This seminar paper seeks to answer the question to what extent and in which ways members of the queer community in postcolonial societies can build an identity using the example of Cereus Blooms at Night in order to illustrate the impact that discrimination and injustice can have on the self-esteem and behaviour of individuals.
It will be based upon the influence of British foreign rule with its values and standards on the attitude of indigenous people towards non-heteronormative sexual engagements in order to explain how the current situation has come about. In addition to that, the theory of “Subalternity” by Gayatri Spivak will be incorporated for it shall contribute to the analysis of the queer’s trapped position. Two major parallels between the Indian woman - for whom this concept has originally been created - and the queer Caribbean will be carved out: Loss of the indigenous language resulting in the inability to voice one’s struggle and the double oppression through both foreign influence and indigenous realities. Concluding the historical background for the scene in which Shani Mootoo’s novel Cereus Blooms at Night is set will be a paragraph about the conflict of current western attempts to influence the situation for the LGBT+ community in the Caribbean.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Queerness in postcolonialism: Finding an identity in Cereus Blooms at Night
2.1. Historical Background
2.1.1. British attitude towards queerness during the time of colonialism and its influence on the Caribbean natives
2.1.2. Gender roles and the mati practice: A picture of the indigenous Caribbean attitude towards same-sex relationships
2.2. Spivak’s theory of Subalternity applied to the question of sexual and gender identity in the postcolonial Caribbean
2.3. Shani Mootoo: Cereus Blooms at Night
2.3.1. Characters
2.3.2. Methods of discriminating against members of the queer community experienced by Tyler
2.3.3. Ways to deal with the experienced injustice as shown by characters from Cereus Blooms at Night
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This seminar paper investigates to what extent and in which ways members of the queer community in postcolonial Caribbean societies can construct an identity. By analyzing Shani Mootoo’s novel Cereus Blooms at Night, the study explores how historical colonial impacts and modern discriminatory structures influence the self-esteem and behaviors of queer individuals.
- The influence of British colonial rule and Victorian values on Caribbean social structures.
- Application of Gayatri Spivak’s theory of Subalternity to the Caribbean queer experience.
- Character analysis of queer survival and identity formation within the novel.
- The distinction between internal and external exile as responses to discrimination.
- The limitation of Western "queer" terminology within a postcolonial Caribbean context.
Excerpt from the Book
Tyler
“I, Tyler - that is how I am known, simply as Tyler, or if you wanted to be formal, Nurse Tyler”37, this is, how he introduces himself to the reader. From this sentence, one can deduce his profession that he is very proud of, as well as his wish to be treated equally with everybody else, regardless of his sexual identity. Due to his queer personality he is confronted with discrimination. Even so, he gets close to Otoh, having found somebody, who, like him, does not seem to fit in any category.38 In Cereus Blooms at Night, Tyler occupies himself with his job as a nurse, taking care of Mala in the Alms House.39
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the research question regarding identity formation in postcolonial societies and introduces the theoretical framework involving Spivak’s theory of Subalternity.
2. Queerness in postcolonialism: Finding an identity in Cereus Blooms at Night: This core section analyzes the historical influence of British colonialism, indigenous gender roles, and applies postcolonial theories to the character trajectories in Mootoo’s novel.
3. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that the term "queer" is insufficient for the Caribbean context and that characters must navigate a complex path between colonial legacies and the need for indigenous self-definition.
Keywords
Postcolonialism, Queerness, Identity, Cereus Blooms at Night, Shani Mootoo, Subalternity, Caribbean, Discrimination, British Colonialism, Gender Roles, Mala, Tyler, Otoh, Trauma, Narrative
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines how queer individuals in postcolonial Caribbean societies build their identities and navigate the challenges posed by discrimination and colonial history, specifically through the lens of Shani Mootoo’s novel.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include colonial legacy, subalternity, gender identity, the impact of homophobia in postcolonial structures, and the struggle for self-representation.
What is the core research question?
The research asks to what extent and in which ways members of the queer community in postcolonial societies can build a personal identity using the characters in the novel as a representative example.
Which theoretical approach is applied?
The study incorporates Gayatri Spivak’s theory of Subalternity to analyze the trapped position of queer individuals who lack a "voice" within colonial and postcolonial discourse.
What is covered in the main section of the text?
The main section covers the historical background of British influence in the Caribbean, the mati practice, character-specific analyses of oppression, and methods of coping with trauma.
What are the primary characteristics of the work?
The work is characterized by its postcolonial perspective, interdisciplinary use of literary theory, and focus on the intersections of race, gender, and sexual identity.
How does the author define the "queerness" of the character Mala?
Mala exhibits a unique "queerness" that is not strictly sexual, but rather manifests in her refusal to use spoken language and her withdrawal into a multisensory communication style to escape social restrictions.
What role does the character Tyler play in the narrative?
Tyler serves as both a central character and the narrator; his choice to tell Mala's story acts as a mechanism to process his own struggle with alienation and social discrimination.
Why does the paper conclude that the term "queer" may not be ideal for the Caribbean?
The paper argues that the term is a Western construction, and that Caribbean people need to forge their own terminology and understanding of gender and sexuality that is independent of former colonial powers.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2019, Queerness in postcolonialism. Finding an identity using the example of "Cereus Blooms at Night", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/536768
