Sunday, May 1, 2011
Blog Posting IV
In Dangarembga's story "Nervous Condition" I decided to talk about how an education can change someones situation. Educational opportunities in African society still favors the male because of cultural bias toward woman. For instance, in Dangarembga's story the brother of the family is given the first opportunity to further his education abroad while his sisters stay at home. The female character Tambu is given a chance to study abroad after the death of her brother.
However, she began to realize that while studying abroad her outlook on life changes in ways that she could not have anticipated. For instance, she is amazed at being able to use the bathroom toilet and take a bath in a clean room, on clean floors for the first time. She began to adapt the European culture and in the process she began to lose some of the habits of her culture for instance, her native tongue start to lose its sharpness and she began to reject the rural life that she once lived.
Upon returning home Tambu notice that certain family members begin to treat her differently. Her father still believes that a woman should be educated in things related to the home and her mother is worried about the way she question things relating to their culture. Tambu changes in part due to her education, experience abroad, and maturity level that grows with age. She seem to become more outspoken after returning home however, she also realizes that she must become syncretistic in order to keep her life balanced.
When one of my eldest brothers came home after graduating from Purdue University I was very proud of him, I could tell immediately that there was something different about him. He was the first in our family to get a college degree however, I began to notice certain family members treated him very harshly.As I got older I asked him about it and he told me that some of the older relatives became uncomfortable talking to him because some of them only had a six grade education.
He never spoke ill of anyone in any way he just told me to always be understanding of my elders because they did not have the same opportunity that we had growing up.
However, she began to realize that while studying abroad her outlook on life changes in ways that she could not have anticipated. For instance, she is amazed at being able to use the bathroom toilet and take a bath in a clean room, on clean floors for the first time. She began to adapt the European culture and in the process she began to lose some of the habits of her culture for instance, her native tongue start to lose its sharpness and she began to reject the rural life that she once lived.
Upon returning home Tambu notice that certain family members begin to treat her differently. Her father still believes that a woman should be educated in things related to the home and her mother is worried about the way she question things relating to their culture. Tambu changes in part due to her education, experience abroad, and maturity level that grows with age. She seem to become more outspoken after returning home however, she also realizes that she must become syncretistic in order to keep her life balanced.
When one of my eldest brothers came home after graduating from Purdue University I was very proud of him, I could tell immediately that there was something different about him. He was the first in our family to get a college degree however, I began to notice certain family members treated him very harshly.As I got older I asked him about it and he told me that some of the older relatives became uncomfortable talking to him because some of them only had a six grade education.
He never spoke ill of anyone in any way he just told me to always be understanding of my elders because they did not have the same opportunity that we had growing up.
Blog Posting IV
In Dangarembgas story called "Nervous Condition" I decided to focus on the subject of education. Getting an education is harder for the female characters than the male characters for instance, when the eldest brother is allowed to study abroad his sisters are left at home. After the sudden death of the brother one of the sisters is given the chance to further her education however, she began to realize that an education changes her and others around her in ways that she did not anticipate.
Upon
Upon
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Blog Posting III
This week we read three stories from James Ngugi "Decolonization of the Mind" "Wedding at the Cross" and "Minutes of Glory." "Decolonization of the Mind" is a story dealing with African literature and its impact on English literature, he shows that something is always "lost in translation" when someone is forced to abandon their native language he refers to this as "borrowed tongue." In addition, he points out that no one should ever feel ashamed of their native tongue and that we all should appreciate and respect the different languages and cultures that exist.
"Wedding at the Cross" is about a man who thirst for revenge and power came at a very high price. "Wedding at the Cross" is written like a parable with the characters experiences being intertwined and each
of their actions carry consequences. For instance, when Wariuki changed his name to livingstone he began to lose his identity and the respect of others.
"Minutes of Glory" is a story about a woman who finds her self esteem and respect at the most vulnerable time in her life. Wanjiru is the main character in this story who has self pity and very low self esteem she walks and acts in a constant state of victim hood until she meets Nyaguthu. Wanjiru then changes her name to Beatrice and began to carry herself in a more respectful way "She felt a new power, confidence even" (Minutes of Glory 1454).
All three stories show in some way the complex and difficult situations that arise when a country has been colonized and its people struggle for their independence and identity. Ngugi uses the everyday struggles of common people to illustrate and explain the problems that arise when one culture imposes itself on another.
"Wedding at the Cross" is about a man who thirst for revenge and power came at a very high price. "Wedding at the Cross" is written like a parable with the characters experiences being intertwined and each
of their actions carry consequences. For instance, when Wariuki changed his name to livingstone he began to lose his identity and the respect of others.
"Minutes of Glory" is a story about a woman who finds her self esteem and respect at the most vulnerable time in her life. Wanjiru is the main character in this story who has self pity and very low self esteem she walks and acts in a constant state of victim hood until she meets Nyaguthu. Wanjiru then changes her name to Beatrice and began to carry herself in a more respectful way "She felt a new power, confidence even" (Minutes of Glory 1454).
All three stories show in some way the complex and difficult situations that arise when a country has been colonized and its people struggle for their independence and identity. Ngugi uses the everyday struggles of common people to illustrate and explain the problems that arise when one culture imposes itself on another.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Blog Posting II: Blog Posting III
Blog Posting II: Blog Posting III: " Apartheid is a series of laws used to segregate the various ethnic groups of South Africa based on race. F..."
Blog Posting III
Apartheid is a series of laws used to segregate the various ethnic groups of South Africa based on race. For instance, the African, Indian, and European population were not allowed to intermarry under Apartheid law"Interracial marriage act". In Nadine Gordimer book "Six feet of the Country" she gives some very straightforward descriptions of the effects while living under an oppressive system. Gordimer points out that a system such as Apartheid not only affects the oppressed it also affects the oppressor in ways that are unpredictable,harsh, and long lasting "the guns under the white men's pillows and the burglar bars on the white men's windows. They mean those strange moments on the city pavements when a black man won't stand aside for a white man" (Gordimer 506).
History reminds us that systems of oppression do not work because people have a innate yearning for freedom that constantly burns. Apartheid as in other systems of oppression will rob a nation of its most precious resource's which is the mind, spirit and body of its children. It will then began to feed upon itself by destroying the very people it was supposed to help most" the ruling class" by robbing them of their humanity. Our humanity gives us the ability to care,nurture, and raise our children in a healthy environment in the most difficult circumstances however, losing our humanity as history proves is a "losing proposition."
History reminds us that systems of oppression do not work because people have a innate yearning for freedom that constantly burns. Apartheid as in other systems of oppression will rob a nation of its most precious resource's which is the mind, spirit and body of its children. It will then began to feed upon itself by destroying the very people it was supposed to help most" the ruling class" by robbing them of their humanity. Our humanity gives us the ability to care,nurture, and raise our children in a healthy environment in the most difficult circumstances however, losing our humanity as history proves is a "losing proposition."
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Blog Posting II: Blog Posting 2
Blog Posting II: Blog Posting 2: " The three stories we have covered 'An Image of Africa' 'Girls at War' and 'The Madman' involve colonialism and the problem..."
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Blog Posting II: Blog Posting 2
Blog Posting II: Blog Posting 2: " The three stories we have covered 'An Image of Africa' 'Girls at War' and 'The Madman' involve colonialism and the problem..."
Blog Posting 2
The three stories we have covered "An Image of Africa" "Girls at War" and "The Madman" involve colonialism and the problems associated with it. I find all these stories very interesting however, I must admit at times I found some of the plots hard to follow. "An Image of Africa" gives a sort of parable that involves the effects of colonialism using animals as the central characters.
On the other hand, "Girls at War" is a little more literal in its plot it gives an outstanding and relevant account of the affects of war and its aftermath. All the characters at one time or another are forced into situations they would normally not find themselves in. I love how Achebe gives his characters complex, realistic roles that could mimic any current stories of war that you may find in a book or newspaper.
"The Madman" was hard for me to follow at first however, as I began to view my notes and read the story I begin to understand the plot more. I took the characters too literal and I failed to think in terms of what Achebe was trying to say about his views on society. "The Madman" shows how much influence society really has on everyone especially when injustice is allowed to flourish.
Overall, I was not prepared for the type of stories that I have read so far in "World Literature III." I have read many books on the African American experience and what I am finding is that the stories about Africans and African Americans are similar yet different in many ways. Achebes stories show the far reaching consequences of colonialism and its aftermath.
On the other hand, "Girls at War" is a little more literal in its plot it gives an outstanding and relevant account of the affects of war and its aftermath. All the characters at one time or another are forced into situations they would normally not find themselves in. I love how Achebe gives his characters complex, realistic roles that could mimic any current stories of war that you may find in a book or newspaper.
"The Madman" was hard for me to follow at first however, as I began to view my notes and read the story I begin to understand the plot more. I took the characters too literal and I failed to think in terms of what Achebe was trying to say about his views on society. "The Madman" shows how much influence society really has on everyone especially when injustice is allowed to flourish.
Overall, I was not prepared for the type of stories that I have read so far in "World Literature III." I have read many books on the African American experience and what I am finding is that the stories about Africans and African Americans are similar yet different in many ways. Achebes stories show the far reaching consequences of colonialism and its aftermath.
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