Features of Postcolonialism

 

Every study of Postcolonial literature must begin with the historical context of colonialism which is unremittingly and frighteningly shot with violence.

In fact, colonialism was the process of settlement by European colonisers in the non European spaces like Middle East, Latin America , Asia and Africa. It is meant to be a violent exploitation of native races rather than a civilising mission. The process of colonisation often destroyed the indigenous culture and tradition of the natives.

It is the context in which non European culture and traditions were destroyed then modified by the colonial rulers.

The violence of colonialism expanded into the various realm of life such as epistemic, cultural, economic, political and military.  Postcolonial literature seeks to address the ways in which third world countries have been marginalized by the colonial rulers and to find possible modes of resistance and retrieval of their own pre-colonial past.

This literature explores, negotiates and critiques the historical event of colonial rule and it's a literature of resistance , hostility,  antagonism, protest, dissent and hope. Postcolonial literature is inspired by the politics of anti-colonialism and it upholds the spirit of nationalism by looking forward with the egalitarian world order.

It invokes the ideas such as social justice, emancipation and democracy in order to oppose oppressive structures of racism, discrimination and exploration.

 

Dominant features of Postcolonialism

Ø    At a glance it's a resistance against the colonial empire.

Ø    Re- reading, re-considering and restructuring  of history  through their memories.

Ø    Reaction against the representation of 'Othering' in European writing.

Ø   Expression of hushed feeling and deprived trauma.

Ø    Expression of crisis in sensibility, identity and loss of tradition.