Excerpt
Representation of Postcolonial Moments and the Concept of Place and Space in “Dead Men’s Path” by Chinua Achebe
First of all it seems to be appropriate to explain the central terms thoroughly. Colonialism can be defined as “a settlement in a new country” (Loomba, 1) where a group of people settles in a new locality and builds a community subject (cf. Loomba, 1). However, this shows that the native people already living in the country which is to be colonized are not mentioned. It eliminates the existence of other living creatures in the new country. Colonialism can be seen as the “conquest and control of other people’s land and goods” (Loomba, 1). The process of colonialism is not restricted to specific countries around the world but instead happens everywhere and at any time. Each time the colonizers as well as the indigenous people are put into a “complex and traumatic relationship” (Loomba, 1).
Additionally, the semantic content of the term ´postcolonial´ might suggest a concern only with the national culture after the departure of the imperial power. However, the term ´post-colonial´ is used to cover all the culture affected by the imperial process from the moment of colonization to the present day. What all those postcolonial works have in common according to Bill Ashcroft is that “they emerged” “out of the experience of colonization and asserted themselves by foregrounding the tension with the imperial power, and by emphasizing their differences from the assumptions of the imperial centre. It is this which makes them distinctively post-colonial” (Ashcroft, 2).
Moreover, the conceptualization of place needs to be defined. The concept of 'place' as approached by a strictly scientific manner could be reduced to a spatial concept. It would then mean a location in space. However, it seems that 'place' is not used only to refer to spatial locations, but also to locate people inside society. As a person’s position in society often has emphasis on one's location in space, these two meanings have merged in the span of time (cf. internet page, domnik).
In the following essay I would like to focus on the post-colonial moments in Chinua Achebe’s “Dead Men’s Path” as well as on the construction of place. I will subdivide the whole paper into two main parts. First of all, I will focus on the notion of postcolonialism expressed by colonialism and imperialism and how this is represented in the short story. The second part of the essay will examine the concept of place. The ideas of boundaries, as well as of places, to establish an identity will be in the centre of my investigations.
Colonialism means “the conquest and control of other people’s land and goods” (Loomba, 1). In “Dead Men’s Path” we can clearly identify the same pattern. The seemingly superior people are taking control over the seemingly inferior ones. The highly educated, dynamic and young Michael Obi is appointed headmaster of Ndume Central School. This school is said to be “unprogressive” which means “not in favour of new ideas and modern methods” (Achebe, 109). The new headmaster, together with his wife Nancy, begins his new `career´ there and wants to be in charge of everything.
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