Indigenous Identity in Witi Ihimaera's "Whale Rider" and Chinua Achebe's Fiction

Bachelor Thesis , 2011 , 52 Pages , Grade: 1,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

In both Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Witi Ihimaera’s The Whale Rider indigenous identity is a central topic. Yet, it is challenged by the advent of colonization or, in the latter case, by the fusion of ancient tradition and modernism. As such, the aim of this paper is to analyse the literary representation of indigeneity in these novels using Stuart Hall’s dual definition in order to show how indigenous identity develops at the backdrop of colonization and what this means for the concept of identity in a postcolonial context. [...] Subsequently, attention will be drawn to the ways in which the individual is representative of indigenous identity and how this relates to the dynamics between community and individual. This part will contrast the idea of a stable self with a transformative one and thus also establish a connection to the succeeding analysis of diaspora identities in Things Fall Apart, which are based on constant progress. [...] The results will then provide the basis for a discussion of relocation and hybridity to subsequently contextualize them in the concept of diaspora identities and, more generally, postcolonialism. Although the focus of the analysis is on Things Fall Apart the background of the last chapter will be used as an occasion for a brief discussion of the second part of his trilogy, No Longer at Ease. After this, a similarly structured analysis of Witi Ihimaera’s The Whale Rider will be pursued. Firstly, the literary representation of features of oral tradition and orality in general will be examined before attention is directed towards myth as a major constituent of Maori identity and its use in the novel.[...]To embed the representation of identity in the broader concept of postcolonialism, the novel will then be discussed in terms of rewriting. Nevertheless, the aim of this chapter will not be a comparative approach of the ancient pretext as a basis for the modern novel. How have Western influences and elements of globalization been interwoven in the narration? And how do these contribute to rewriting? The result will be drawn on to answer these questions of the significance of rewriting and relocating for the concept of cultural identity.[...] The purpose of this comparison is to clarify the major differences and similarities which is a prerequisite of the contextualization of the concept of identity in postcolonialism as will be done in the conclusion.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Definition of Indigenous Identity
• Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
  • A "Collective Self" in Things Fall Apart
    • History and Time
    • Oral Tradition and Language
    • Rituals: the Circle
  • The Fixed Individual versus the Adapting Community
  • Diaspora Identities
    • The Notion of Change
    • Silencing: Orality into Literacy
    • Relocation
    • Unwriting Eurocentrism
    • Hybridity
• The Whale Rider - Witi Ihimaera
  • "Return to History" in The Whale Rider
    • Oral Tradition and Language
    • Myth
    • Rituals: the Spiral
  • The Hybrid Individual versus the Collective Past
  • Rewriting Indigenous Identity
    • Influences of Western Culture and Globalization
    • Racism
    • Writing Motion
• Comparison: The Shattered Circle vs. the Spiraling Journey
• Conclusion
• Works Cited

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This bachelor thesis aims to analyze the literary representation of indigenous identity in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Witi Ihimaera's The Whale Rider. It utilizes Stuart Hall's dual definition of cultural identity to demonstrate how indigenous identity evolves against the backdrop of colonization and its implications for the concept of identity in a postcolonial context. The thesis explores the interplay between collective and individual identities, the impact of colonization on traditional cultures, and the emergence of hybrid identities in a postcolonial world.

• The impact of colonization on indigenous cultures and identities
• The interplay between collective and individual identities in a postcolonial context
• The role of oral tradition, language, and rituals in shaping indigenous identity
• The emergence of hybrid identities and the negotiation of cultural boundaries
• The significance of rewriting and relocating in the construction of indigenous identity

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction sets the stage for the analysis by highlighting the shared themes and concerns of Chinua Achebe and Witi Ihimaera's works, particularly their focus on indigenous identity in a postcolonial context. It introduces Stuart Hall's dual definition of cultural identity, which will serve as the theoretical framework for the analysis. The chapter also outlines the structure of the thesis, which will examine each novel separately before comparing their findings and drawing conclusions about the concept of identity in postcolonial literature.

Chapter 2 provides a detailed explanation of Stuart Hall's dual definition of cultural identity. It explores the concept of a "collective self" based on shared cultural values, traditions, and language, as well as the notion of identity as a process of "becoming" shaped by historical experiences and power dynamics. This chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of the novels by providing a clear understanding of the theoretical framework.

Chapter 3 delves into Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, analyzing the representation of indigenous identity through the lens of Hall's dual definition. It examines the elements that contribute to a collective self, such as history, language, and rituals, and explores how these elements are challenged by the arrival of colonization. The chapter also discusses the dynamics between the individual and the community, highlighting the tension between tradition and change. It further explores the concept of diaspora identities, examining the impact of relocation, hybridity, and the transition from orality to literacy on indigenous identity.

Chapter 4 focuses on Witi Ihimaera's The Whale Rider, employing a similar analytical approach to explore the representation of indigenous identity. It examines the role of oral tradition, myth, and rituals in shaping Maori identity, and how these elements are interwoven with Western influences and globalization. The chapter also analyzes the individual's struggle to reconcile their identity with the collective past and the impact of racism and cultural appropriation on indigenous identity. It further explores the concept of rewriting indigenous identity in a postcolonial context.

Chapter 5 compares the findings from the separate analyses of Things Fall Apart and The Whale Rider, highlighting the major differences and similarities in their representations of indigenous identity. This comparison provides a deeper understanding of the complexities of identity in a postcolonial world and sets the stage for the concluding chapter.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text encompass indigenous identity, postcolonial literature, Chinua Achebe, Witi Ihimaera, Things Fall Apart, The Whale Rider, colonization, cultural identity, collective self, diaspora identities, hybridity, oral tradition, language, rituals, myth, rewriting, relocation, and globalization.

• College: University of Dusseldorf "Heinrich Heine"
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Annemarie Pabel (Author)
• Publication Year: 2011
• Pages: 52
• Catalog Number: V184244
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656089667
• ISBN (Book): 9783656089612
• Language: English
• Tags: Ihimaera, Achebe, Whale Rider, Things Fall Apart, New Zealand, Nigeria, cultural identity, indigeneity, colonialism, hybridity, indigenous, ritual, circle, spiral, Stuart Hall, No longer at ease, Okonkwo, Kahu, Maori, Ibo, Kahutia-te-Rangi, eurocentrism