Postcolonial studies aim at stripping away conventional thoughts and examine what kind of identity emerges in postcolonial subject. The first problem when I set out to work on postcolonial literatures is to confirm its scope. This word scope that I put forward here can be explained as follows, on the one hand, postcolonial literature is apparently vague and general. It’s such a multinational and multicultural case that it is hard to define which country falls under the rubric. Except what we always mentioned as “postcolonial countries” such as Nigeria, India and Pakistan, some writers include also countries like Canada, Ireland and Australia. So when we read the literatures about postcolonial, it is apparent for us to discover, that they include two parts, on the one hand, it is based on the dominant or colonizer society, on the other hand, it talks also about the dominated or colonized society.
On the other hand, there are a large number of relevant themes or aspects around the topic postcolonialism: migration, race, gender, resistance, slavery and so on. Trying to cover all the countries and aspects in one essay seems not so specific. In my essay, I will focus on the question “Who am I ?”. This kind of doubt about one’s identity is a “derivative product” of colonialism and a very important topic in postcolonial world. When we read literatures, we are able to seek out, what the indigenous voice want to express, how should the indigenous people see themselves, once their place and identity were forced to change? Is the dual identity always ambivalent? These questions are what I’m going to explain hereinafter.
Table of Contents
1.Introduction
2. Identity: How to treat yourself
2.1 Grey Owl: A reasonable escape and the search for true-self
3 Place: Where should I belong?
3.1 Isabelle Eberhardt: Even the clearest mirror loses its function
4. Grey Owl and Isabelle Eberhardt: A Comparison
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This essay explores the complex intersections of identity, sense of place, and language within the postcolonial experience, using the figures of Grey Owl and Isabelle Eberhardt as primary case studies to analyze how displaced individuals navigate the search for self-authenticity.
- Postcolonial identity formation and the challenge of "Who am I?"
- The role of "place" and geography in defining cultural belonging.
- The transformation of personal identity through masquerade and narrative.
- The influence of displacement and colonial legacy on language and self-expression.
- Comparative analysis of dual identity and the search for a "true self."
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Grey Owl: a reasonable escape and a search of true-self
A white Indian called Grey Owl showed a double and ambivalent identity. The ambiguity of his parentage made it hard for him to find his true-self. In my opinion, when we try to discuss somebody’s character, what we must handle in advance is their parentage. It will be the first-hand information. Archie’s father was an inveterate wanderer, he traveled to Florida and returned years later to Hastings as a mysterious figure. Archie knows little about his mother. There is an interesting point, both of his parents is mysterious, instead of living an ordinary life, they seems extraordinary, which gave Archie a space of fantasy. He tried to fantasize that his mother was an American Indian and from the perspective of blood relationship, he himself was therefore half Indian. This self-made intriguing belief made him act as a real Indian. This so-called “half- breed” tends to cultural rather than racial.
Smith Rosenberg has ever written: “The colonized other, denied the basic characteristics of subjectivity, not only gives up its essence to the colonizer, it is transformed into a dark mirror that reflects and confirms the colonizer's power”
At that time, Grey Owl’s Canada consisted of two parts: one the civilized South, home of Europeans, the other, the wild northlands, home of Indians. Grey Owl believed, the relationship between the colonizer and the colonized should not be defined briefly as “occupy and obey”, it was not a competition which always had winner or loser. To Grey Owl, It was the North that made Canada unique and precious. The forest and the river provided the people with calmness, which was too much different from the general background of colonization and occupation. To him, one can try to integrate into the life in the North or just destroy it, but no way to win it. Instead of conquering, people went to North to survive, to discover the real-self, and that was what he did. This dual identity of civilized and savage which he envisioned for Canada also formed part of his own being. In the dualism of Indian and white, he referred to identify himself with the former.
Summary of Chapters
1.Introduction: This chapter introduces the theoretical landscape of postcolonialism, framing the colonial experience as a catalyst for identity crises and outlining the scope of the work.
2. Identity: How to treat yourself: This section examines the persistent focus on identity in postcolonial communities, introducing the concept of the "wanderer" and the struggle for self-awareness.
2.1 Grey Owl: A reasonable escape and the search for true-self: This chapter analyzes the case of Grey Owl, exploring his "double identity" and how his construction of a persona functioned as both escapism and a rescue of native culture.
3 Place: Where should I belong?: This chapter investigates how colonialism influences the perception of "place," linking it to language, history, and the emotional weight of displacement.
3.1 Isabelle Eberhardt: Even the clearest mirror loses its function: This section discusses the nomadic life and writings of Isabelle Eberhardt, highlighting her gender-bending identity and the resulting sense of alienation.
4. Grey Owl and Isabelle Eberhardt: A Comparison: This chapter compares the two figures by focusing on "ambiguity" and "transformation," arguing that both used fictionalization to reconcile their lives with the world.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings, reiterating that the question of "Who am I?" remains a central, unresolved struggle for individuals in the postcolonial world.
Keywords
Postcolonialism, Identity, Displacement, Alienation, Grey Owl, Isabelle Eberhardt, Cultural identity, Masquerade, Colonialism, Ambiguity, Narrative, Nomadic, Self-awareness, Indigenous voice, Transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the challenges of personal and cultural identity within the postcolonial world, specifically examining how colonial history forces individuals to navigate a sense of displacement and "lost and found" self-awareness.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the construction of identity through social and cultural "masquerade," the complex relationship between the individual and the colonial landscape, and the search for authentic selfhood amidst conflicting societal roles.
What is the primary research question being addressed?
The central research question is "Who am I?", exploring how postcolonial subjects—specifically those experiencing double or ambiguous identities—seek to define themselves when their original place and culture have been altered by colonial power.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The author employs a qualitative, literature-based comparative approach, analyzing biographical case studies and theoretical texts to interpret the personal and cultural struggles of the subjects.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body treats the concept of identity crises, analyzes the specific case studies of Grey Owl and Isabelle Eberhardt, discusses the importance of place as a horizon for identity, and concludes with a comparative look at how these figures transformed their lives through narrative.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as postcolonialism, identity, displacement, alienation, ambiguity, and cultural transformation.
How does the concept of "masquerade" function in the case of Grey Owl?
In the context of the paper, Grey Owl's masquerade is seen as a "reasonable escape" that allowed him to adopt an Indian identity; it served as a protective measure to advocate for native culture rather than just a deceptive act.
What does the "mirror" represent in the section about Isabelle Eberhardt?
The mirror represents the search for self-reflection; the author suggests that for nomadic, non-identical figures like Eberhardt, even the clearest mirror fails to provide a stable reflection of who they are, symbolizing her profound existential confusion.
Does the paper argue that identity is fixed or fluid?
The paper argues that identity is fluid and subject to constant transformation, noting that cultural identities are "subject to the continuous play of history, culture and power" rather than being eternally fixed.
- Quote paper
- Anqi Liu (Author), 2017, Postcolonial Identity and Place, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/429922
