The collective voice in The Madonna of Excelsior : narrating transformative possibilities

Date
2006-06-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The collective voice in the novel, “The Madonna of Excelsior” (2002), reveals that crossing of borders is a process characterised by cultural contact that reduces cultural polarisation and makes social transformation possible. This article examines the transformative potential of the novel. The first part of the novel indicates that the transformation of polarised South African society is inevitable, desirable and possible in order to normalise life. This transformation does, however, involve transgression and contestation of the old order. To present the possibility of transformation, the collective voice in the novel makes the Immorality Act the object of its satire, revealing the failure of apartheid nationalism and its master narrative. The alternative offered in the second part of the novel is a transforming macrocosm – a South African society that grapples with crossing apartheid’s borders.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kollektiewe stem in The Madonna of Excelsior : die beskrywing van transformatiewe moontlikhede Die kollektiewe stem in die roman, “The Madonna of Excelsior” (2002), toon dat die oorsteek van grense ʼn proses is wat gekenmerk word deur kulturele kontak wat kulturele polarisering laat afneem en maatskaplike transformasie moontlik maak. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die transformatiewe potensiaal van dié roman. Die eerste deel van die roman toon dat die transformasie van die gepolariseerde Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing onvermydelik, gewens en moontlik is ten einde die lewe te normaliseer. Hierdie transformasie behels egter die oorskryding en bestryding van die ou orde. Om transformasie moontlik te maak, maak die kollektiewe stem in die roman die Ontugwet die voorwerp van sy satire en onthul die mislukking van apartheid-nasionalisme en sy meesterverhaal. Die alternatief wat in die tweede deel van die roman aangebied word, is ʼn transformerende makrokosmos – ʼn Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing wat worstel om die grense van apartheid oor te steek.
Description
Please cite as follows:
Zulu, N. 2006. The collective voice in The Madonna of Excelsior: narrating transformative possibilities. Literator, 27(1):107-126, doi:10.4102/lit.v27i1.182.
The original publication is available at http://www.literator.org.za
Keywords
Narrating, Second person narrative, Narration (Rhetoric), Madonna of Excelsior
Citation
Zulu, N. (2006). The collective voice in The Madonna of Excelsior : narrating transformative possibilities. Literator, 27(1), 107-126. doi:10.4102/lit.v27i1.182.