Just a few weeks ago, in a tutorial for the Postcolonial Studies course I am taking, I heard that, at a university in Britain, someone had put Lewis Grassic Gibbon’sSunset Songon the curriculum - a selection which struck me as incongruous, having read the book in a Scottish Literature class. I thought to myself, how far can one go in the mission of reading a postcolonial context onto or into any text? Is it enough for a text to display some sort of theme of displacement or estrangement, a struggle with identity, for it to be postcolonial? If this question is to be answered in the affirmative, and if ‘postcolonialism is extended to an increasing number of contexts, a need to rely upon theoretical models that lack materialist specificity in favour of general applicability’ is indispensable. Although ‘postcolonial theory is often seen as applicable to contexts that are not colonial’, as it deals with issues of displacement, marginalisation and otherness in general, one Scottish play registered to me as befitting perfectly well both a colonial context, as well as one of displacement and marginalisation, is Liz Lochhead’sMary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off(MQS). Although it can be seen as a history play, it is effectively a revisitation of the history and myths that surround Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I, which seeks to ‘debate the ideas and representations of “Scottishness”’ in a Scotland that is nowadays still subjugated by the English supremacy in Britain.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off: An Entreaty for Liz Lochhead's Play as a Text Suitable for a Postcolonial Studies Curriculum
- Introduction: The Play's Context and Significance
- The Question of Scottish Identity
- Language and Identity: The Use of Scots and English
- Religion and Identity: The Role of Catholicism and Protestantism
- The Legacy of Mary Queen of Scots in Modern Scotland
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to argue that Liz Lochhead's play "Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off" is a suitable text for a postcolonial studies curriculum. The play explores themes of displacement, marginalization, and identity, all of which are central to postcolonial thought.
- The construction of Scottish identity and its challenges
- The impact of colonialism and its legacy on Scottish culture
- The role of language and religion in shaping identity
- The complexities of power relations and historical narratives
- The enduring relevance of Mary Queen of Scots' story in contemporary Scotland
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the play's context, highlighting the debate surrounding the applicability of postcolonial theory to non-colonial contexts. The essay then argues that "Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off" is a suitable text for a postcolonial study due to its exploration of displacement, marginalization, and otherness.
The second chapter delves into the play's exploration of Scottish identity, focusing on the question of what constitutes "Scottishness" in the face of historical and cultural influences. The play uses humor and irony to deconstruct the stereotypical portrayal of Scotland and its people.
The third chapter examines the play's use of language and its impact on identity. Mary's French accent, contrasted with Elizabeth's English dominance, symbolizes the complex relationship between Scotland and England. The essay draws upon Ngugi wa Thiong'o's ideas about language as a carrier of culture to analyze the significance of linguistic differences.
The fourth chapter explores the role of religion in shaping identity. Mary's Catholic faith and Knox's Protestant zeal create a tension that reflects the historical and cultural divide within Scotland. The essay raises questions about the validity of a religiously devout lifestyle if it fosters intolerance and fragmentation.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this essay include: postcolonialism, Scottish identity, colonialism, displacement, marginalization, language, religion, history, power relations, Mary Queen of Scots, Liz Lochhead, "Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off," and contemporary Scotland. These terms encompass the primary concepts and themes explored in the analysis of Lochhead's play.
- Citation du texte
- Jenny Roch (Auteur), 2006, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off - A Text for a Postcolonial Studies Curriculum?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/50453
