Bernardine Evaristo’s novel The Emperor’s Babe is about the Sudanese girl Zuleika, who gets married at the age of eleven to a much older man in the Londinium of 211 AD. Zuleika gives us an insight in her everyday life and introduces the partly authentic, partly virtual Londinium with all its fascinating and unique inhabitants like her best friends Alba and Venus. The question of identity is a recurrent theme in the novel and always seems to hang like a shadow over Zuleika. Though she is born in Londinium, she is black and her parents tell her about Sudan, and she feels that she does not really belong to either of the countries. She also feels imprisoned in her marriage, and one day she starts writing poems, which help her to create some kind of “virtual place” of her own. There does not seem to be a place she really feels home, at most when she is together with her two best friends. With their long conversations they also create some personal place of their own, where they all can retire a bit from the outside world. Apart from that, there is also Zuleika’s affair with Septimius Severus, the Emperor, which gives her a feeling of safety and affiliation, but in the long run leads her into perdition.
This paper is trying to point out the social spaces and places in Zuleika’s world, and to describe her and her surroundings in the fictitious London/Londinium of ancient times.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Place vs. Space
- 2.1 The Question of Identity
- 2.2 The Question of Home
- 2.3 The Question of Race
- 3. Past vs. Present
- 3.1 London vs. Londinium
- 3.1.1 Language
- 3.1.2 Places
- 3.1 London vs. Londinium
- 4. Marriage vs. Love
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes Bernardine Evaristo's The Emperor's Babe, focusing on the protagonist Zuleika's journey of self-discovery within the fictionalized ancient Londinium. The objective is to explore the social spaces and places that shape Zuleika's identity and experience, examining how the novel contrasts the past and present, the urban and the rural, and the complexities of identity in a multicultural context.
- Identity formation in a multicultural setting
- The interplay between personal identity and societal expectations
- The use of poetry as a means of self-expression and identity creation
- The contrast between the real and virtual spaces within the novel
- The exploration of power dynamics and social hierarchies
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Bernardine Evaristo's The Emperor's Babe. It introduces the protagonist, Zuleika, an eleven-year-old Sudanese girl married to a much older man in 211 AD Londinium. The chapter highlights the novel's central theme: Zuleika's search for identity in a world that presents her with conflicting cultural and social pressures. It foreshadows the exploration of Zuleika's use of poetry as a means of escaping her constricted reality and creating a virtual space for self-expression. The introduction provides a concise overview of the key elements that will be explored in subsequent chapters, such as Zuleika’s relationships with her friends, her husband, and the Emperor Septimius Severus.
2. Place vs. Space: This chapter delves into the concept of "place" and "space" as they relate to Zuleika's identity and experience. It examines how Zuleika's sense of self is inextricably linked to her physical surroundings and the social structures within Londinium. The chapter explores her feelings of displacement and her search for belonging in a city that simultaneously embraces and marginalizes her. It further explores her ambiguous sense of belonging, both geographically and culturally. This chapter analyzes Zuleika's struggle for self-definition, highlighting her use of writing poetry as a form of reclaiming her identity and agency.
3. Past vs. Present: This chapter contrasts the past and the present in Zuleika's life and the novel's setting. It delves into the juxtaposition of ancient Londinium and modern sensibilities, demonstrating how Evaristo seamlessly merges historical elements with contemporary themes. The analysis explores how the juxtaposition of past and present shapes Zuleika's perception of herself and her place in society. Through exploration of Zuleika's experiences, the chapter aims to provide insights into the continuity and evolution of societal issues regarding identity, race, and social mobility.
4. Marriage vs. Love: This chapter examines the complexities of Zuleika's marriage and her relationship with Septimius Severus. It delves into the power dynamics inherent in her marriage, contrasting the arranged marriage with her passionate, yet ultimately destructive, affair with the Emperor. It analyzes the ways in which her experiences shape her understanding of love, marriage, and social expectations. By exploring these contrasting relationships, the chapter aims to explore the complexities of love and power within the context of the story.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Identity, Postcolonial Literature, Ancient Londinium, Race, Gender, Marriage, Poetry, Virtual Space, Multiculturalism, Social Hierarchy, Self-Expression.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bernardine Evaristo's The Emperor's Babe
What is this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic analysis of Bernardine Evaristo's novel, The Emperor's Babe. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The information is intended for academic use, focusing on thematic analysis.
What are the main themes explored in the analysis of The Emperor's Babe?
The analysis centers on the protagonist Zuleika's journey of self-discovery. Key themes include identity formation in a multicultural setting, the interplay between personal identity and societal expectations, the use of poetry as self-expression, the contrast between real and virtual spaces, and the exploration of power dynamics and social hierarchies.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into five chapters: An introduction setting the scene and introducing Zuleika; a chapter exploring "Place vs. Space" and its impact on Zuleika's identity; a chapter contrasting "Past vs. Present" in Zuleika's life and the novel's setting; a chapter analyzing "Marriage vs. Love" in Zuleika's experiences; and a concluding chapter. Each chapter is summarized in detail within this document.
What is the focus of Chapter 2 ("Place vs. Space")?
Chapter 2 examines how Zuleika's sense of self is shaped by her physical surroundings and social structures in Londinium. It explores her feelings of displacement and her search for belonging, highlighting her use of poetry to reclaim her identity and agency.
What is the focus of Chapter 3 ("Past vs. Present")?
Chapter 3 contrasts ancient Londinium with modern sensibilities, showing how Evaristo blends historical elements with contemporary themes. It explores how this juxtaposition shapes Zuleika's perception of herself and her place in society, examining the continuity and evolution of societal issues.
What is the focus of Chapter 4 ("Marriage vs. Love")?
Chapter 4 analyzes the complexities of Zuleika's marriage and her relationship with Septimius Severus. It examines the power dynamics in her marriage and contrasts it with her affair with the Emperor, exploring her understanding of love, marriage, and social expectations within the context of the story.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Identity, Postcolonial Literature, Ancient Londinium, Race, Gender, Marriage, Poetry, Virtual Space, Multiculturalism, Social Hierarchy, and Self-Expression.
Who is the protagonist of The Emperor's Babe, and what is her background?
The protagonist is Zuleika, an eleven-year-old Sudanese girl married to a much older man in 211 AD Londinium. Her journey of self-discovery in a world of conflicting cultural and social pressures is the central focus of the novel and this analysis.
What is the overall objective of the analysis?
The objective is to explore the social spaces and places that shape Zuleika's identity and experience, examining how the novel contrasts past and present, urban and rural, and the complexities of identity in a multicultural context.
For what purpose is this document intended?
This document is intended solely for academic use, supporting structured and professional analysis of themes in Bernardine Evaristo's The Emperor's Babe.
- Quote paper
- Theresa Rass (Author), 2010, A Poetic Journey: "The Emperor’s Babe" in Search of Identity in Virtual Places of Ancient Londinium, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/181515
