In Ama Ata Aidoo’s play The Dilemma of a Ghost, the audience sees the difficulty the modern American woman Eulalie faces when confronted with the traditional African taboos and culture. Aidoo writes of the idea of abandoning a piece of oneself in order to be socially acceptable within the society, or face being labeled as “unadaptable,” as Eulalie struggles with throughout the story. Shown to be a complex and difficult task, the question of assimilation rises as the audience sees the battle between keeping one’s own values, or changing to become socially acceptable in an unfamiliar society, as the play progresses from negative instances of cultural exchanges to finally accepting one another in the end.
“He has not taken this girl/ Whom we
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She responds sarcastically, “Is this taboo?” (267). The entire exchange between Ato and Eulalie in this scene shows that she is starting to become frustrated with the cultural taboos she is forced to adhere …show more content…
Traditional African marriages typically produce children as soon as physically possible, but in Ato and Eulalie’s marriage, neither of them want children, which is almost unheard of in African culture. Ato’s mother says, “Human beings deciding when they must have children? Meanwhile, where is God?” which shows a very contrasting view of reproduction between American and African cultures. Because Ato does not attempt to communicate the differences in culture to Eulalie or his family, it builds tension between the family and his relationship with Eulalie, furthering the divide between the two cultures. Ato’s mother’s questions shows exactly how traditional his family truly is, believing a marriage to be for the benefit of reproduction. This juxtaposes with the American view of reproduction, in which a couple typically decides when they want a child. Ato did not attempt to explain the difference in cultural beliefs, which led to tensions between Eulalie and his family, all because he did not think his family would understand, which shows that communication is a key component while attempting to assimilate into a new culture. Because Ato refused to
The opening of the novel places the reader not in Falola's shoes as a child, but rather as an adult scholar attempting to procure information from his own family. This proves easier said than done as Falola takes us through the process of obtaining specific dates in a society that deems them irrelevant. By examining the difficulty that Falola has in this seemingly simple task, the reader begins to understand the way in which time and space are intertwined and weighed in Africa. This concept of "connections between words, space, and rituals" encompasses the way that Africans perceive the world around them - as a series of interrelated events rather than specific instances in time (Falola 224). This approach also stems from the concept that the family unit, the village, and the elders come before the individual in all instances, making a detail such as a birthday unimportant when it comes to the welfare of the whole. Introducing the reader to the complexities of African conventions, Falola expands their minds and challenges them to view the forthcoming narrative with untainted eyes.
Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative provides insight into cultural assimilation and the difficulties such assimilation. The writer embraces several Western traits and ideals yet guards his African virtues jealously. In doing so however, he finds himself somewhere in between a full European and a displaced African. This problem of cultural identity Equiano struggled with is still present in modern American society. The modern day African-American appears to also be in the process of deciding the between two competing cultures and often being left somewhere in middle becoming a victim of cultural identity just like Olaudah Equiano some 250 years ago.
...s appealing it is not without consequence. Clare, and those who choose to pass, are not free to embrace their whole identity and will always remain a threat to those they come in contact. Clare exemplified the archetypal character of the tragic mulatto, as she bought tragedy to her own life and all those she came in contact. Clare’s presence forced Irene to contend with feelings of internalized racism, and thus feelings of inferiority. Through diction, tone, and imagery Larsen makes it luminous to readers that "passing" may seem glamorous, however, the sacrifice one makes to do so is not without consequences for themselves and those they care about. Larsen does not allow her readers to perch on the belief that once a member of the dominate group ones life is not without pain and suffering. Every action, even those that seem to make life easier, have consequences.
“Babies”. Is a documentary made by the Thomas Balmés. It offers a window on the lives of four infants in four completely different cultures. This is not a usual kind of documentary; there are no narration, no subtitles and actual dialogue was very minimal. The film explores childhood rituals, enculturation, socialization and parenthood. I will try to explore each of these themes and try to make the case that behaviors, values and fears are learned not something congenital. It has, in my opinion, comparative perspectives and different methods in rearing children in different societies. It achieves this by cutting the scenes in certain ways to show the differences between these different children. For example, in one part of the film, both Bayarjargal (the Mongolian child) and Mari (the Japanese child) were playing with their pet cats and then the two scenes were edited to a shot of Ponijo (the Namibian child) looking interested in flies. The four children developed in somewhat similar ways. However, there are differences in their behaviors due to the enculturation by seeing their parents or siblings who were doing what they thought to be the norms and the obvious landscape in which they are brought up. Two of the kids were born in rural areas (Namibia and Mongolia) and two were born in urban areas (the United States and Japan). The mothers of these infants were interviewed and chosen to be in the film
Women in Nigeria, as reflected in the novel, usually do not have an identity outside of their father, husband or children, therefore, they are more like visitors or outsiders. And like pilgrims, instead of tearing each other
I see many people as I wander through the streets, yet I can only hear silence. I see couples getting into a restaurant, order, check their smartphones, eat, and I wonder why they do not look up, face each other and genuinely communicate. What I perceive, are men and women living not with, but next to each other. This is exactly what I imagined when I read Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”. A couple waiting to catch a train and as they sit and drink some beers, they start talking about Jig’s pregnancy and the option of abortion. However, all I can hear is silence because they simply do not speak the same language. They are both living in different worlds filled with divergent ideologies and opinions. As a result, the words do not come across. The American, though, does everything in his power to convince Jig of conducting an abortion, in which he seems to succeed at first. But as the story develops, the divided and childlike Jig transforms into an independent woman, who possesses an internal strength, determination and a mind of her own. Hence, I am going to argue that Jig will not have the abortion and will eventually leave the American.
In the 1964 play Dutchman by Amiri Baraka, formally known as Le Roi Jones, an enigma of themes and racial conflicts are blatantly exemplified within the short duration of the play. Baraka attacks the issue of racial stereotype symbolically through the relationship of the play’s only subjects, Lula and Clay. Baraka uses theatricality and dynamic characters as a metaphor to portray an honest representation of racist stereotypes in America through both physical and psychological acts of discrimination. Dutchman shows Clay, an innocent African-American man enraged after he is tormented by the representation of an insane, illogical and explicit ideal of white supremacy known as Lula. Their encounter turns from sexual to lethal as the two along with others are all confined inside of one urban subway cart. Baraka uses character traits, symbolism and metaphor to exhibit the legacy of racial tension in America.
William James, a famous American philosopher, once stated, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives”. This quotation effectively illustrates how change in one’s attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs can alter the environment in which one lives. This concept is clearly demonstrated throughout the novel Things Fall Apart, authored by Chinua Achebe, by establishing a connection through the development of its characters and the change in traditional African tribal villages seen in the Nineteenth Century. It will be established how various characters demonstrated by the author throughout the novel exemplify how change in one’s attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs can alter the environment in which one lives addressed by William James’s quote above. First, by analyzing Achebe’s development of Okonkwo’s character through his initial character description and the emergence of outsiders, it is evident that he is portrayed as an old fashioned character that is less responsive to change. Secondly, through examining Nwoye’s character, Okonkwo’s son, it becomes apparent that the youth in the novel are more open-minded, easily persuadable and more adaptive to societal changes. Lastly, uncovering the meaning behind the arrival of European missionaries, it becomes apparent that Achebe defines this group as being a “disease”, poisoning the society in which Okonkwo lives. The author look’s at individuals as being critical and influential figures in shaping the environment to which they belong, beginning with Okonkwo.
Kehoe, Alice Beck. The Ghost Dance; Ethnohistory and Revitalization. Chicago: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc, 1989.
In the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Ibo culture and culture today have similar and contrasting marriages. The Ibo and cultures today are similar because people can get married whenever they want. However today, people usually don't get married at young ages like the Ibo people. The Ibo culture and people today can also have as many children as they want. Both cultures usually have a lot of help from different men, women, and even children. "Some of the women cooked the yams and the cassava, and others prepared vegetable soup. Young men pounded the foo-foo or split firewood. The children made endless trips to the stream" (113). The Ibo culture had a marriage system called polygamy, which is when a man is married to several women.
...n and fertile part of the country was a symbol of the productive part of the woman and the barren part is the symbol of the man who did not want the baby. And the other readers stated that these two different parts of the land were a reflection of the inner part of the woman. The reason for the man not to want a baby was considered as an obstacle for him to travel. It was observed that the woman readers were supporting the woman in the story and the man readers were supporting the man’s part of the argument...
Throughout time, humans struggled with issues of conformity and individuality. In the modern world, individuality is idealized, as it is associated with strength. Weak individuals are usually portrayed as conforming to society and having almost no personal ideas. In “Desiree’s Baby”, a short story, the author Kate Chopin deals with the struggles of African descendants in the French colonies during the time of slave labor. The protagonist is a white woman named Desiree who is of unknown origin and birth as she was found abandoned as an infant at an aristocrat’s doorstep. Eighteen years after her discovery, she and a fellow aristocrat, Armand Aubigny, fall in love and get married. They soon have a child, yet conflict arises when the child is discovered to be black. The young family is destroyed when the baby’s father, Armand, refuses to accept the child. In “Desiree’s Baby”, Chopin demonstrates through Armand’s conflicts how weak humans conform to environmental norms.
The conflict within Dilemma of a Ghost by Ama Ata Aidoo seems to arise from the Eulalie’s foreignness, however; it arises from both party’s lack of knowledge of the others culture and Ato’s new Americanized beliefs. The world is comprised of diverse cultures and beliefs. Ideals of one’s culture can be tested when influences from the outside changed a person’s ideals. In Dilemma of a Ghost, not only does culture conflict arise between Ato’s wife Eulalie and Esi but also from Ato himself and how his ideals have changed since going to school in America. The culture conflict between Eulalie and Esi seemed to be conveyed through many mediums. It is conveyed through roles of the family, differences in food choices, difference in language.
First and foremost, Achebe uses gender roles to show social norms in order to highlight that there is no crossover in expectations or duties. Women depict a lifestyle that is common throughout the african culture. They exemplify an important female role for the children and the household. One of the wives many purposes for the males is to bear lots of children. Okonkwo remarked, “You might as well say that the woman lies on top of the man when they are making the babies” (Achebe 74). Women are used for the birth of children so the men can obtain as many sons as possible. The women are given no option but to get pregnant in order to further the clans success with male superiority. Also, women are given the role as the nurturer. Uchendu states,
In the novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, the main character Okonkwo struggles to prevent his people from changing their tradition. Okonkwo’s people, the Igbo people, define their lives by the traditions and practices of their ancestors. Although Okonkwo stands firm to his traditions, fulfilling them and adhering to them can at times be a challenge for him and his people. Using appeals to pathos, tone, and allusion Achebe not only conveys traditions of the Igbo people, but the struggles of this tradition to them as well.