Postcolonial literature Post-colonial literature (or "Postcolonial literature", sometimes called "New English literature(s)"), is a body of literary writings

that reacts to the discourse of colonization. Postcolonial literature often involves writings that deal with issues of de-colonization or the political and cultural independence of people formerly subjugated to colonial rule. It is also a literary critique to texts that carry racist or colonial undertones. Post-colonial literature, finally in its most recent form, also attempts to critique the contemporary post-colonial discourse that has been shaped over recent times. It attempts to re-read this very emergence of post colonialism and its literary expression itself. Post-colonial literary critics re-examine classical literature with a particular focus on the social "discourse" that shaped it. Edward Said in his popular work Orientalism analyzes the writings of Honor de Balzac, Charles Baudelaire and Lautramont, exploring how they were influenced, and how they helped to shape a societal fantasy of European racial superiority. Post-colonial fiction writers might interact with the traditional colonial discourse by attempting to modify or subvert it. An example of this is Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), which was written as a pseudo-prequel to Charlotte Bront's Jane Eyre. Here, a familiar story is re-told from the perspective of an oppressed minor character. Protagonists in post-colonial writings are often found to be struggling with questions of identity, experiencing the conflict of living between the old, native world and the invasive forces of hegemony from new, dominant cultures. Post-colonial literature works through the process of "writing back", "re-writing", and "re-reading". This describes the interpretation of well-known literature from the perspective of the formerly colonized. In Wide Sargasso Sea, the protagonist is shown to be re-named and exploited in several ways. The "anti-conquest narrative" recasts indigenous inhabitants of colonized countries as victims rather than foes of the colonizers.[1] This depicts the colonized people in a more human light but risks absolving colonizers of responsibility for addressing the impacts of colonization by assuming that native inhabitants were "doomed" to their fate. Notable authors by region In Africa, Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart (1958) made a significant mark in African literature. Ayi Kwei Armah in Two Thousand Seasons tried to establish an African perspective to their own history. In Britain, J. G. Farrell's novels Troubles, The Siege of Krishnapur and The Singapore Grip, written during the 1970's, are important texts dealing with the collapse of the British Empire. In the Americas, Isabel Allende from Chile contributes to Latin-American literature and occasionally writes in a style called magical realism or vivid story-telling, also used by Gabriel Garca Mrquez and Salman Rushdie. The Canadian writer Margaret Atwood is also a post-colonial writer who dealt with themes of identity-seeking through her Southern Ontario Gothic style of writing. In Asia, post-colonial writings have been found among much of Indian literature. Meena Alexander is probably best known for lyrical memoirs that deal sensitively with struggles of women and disenfranchised groups. Philippine authors like F. Sionil Jos, Jose Dalisay, Jr., N. V. M. Gonzalez and Nick Joaquin write about the post-colonial (some say neo-colonial) situation in the Philippines. Sri Lankan writers like Nihal De Silva or Carl Muller write about the post-colonial situation and the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, while Michael Ondaatje, international the most acclaimed author with Sri Lankan roots, adds the perspective of the diaspora. History: Events leading to Post-Colonialism Colonialism usually works through the use of brutal force employed by one country to exploit another community and obtain economic wealth. Colonialism most commonly was the abuse of native people. The post-colonial perspective emerged as a challenge to this tradition and legacy; it attempts to illegitimate the idea of establishing power through conquest. Selim Aldin from Bangladesh has also written postcolonial drama. nakkie hlomayi... Critic's Point of View

What qualifies as post-colonial literature is debatable. The term post-colonial literature has taken on many meanings. The three subjects include: 1. Social and cultural change or erosion: [2] it seems that after independence is achieved, one main question arises; what is the new cultural identity? 2. Misuse of power and exploitation: Even though the large power ceases to control them as a colony, the settlers still seem to continue imposing power over the native. [2] The main question here; who really is in power here, why, and how does an Independence Day really mean independence? 3. Colonial abandonment and alienation: This topic is generally brought up to examine individuals and not the ex-colony as a whole. [2] The individuals tend to ask themselves; in this new country, where do I fit in and how do I make a living? 4. Use of English language literature: It may be asked if the target of post-colonial studies, i.e. the analysis of post-colonial literature and culture, can be reached neglecting literary works in the original languages of post-colonial nations. Social and cultural change In order to look at change, you have to look at what something is changing from. Colonies go through many changes throughout their existence. When looking at pre-colonialism, you see the areas original culture. Their beliefs and customs run smoothly and they are a functioning society. Colonialism changes everything. In almost all cases of colonialism, the norms, beliefs and cultural values of the larger power are forced upon all of the colonies natives. This is because the colonizer believes that the natives are savages and they need to be civilized. The natives have no choice but to accept these new ways of life. The settlers' technology is more advanced and they could easily wipe out all natives who refuse to conform to the new culture. This is where the depletion of their own culture begins. Natives stop practicing their religion. In most cases they convert to Christianity, mainly because it is forced onto them. In order to communicate with the colonizers/ settlers, they start speaking the settlers language. Soon enough their own is lost. After so many years of colonialism, the natives become similar to their colonizers. The colonizers control education, therefore they control the thoughts and ideas absorbed by the youth. Natives' children absorb the new culture and ideas at a young age. Because of this, the original culture is lost in new generations. The colonizer is a brute force which oppresses the natives. In the fight of this oppression, independence is fought for and a culture that has almost been forgotten is once again sought after. Finally, an independence day comes. The larger power no longer has control of the colony, or rather, former colony. Now post colonialism takes place. Now that the larger power is gone, what is left of the original culture, the pre-colonial culture of the native people? The subject of culture is deeply explored in postcolonial literature. Post colonialism deals with the aftermath of colonialism. Its about the struggle of being independent. One main concern in a post-colonial nation is its government. After being controlled by the large power for such a long time, they need to establish their own way of running things. Its difficult because their cultural identity is in question. Governments are supposed to act in the best interest of the people, but what do the people want? The society is no longer being oppressed as they have become an independent nation, free of oppression. However theyve changed, their culture has changed now they need to figure out who they really are. Postcolonial literature can be identified by its discussion of cultural identity. The piece of literature is it a novel, poem, short story etc. may be about the change that has taken place or question the current change. Postcolonial literature tends to ask the question: Now that theyve finally achieved independence, what can they do? After so much change has taken place, their culture cannot return to its original state. Postcolonial literature tends to answer the following question: Should there be an attempt to restore the original culture, conformity to the culture presented by the settlers or the creation of a new culture which combines both? If a novel answers and explores any of the above questions it may be considered postcolonial literature. When trying to identify post-colonial literature, it is important to

recognize whether the ex-colony in question is actually independent or considered independent, but reliant on its former colonist.