LITERATURE THEORY: AFRICA

EMERGENT.

TESL 4MIRA TEY WEE LING

MUHAMAD HAZIQ BIN MOHD NOR

MARXISM THEORY OF CRITICISM Are viewed as the product of work and whose practitioners emphasize the role of class and ideology as they reflect, propagate, and even challenge the prevailing social order. Purdue

Evidence: “...that he was building a house in Dube, which is the nearest to a solid, bourgeois suburb a black can get in these black dormitories outside the white man’s city...”

The social status and financial status are shown in this particular sentence in this story which indicates the importance of role of class and social order within a society as one’s will definitely working hard to climb the social strata.

ELIAS KNOMO’S BESTFRIEND In Africa Emergent, there is another nameless

character is stated as Elias’s best friend throughout the story. This character portrayed a great deal of Marxism theory of criticism as this particular character fly his out to America and come back later to South Africa in his journey looking for a better opportunity in his life.

He also takes advantage of the narrator, by borrowing some money from him and never pay it back. Within 5 years, he managed to get into the upper class of black African society as he get to live in a bourgeois area for black African people.

NEW HISTORICISM THEORY OF CRITICISM

Focus on the text in relation to the historical and cultural contexts of the period in which it was created and the period in which it was critically evaluate. (Siegel, 2006)

Evidence: “Elias has been dead five years; we live in our situation as of now...”

This story is a flash back in the narrator memories of his black friend, Elias Knomo which encounter a lot of hardship as it’s was during ‘Aparthied political period’ which is now no longer exist in South Africa.

THE NARRATOR & ELIAS KNOMO In this story, we can see clearly that theory of new

historicism is being applied as the story started with the narrator, ‘I’ reminisced on his friend Elias Knomo who had died five years ago. The most importance their friendship is actually not a normal thing as it is against the political norm of Apartheid system.

Apartheid system is where the segregation of white African and black African in South Africa during that time. So, we need to understand how is the situation at that time for us to know their difficulties along their hardship.

PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY OF CRITICISM

Focuses on a work of literature as an expression in fictional form of the inner workings of the human mind. (Siegel,2006).

Evidence – “But I couldn’t believe that at this stage he wanted or could make use of formal art school disciplines.” This evidence actually states the narrator’s mind or opinion regarding Elias decision to further his study abroad.

THE NARRATOR The most important about this story is it was told in one’s

perspective or point of view where it could be biased. The story is mainly about the narrator’s opinion and how the narrator perceives on most matters that going on the in the story.

In this story also, there many part where the narrator’s mind is being portray clearly, especially his thought, idea, opinion, observation and emotion as well. The narrator doubt that his friend, Elias will manage to follow the art school disciplinary at his age and that he really wanted to study on first place. As he himself experience how hard it is his life as student in his younger year, not to say now Elias is considered as an adult which will makes it’s harder for him to keep up with the student life and challenge.

SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY OF CRITICISM

A set of assumptions, assertions, and propositions, organized in the form of an explanation or interpretation of the nature, form, or content of social action. (Siegel, 2006)

Evidence- “ on the white side in the country clubs and garden suburbs if you’re white, on the black side in the locations and beerhalls if you’re black...”

In this story it is stated very clear from the start on the condition of social system at that time where there is a great social distinction between the white African people and the black African people.

THE NARRATOR In Africa Emergent, the narrator in this story

mention on the segregation of place, where on the developed side of the country is a white men area and the rural area is black men area.

The narrator also mention on the limitation of time for the black African to be outside of their house at night time as they will get caught if they stay late outside at night time. This is what really happen at that time during Apartheid political system is being practised as a great social segregation going on within South Africa society.

READER RESPONSE THEORY OF CRITICISM

Is concerned with how the work is viewed by the audience. In this approach, the reader creates meaning, not the author or the work.

Evidence - “I’m an architect and the way I was usefully drawn into the black scene literally that: I designed sets for a mixed colors drama group got together by a white director”. (pg 37)

In the Africa Emergent story, we could see that the narrator ‘I’ is a well educated person. Even during apartheid, ‘I’ still befriend with the black and live with him(Elias Nkomo) despite the risk that he might be caught because bringing home a black man into white men area. The narrator mixed with the black people as he is a designer for dramatization set.

As we read the story, we can see that sometimes political system doesn’t reflect it’s people way of life. Despite the Apartheid system enforcement, the narrator which is a white man still mingle around Elias Nkomo who is a black African man.

REFERENCES Critical Approaches: Definition of Marxist

Criticism. Retrieved on 21 February 2012 from:http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/virtualit/poetry/critical_define/crit_marx.html

K, Siegel.(2006). Introduction to Modern Literary Theory. Retrieved on 21 February 2012 from: http://www.kristisiegel.com/theory.htm

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