Preview

Post Colonial Theory- Extended Definition Essay

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1765 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Post Colonial Theory- Extended Definition Essay
Postcolonial Theory- Extended Definition Essay
During the late twentieth century, many literary critics had an important focus on understanding cultural power. They began investigating a more multicultural canon, and discovered the lack of perspectives from the formerly colonized people on European colonization. European colonialism was centered on racial inferiority and extreme otherness. In history the colonized people are seen as the losers and the colonizers are the winners. Postcolonial critics are trying to restore the culture, dignity, identities, and history of the colonized. Colonizers believed they were sophisticated, civilized, and metropolitan. They defined the colonized people as being savage, backward, and undeveloped. Furthermore Europeans believed their culture was highly advanced and they tried to implement stereotypes against the colonized people. Postcolonial theory assumes that the colonized people are being treated as the "Other". Postcolonial theory examines how the colonized people are voiceless and how they are inferior to the colonizers. Postcolonial critics are mainly concerned with literature written in the Anglo-European culture often distorts the experiences of the colonized people, and attempts to articulate more pride in the face of colonization. Postcolonial theory focuses on conveying the complete story of colonization specifically by Europeans, rather than blaming them for their wrong doings in history.
Postcolonial theory states that Anglo-European countries created the dominant ideology that served to “other” the colonized people by making the same them seem inferior and dependent. Postcolonial critics question the legacy of Western influence in their colonized countries because of the negative aspects of discrimination towards the natives. In the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the white missionaries created division within the most basic element of Ibo society, their religion and made it easier for them to establish

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the novel “Things Fall Apart”, colonialism is greatly expressed towards the end of part two and all throughout part three. The way the novel goes about it is through Christian missionaries, who then, later in the book, try to completely take control and dominate their culture.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The colonial stability framework began to change after the Seven Years' War. This conflict between England and France was the result of a long dispute over the leading of overseas trade and colonial empire.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Postcolonial Lens Essay

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “Postcolonial theory challenges us as readers to see the world differently, to look at history, literature, language, and culture in new ways.” (Baldwin & Quinn, 2007, p. 18) In other words, interpreting literature through a post-colonial theory lens is like using a magnified glass to look at the world, to see things more clearly and from different perspectives. Alterity as…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The colonial establishment of European in North America began early as the 1490 into the1500s all the way into the 1700s. By the beginning of the eighteen century, there were three main colonial empires in the New World; the British, French, and Spanish empires. They had various differences in societal, economic, political, and religious outlooks.…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    There is little if any doubt that modern society has condemned Imperialism and its various devices. I will gladly concede the fact the past implementations of Imperialism have been, in many ways, terrible with consequences that have wounded humanity deeply. This however does not mean that good things were not present. Or that the side effects were only bad. It is, as in all cases, easy to overlook the good if little or any bad exists. I believe that is the case here.…

    • 1601 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    “ Who was here first?” Has been a question among American society. There has been many historical documents about historical figures discovering the “ New World.” During the 1600’s, foreign settlers discovered new land such as the American soil. Many Native tribes were in the region where foreigners trespassed. Foreigners discovered their native land not only their land but their culture. They discovered their beliefs, their customs, their apparel, and their traditions. Foreigners were exposed to new adaptations such as new foods and new animals. Although, some people may view it as fine concept, in the long run Native Culture was affected. Therefore, diseases, enslavement, and loss of culture are ways in which colonialism affected the lives of the Native Americans.…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Take up the white man’s burden/ send forth the best ye breed -“Rudyard Kipling mockingly wrote in 1899, he was describing the aggressive European imperialism that took place in the 1880’s. In 1884 Africa was divided up among European nations, only two African countries remained independent. One may question, what the driving force behind this European imperialism was. Although technology, political and cultural causes were factors in the Europeans imperializing Africa, ultimately the primary reason for imperialism was economic benefit due to the fact that Africa had vast resources.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Colonialism and the imperialistic mindset are common themes in the study of history, whether the peoples, cultures, and nations being studied were the colonizers or the colonized. The classic colonial strategy has always been seen as using and draining the colonized for markets and resources in order to sustain the largest profit margin, but an alternative theory, dubbed Settler-Colonial Theory, has more recently been expounded upon to provide a different point of view. This second take on colonialism claims that there have been imperial-style governments that have attempted to use the lands they have colonized in a different manner: for the land . In this theory, colonizers push the native peoples out and deem the land their own. In most…

    • 2062 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In Chinua Achebe’s renowned novel Things Fall Apart, the West received its first level of consciousness into their colonial nature through the vantage point of an African perspective. Achebe’s classic refuses to feud the colonized against the colonizer, additionally he refuses to lighten the disconcerting circumstances and situations his native Africa encounters with the 19th century colonial powers. Achebe’s reading of the encounter of Ibo tribal life with Western entry into Africa is in many ways a tragic irony and almost fable-like. Furthermore, his understanding prevents any easy notions of exoneration for one side or the other. Achebe’s display of the complexities of this encounter between Ibo tribal life and Western Christianity show…

    • 1826 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Colonization is defined as the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area. The effects of colonization vary due to cultural values and practices, but most native people’s culture was diminished when they were forced to convert to other religions, traditions and values as well as family roles. Therefore, when examining the novel Things Fall Apart, the film Dakota 38 as well as the film Rabbit Proof Fence, it can be further proven that in the wake of colonization, culture can be completely disregarded and in time, diminished.…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The impact of European Imperialism counter acting with the weaker African society brings great attention to how the 19th century functioned. Chinua Achebe discusses through out his novel, Things Fall Apart, just how the Europeans at the time became a greater supremacy by taking over colossal Africa. Achebe describes the hard times that went on during the 19th century imperialist era, and how the Igbo culture had to fight for what they thought was right. Comparisons of European characteristics and the African way of life can be made in many different ways. Achebe condemns European imperialists and how they colonized around Africa. He shows how at the time being that major powers could take over at any given time.…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Change can be looked on in different ways. It can be seen as undermining to what is already established. However, it can also be seen as progressive or the path of the future. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe these views are shown. The negative view is seen by characters like Okonkwo, where the establishments being undermined are the huts or the overall way of life. The positive view is seen by characters like Nwoye, where he is drawn by the acceptance of Christianity. Either way change is definite due to the Europeans’ forcefulness and will affect the Ibo’s structure immensely. Achebe develops the Ibo’s depth to prove that change within a culture can be a necessity, while not always a desire.…

    • 613 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Things Fall Apart

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Things fall apart, the center cannot hold. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world” (Achebe). In his postcolonial tragedy, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe writes about the collapse of the Ibo African tribal system due to the arrival of aggressive European missionaries. Achebe focuses on “both what was strong and what was weak in the African past” (Appiah). He traces back the roots of his people to the “moment when [they] lost [their] initiative to other people, to colonizers” (Appiah). Throughout his novel Achebe shows the effects the Ibo culture experiences when Christian colonizers arrive.…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Response To Colonialism

    • 2804 Words
    • 12 Pages

    There were a variety of responses on the part of African peoples to colonial rule. Supporters of colonialism in Europe claimed that the average African person welcomed colonialism. Colonialism, they argued, brought the end of slavery in East and Central Africa and brought a stop to inter-kingdom warfare in parts of West Africa. While there is some truth to the claim that colonialism brought peace to a few areas in Africa, and that there were some peoples who were initially thankful for an end to violence in their areas, the historical evidence does not support the claim that there was widespread support for colonial rule. Indeed, there is also considerable evidence of strong resistance to colonial rule.…

    • 2804 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Kongi’s Harvest

    • 2344 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Colonization and Post colonization are twin evils in the so called civilized times. During colonization criticizing the Empire was not possible. But in the postcolonial era the colonized is not spared. Personal freedom demands that a human being has the right to follow any religion and faith. According to social rights he has the right to social security, protection and participation in the cultural life of the community. But these fundamental rights were denied to the colonized and the post colonized. The writers in the post-colonial period expose the cruelty and dehumanization ruthlessly practiced on the colonized. The very means and ways by which the native was discredited become effective weapons to hit back at the colonizer. The native was demeaned as a ‘savage’, his land called ‘a dark continent’, his heart ‘heart of darkness’, his religion ‘barbarous’ and himself ‘a cannibal’. The post-colonial writers use their cultural myths to prove the ignorance of the colonizer and his racial prejudice. They prove through their myths the greatness of their religion, the cosmic vision engendered by it, the possibility of rejuvenation inherent in it and the…

    • 2344 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays