This paper is a Marxist approach to Ngugi-Wa-Thiong’o’s Devil on the Cross It seeks to show how Ngugi is committed to the struggle against Neo-colonialism and imperialism. It presents Ngugi’s Devil on the Cross as an invitation for the prole tariat and the oppressed people to act
Key words: Commitment, Marxism, Socialist realism
Table of Contents
I. THE PROBLEM
II. NGUGI AND HIS COMMITMENT
III. SOCIALIST REALISM IN DEVIL ON THE CROSS
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper provides a Marxist literary analysis of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel "Devil on the Cross," aiming to demonstrate how the author utilizes his work as a platform to challenge neo-colonialism and imperialism. The research investigates how the novel serves as an invitation for the proletariat and the oppressed classes to recognize their shared struggle and actively engage in the dismantling of oppressive capitalist structures.
- Application of Marxist literary criticism to analyze class conflict and social inequality.
- Examination of the symbolic and metaphorical significance of the "Devil" and the "Cross."
- Analysis of the protagonist Wariinga’s journey toward revolutionary consciousness and resistance.
- Evaluation of Ngugi’s commitment to social change and the role of the writer as a prophet of justice.
- Exploration of socialist realism as a tool for highlighting the exploitation of the masses.
Excerpt from the Book
II. NGUGI AND HIS COMMITMENT
Ngugi clearly appears as a Marxist novelist and a committed writer. Marxist Criticism calls on the writer to commit his art to the cause of the proletariat. The layman’s image of Marxist critics, in other words, is almost entirely shaped by the literary events of the epoch we know as Stalinism, which is a movement supporting that the communist party should be the only party and that the central government should control the whole political and economic system (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 2007). The communism believes in an economic system in which the state controls the means of producing everything for the people to create a society in which everyone is treated equally. Once these prerogatives are not met, there is need to raise the proletariat’s awareness to claim for a fairer situation. This is according to the Marxist theory, one of the writer’s duties. Similarly in Writers in Politics Ngugi (1981: .79-80), writes:
What the African writer is called upon to do is not easy: it demands him that he recognize the global character of imperialism and the global character or dimension of the forces struggling against it to build a new world. He must reject, repudiate, and negate his roots in the native bourgeoisie, and its spokesmen, and find his creative links with the pan-African masses in alliance with all the socialistic forces of the world…He must write with the vibrations and tremors of the struggles of all the working people in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe behind him. Yes must actively support and in his writing Reflect the struggle of the African working class and its peasant class allies for the total liberation of labor power. Yes, his work must show commitment, not to abstract notions of justice and peace, but the actual struggles of the African peoples to seize power and hence to be in a position to control all the forces of production and hence lay the only correct basis for peace and justice.
Summary of Chapters
I. THE PROBLEM: This chapter defines the core research focus by analyzing the symbolic metaphors of "Devil" and "Cross" within the novel to illustrate the critique of colonialism and capitalism.
II. NGUGI AND HIS COMMITMENT: This section explores Ngugi’s role as a committed Marxist writer who uses his artistic voice to expose social evils and urge the proletariat to unite against imperialist structures.
III. SOCIALIST REALISM IN DEVIL ON THE CROSS: This chapter examines how the author employs socialist realism to depict typical characters and circumstances, effectively highlighting the corruption and exploitation inherent in contemporary Kenyan society.
Keywords
Marxism, Commitment, Socialist Realism, Neo-colonialism, Imperialism, Capitalism, Proletariat, Class Conflict, Social Change, Literature, Resistance, Liberation, Wariinga, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Metaphor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper provides a Marxist analysis of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel "Devil on the Cross," examining how the narrative functions as a call to action against neo-colonialism and imperialist exploitation.
What are the central themes addressed in the work?
The central themes include the critique of capitalism, the necessity of proletarian unity, the role of the African writer in society, and the pursuit of genuine national independence.
What is the research goal?
The primary goal is to show how Ngugi uses literature to raise awareness among the oppressed classes and invite them to "crucify" the forces of evil represented by corrupt local and international elites.
Which theoretical framework does the author apply?
The research uses the Marxist approach to literary criticism, focusing on class struggle, economic inequality, and the social significance of the text.
What does the main body cover?
The body covers the symbolic interpretation of the novel's title, Ngugi's commitment as a writer, and the application of socialist realism in character portrayal and narrative structure.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include Marxism, Commitment, Socialist Realism, Neo-colonialism, Imperialism, Capitalism, and Proletariat.
How does the author interpret the title "Devil on the Cross"?
The paper interprets the title as an invitation for the oppressed to crucify the "devil"—identified as neo-colonialism and capitalism—to prevent the revival of imperialist control.
What significance does Wariinga's character hold?
Wariinga represents the journey of the marginalized individual who transforms into a community spokesperson, ultimately taking action against her oppressors to seek justice.
What is the role of the "helpers" in the narrative?
Characters like Wangarii serve as catalysts for awareness-raising, helping to unite peasants and workers in a common struggle against social injustice.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bonaventure Muzigirwa (Autor:in), 2010, Devil on the Cross: Ngugi's Marxist Invitation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/200641
