Third World' female experience in Africa and the USA as represented in four novels by Yvonne Vera and Toni Morrison

Date
2003-04
Authors
Wellmann, Julie Gail
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The following thesis aims to place black, female experience at the centre of an analysis of four main texts. These texts are Yvonne Vera's Nehanda and Without a Name as well as Toni Morrison' s Song of Solomon and Beloved. By comparing and analysing these four novels, also utilising selected works from various theorists such as bell hooks and Chandra Mohanty, "mainstream" feminist theory is interrogated. Different political and social contexts are examined from the perspectives of writers and theorists that have conventionally been relegated to the margins of literary theory. The experiences of black people all over the world are marginalised and this thesis attempts to examine these texts without assuming that the experiences of the characters are "different" or "other". The first chapter focuses mainly on Morrison' s Song of Solomon but used Vera's Nehanda to comment on some spiritual similarities between an African female character and an African American female character. Chapter two focuses more strongly on African, specifically Zimbabwean, female experience during the second war of independence (or Chimurenga) in Zimbabwe.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Solomon, maar maak gebruik van Vera se Nehanda om Die tesis analiseer vier hooftekste vanuit die perspektief van swart, vroulike ervaring. Die tekste is Yvonne Vera se Nehanda en. Without a Name, sowel as Toni Morrison se Song of Solomon en Beloved. Hierdie vier romans word vergelyk. en ook, met die hulp van geselekteerde werke van verskeie teoretici soos bell hooks en Chandra Mohanty, geanaliseer in 'n poging om "hoofstroom" feministiese teorie krities te benader. Verskillende sosiaal-politiese kontekste word ondersoek, spesifiek vanuit die perspektiewe van skrywers en teoretici wat konvensioneel gesproke gereduseer is tot die marges van literere teorie. Teen die agtergrond van die gemarginaliseerde ervaringe van swart mense regoor die wereld, probeer die tesis om hierdie tekste te analiseer sonder om te aanvaar dat die ervaringe van die karakters "verskillend" of "anders" is. Die eerste hoofstuk fokus hoofsaaklik op Morrison se Song of kommentaar te lewer op die spirituele ooreenkomste tussen 'n swart vroulike karakter uit Afrika en 'n Afro-Amerikaanse vroulike karakter. Hoofstuk twee fokus skerper op 'n Afrika, en spesifiek Zimbabwiese, vroulike ervaring gedurende die tweede onafhanklikheidsoorlog in daardie land.
Description
Thesis (MA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2003.
Keywords
Vera, Yvonne -- Criticism and interpretation, Morrison, Toni -- Criticism and interpretation, Women in literature, Dissertations -- English literature
Citation