows that historically or according to the African myth, cries of rape of Black women lack legitimacy. Also, when African women are raped, it is not mentioned because their bodies are designated as food5. Philips thinks that migration did not help black women at all; their bodies were not valued by black men when in Africa, and in exile the white female body is of more value than the black female’s body. Gabriel experiences racism and alienation in the land which he expected good life away from home, he is denied a friendship with Dorothy a white Girl who liked his decorum among other things. Her parents wanted Dorothy to befriend an English man, and according to Dorothy’s parents, being English did not much anything Gabriel presented to them6. His imprisonment showed total isolation from the people he lived with, the English people. The English people are now coming to terms with the cultural acceptance that is in their midst; Philip shows this through Dorothy, she accepts Gabriel the way he is and finds her happiness in him7. However, before, Gabriel enjoys the change and acceptance of the English people he goes away. It is evident that Philips history and current experiences has shaped her themes in her fiction story, A Distance shore, and indeed the story is about a distance shore; the Blacks were migrating to search for a good life and acceptance, but they could not find it in exile, In fact, things worsened, and when they were about to experience the change, they were taken away like Gabriel. Emecheta, just like Philips, in her story, Kehinde, presents the life of Africans in their homeland and in Diapora. She dwells on community, multiculturalism, sisterhood, kinship and shifting if identities and the way they affect Nigerians living in Diaspora and at home8. Emecheta, similar to Philips portrays male characters in a negative way; however, Emecheta concentrates on marriages and their ideological conflict in couples9. She portrays Albert as an idealist, who is quick to return home when prompted by his sisters, unlike his wife who does not embrace the idea of going back home after a long absence10. His wife feels comfortable when she is away from home than at home; she has lived in Britain for four decades. According to Kolawole, her perception has been shaped by her hybrid consciousness, characterized by post-colonial writing11. Emecheta, is this novel is influenced by the African Patriarchal society, where men are valued more than women. Albert is comfortable going back home because he knows that at home in Nigeria he still will have a higher position and will be valued more than his wife. Kehinde, on the other hand, dreams to go back home. But her dreams are shattered by the isolation and ridicule that awaits her. According to Ana Arce, there is a link between Emecheta and Kehinde, she argues that Kehinde’s feelings are a reflection of Emecheta’s feelings between Western and Nigerian societies. Using Emecheta, she criticizes her cultural traditions by describing it as oppressive and marginalizes women, according to her life is better for Nigerian women in Exile than at home, she is determined to protect women from slavery. According to Olaniyan, this fiction story shows the injustices against women in the society, and these injustices are the reasons for them to prefer living away from home and never to come back. To solve the society should be restructured to allow equitable practices. Emecheta’s story shows that migration to exile relieves the women of the mistreatment and isolation they receive from home. Children bearing, taking care of homes is the only place for women, while in Diaspora, women are left to achieve anything they feel they can. In this story, Emecheta is influenced by the historical events which used to take place in the society; they used to favor only men and isolated women. She is also influenced by current society, where women want to move away from the chains of patriarchal societies and be free to achieve their best as professionals12. When analyzing Philips work and Emecheta’s work, Philip shows that men and women face the same problems in Diaspora but when they are at home, women are the only ones who suffer. However, Emecheta dwells on women problems at home and freedom enjoyed by women in Diaspora13. These two fiction stories reveal the opinions held by African writers living in Europe. These writers show their criticism and pessimistic manner, however, they have no negative intentions. The African continent has a future that is apprehending, and therefore, hope must be kept alive. These writers only express their unfulfilled expectations in the present society; the writers might be influenced by the painful experience in the colonial period, however, they feel that they have a social responsibility of changing the society’s view of women in the case of Emecheta and in the case of Philip, the society view of women, race and ethnicity14. According to them, it is time for people to have a different definition of identity; ones identity should not be on the basis of gender, race or ethnicity15. These stories might be fiction, but they present the real issues about the society today, therefore, they should be taken seriously Bibliography Davis, Angela. Women, Race & Class. New York: Vintage books, 1983. Print. Emecheta, Buchi. Kehinde. London: Heinemann, 1994. Gilroy, Paul. The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness. Cambridge: Harvard, 1997. Print. Irele, Abiola. The African Experience in Literature and Ideology. London: Heinemann, 1981. Print. Kehinde, Ayo. “An Aesthetics of Unmitigated Realism: The Image of Africa in Meja Mwangi’s Going Down River Road”. The Atlantic Literary Review. 9 (2), 2008: 33-55. Kolawole, M. “Reversing Gender Myths and Images in Buchi Emecheta’s Novels.” Gender Perceptions and Development in Africa – A Socio-Cultural Approach. Lagos: Arrabon Academic Publishers, 1998. Print. Okpewho, Isidore. “Introduction.” In The African Diaspora: African Origins and New World Identities. Indiana: Indiana University, 2001. Print. Olaniyan, Tejumola. “African Writers, Exile, and the Politics of a Global Diaspora.” West Africa Review, 4 (1), 2003: pp. 213-234. Print. Osundare, Niyi. Thread in the Loom. Essays on African Literature and Culture. Trenton, NJ: African World Press, 2002. Philips, Caryl. A Distant Shore. London: Random House, 2010. Print. Raji, Wumi. “A Half-Way House: Identity and Memory in African Fictions of Exile.” Accra: University of Ghana, 2003. Print. Read More