The quest for a universal identity that defies definitions of race or tribe is shrouded in shackles of prejudice enshrined in the traditional outlook which must be dismantled in order to attain total liberty. These characters shuttle between points of inclusion and exclusion. The findings reveal that the writer’s identity influences her commitment as reflected in her choice of characters that like her are cast in the in-between space.
The postcolonial theory was instrumental in the reading, analysis and interpretation of the selected text.
The data collected through content analysis was coded according to thematic concerns, the mode of characterization and vision of the author. The study adopted the analytical research design. The objective of the study was to analyze how the writer’s identity influences her commitment in the text Maru. In particular, the study was interested in the hybrid syncretic crossings reflected in her work and which defined her as a writer in the Third Space- the contact zone within which different cultures encounter. When she accepts her first teaching post, in a remote village, Margaret is befriended by Dikeledi, sister of Maru the chief-in-waiting.ĭespite making influential friends, Margaret faces prejudice even from the children she teaches, and her presence causes Maru and his best friend - also Dikeledi's lover - to become sworn enemies.The study examined the influence of identity on literary commitment of Bessie Head – a multicultural writer. She has only to open her mouth to cause confusion, for her education and English accent do not fit her looks.
Maru: Margaret, an orphan from a despised tribe, has lived her life under the loving protection of a missionary's wife. The two outsiders join forces, but their task is fraught with hazards: opposition from the corrupt chief, the pressures of tradition, and the unrelenting climate ever threaten to bring tragedy. In the village of Golema Mmidi he meets Gilbert, a charismatic Englishman who is trying to modernise farming methods to benefit the community. Escaping South Africa and his troubled past, Makehaya crosses the border to Botswana, in the hope of leading a peaceful, purposeful life.
0 kommentar(er)
