African American slavery and racism that black people and other ethnic minorities often had and still have to face in their every-day lives in Canada, are disabled from Canadian history and their modern representation.
When associations are made to the topic of slavery, most people do not know that slavery existed in Canada, because slave trade mostly took place in the larger Atlantic Ocean and America. Therefore it was suppressed from Canadian’s history, even if it is very much a part of it.
The novel Soucouyant by David Chariandy, published in 2007, picks out main topics as forgetting and remembering, trauma, dislocation, family but also racism as a central theme.
However, I want to emphasize on all these themes in the subsequent chapters – whereas the topic of family will be on the fringes. Also, I would like to present how racism in Canada developed and how a traumatic event is processed in one’s mind.
For the illustration of these subjects, I will use the novel Soucouyant, as well as The Hanging of Angélique – but will mostly concentrate on Soucouyant because it allows a great deal of interpretation in the context of themes as racism, memory and trauma.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Development of racial intolerance in Canada
- Racial harassment and the inferiority of blacks in Soucouyant
- Memory and Forgetting of forced servitude in the Caribbean
- Memory and Forgetting of a traumatic event in Soucouyant
- Adele's demonization
- Angélique's emancipation and Adele's weakness
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper examines the themes of racism, memory, and trauma in the context of Canadian society, using David Chariandy's novel Soucouyant as a primary example. It aims to explore how historical and ongoing racism impacts the individual and collective memory of marginalized communities, focusing on the experience of trauma and its lasting effects. The paper will also touch upon the development of racial intolerance in Canada and how it manifests in literature.
- The development of racial intolerance in Canada.
- The portrayal of racism and its impact on individuals in Soucouyant.
- The role of memory and forgetting in processing trauma.
- The use of folklore in narrating trauma and displacement.
- The intersection of personal and collective memory in shaping identity.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction establishes the paper's focus on racism, memory, and trauma within the Canadian context, using Soucouyant by David Chariandy as its central text. It highlights the often-overlooked history of slavery in Canada and explains the significance of memory and forgetting in understanding Adele's trauma. The introduction also outlines the structure of the paper and its methodological approach, focusing primarily on Soucouyant while referencing The Hanging of Angélique for comparative purposes.
Development of racial intolerance in Canada: This chapter delves into the historical roots of racial intolerance in Canada, challenging the common perception of Canada as a racially harmonious nation. It reveals how the early European settlement created a foundation of white supremacy, and how the arrival of Black people and Indigenous populations led to the development of prejudices and discriminatory practices. The chapter explores the suppression of slavery's role in Canadian history, the negative portrayal of Black people in media, and the role of the education system in perpetuating racist ideologies. The chapter highlights how these historical injustices contributed to the systemic racism experienced by Black communities in Canada.
Racial harassment and the inferiority of blacks in Soucouyant: This section would analyze how racial prejudice and harassment manifest in the narrative of Soucouyant. It would examine the ways in which Adele and her family experience discrimination, the subtle and overt forms of racism they encounter, and the lasting psychological impact of these experiences. This section would likely connect these depictions to the larger historical context of racial intolerance explored in the previous chapter.
Memory and Forgetting of forced servitude in the Caribbean: This chapter would examine how the legacy of slavery and forced servitude in the Caribbean impacts the characters and narrative of Soucouyant. It would likely analyze how Adele's experiences in Trinidad are shaped by this history, and how that history continues to affect her and her family in Canada. The focus would likely be on the intergenerational trauma resulting from slavery and its influence on Adele's mental state.
Memory and Forgetting of a traumatic event in Soucouyant: This chapter would delve into the specific traumatic event that contributes to Adele's dementia. It would analyze the event itself, Adele's role in it, and the long-term consequences of her actions. The chapter would focus on how the memory (or lack thereof) of this event shapes her present reality and her relationship with her son. This could include an analysis of the psychological impact of trauma, guilt, and the complexities of memory recall.
Adele's demonization: This section would explore the ways in which Adele's experiences are interpreted through the lens of the Soucouyant folklore. It would examine how this folklore reflects and refracts the trauma Adele experienced and how it impacts the narrative's exploration of themes of guilt, victimhood, and the complexities of memory and identity.
Angélique's emancipation and Adele's weakness: This chapter would compare and contrast Adele's experiences with those of Angélique (from The Hanging of Angélique), examining the different ways in which they navigate the challenges of racism and trauma. This comparative analysis would likely illuminate how the experiences of Black women in Canada have varied across different historical periods and social contexts. This section would consider the different forms of resistance or adaptation to oppressive circumstances illustrated in each narrative.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Racism, memory, trauma, Caribbean literature, Canadian identity, immigration, intergenerational trauma, Soucouyant, David Chariandy, postcolonial literature, dementia, folklore, racial intolerance, slavery, forced servitude.
David Chariandy's Soucouyant: A Research Paper Preview - FAQ
What is the main focus of this research paper?
This research paper examines the themes of racism, memory, and trauma within the Canadian context, primarily using David Chariandy's novel Soucouyant. It explores how historical and ongoing racism impacts the individual and collective memory of marginalized communities, focusing on the experience of trauma and its lasting effects. The paper also addresses the development of racial intolerance in Canada and its manifestation in literature.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the development of racial intolerance in Canada, the portrayal of racism and its impact on individuals in Soucouyant, the role of memory and forgetting in processing trauma, the use of folklore in narrating trauma and displacement, and the intersection of personal and collective memory in shaping identity.
Which novels are central to the analysis?
The primary text analyzed is David Chariandy's Soucouyant. The paper also uses The Hanging of Angélique for comparative purposes, particularly to contrast the experiences of Black women navigating racism and trauma across different historical periods.
What is the structure of the research paper?
The paper includes an introduction, chapters dedicated to the development of racial intolerance in Canada, the portrayal of racism in Soucouyant, the role of memory and forgetting (both regarding forced servitude and a specific traumatic event within the novel), an analysis of Adele's demonization, a comparison of Adele and Angélique's experiences, and a conclusion. Each chapter summary is provided in the preview.
How does the paper address the issue of racism in Canada?
The paper challenges the perception of Canada as a racially harmonious nation by exploring the historical roots of racial intolerance, including the legacy of slavery, negative portrayals of Black people in media, and the role of the education system in perpetuating racist ideologies. It shows how these historical injustices contribute to systemic racism experienced by Black communities.
How is the theme of memory explored in the paper?
The paper examines how memory (and forgetting) shapes the experience of trauma, particularly within the context of intergenerational trauma resulting from slavery and forced servitude. It analyzes how Adele's memory (or lack thereof) of a traumatic event impacts her present reality and relationships. The role of folklore in shaping and interpreting traumatic experiences is also discussed.
What is the significance of folklore in the analysis?
The paper analyzes how the Soucouyant folklore reflects and refracts the trauma experienced by Adele, impacting the narrative's exploration of guilt, victimhood, and the complexities of memory and identity.
What is the purpose of comparing Adele and Angélique's experiences?
The comparison of Adele (from Soucouyant) and Angélique (from The Hanging of Angélique) highlights the different ways Black women navigate the challenges of racism and trauma across different historical periods and social contexts. It illuminates varied forms of resistance or adaptation to oppressive circumstances.
What are the keywords associated with this research paper?
Racism, memory, trauma, Caribbean literature, Canadian identity, immigration, intergenerational trauma, Soucouyant, David Chariandy, postcolonial literature, dementia, folklore, racial intolerance, slavery, forced servitude.
- Quote paper
- Thomas Gantner (Author), 2012, Racism, Memory and Trauma in Canada and the "Soucouyant", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/300307
