Major :- 16
Name :- Mohinani Harshita pavanbhai
Year :- T.y B.a [ sem - 6 ]
Main subject :- English
Paper name :- Major :- 16 modern literary criticism
Assignment topic :- class assignment
• Background of Postcolonial Criticism
- Home assignment
•. What Postcolonial Critics Do? And examples
:- Essay on criticism
Teacher's name :- Rachna ma'am
★class assignment : background of postcolonial criticism
• Background of Postcolonial Criticism
Postcolonial criticism is a major theoretical movement that examines the cultural, political, historical, and psychological effects of colonialism and imperialism. It studies how European colonial powers represented colonized peoples and how those representations justified domination. Emerging in the latter half of the twentieth century, postcolonial criticism developed alongside decolonization movements in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean and seeks to challenge Western-centered narratives while recovering marginalized voices.
• Historical Context
Colonialism began in the fifteenth century with European expansion into Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Through military conquest, economic exploitation, and cultural domination, European nations such as Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal established vast empires. Colonization was not only political and economic but also cultural: colonizers imposed their language, religion, education, and worldview upon the colonized societies.
After World War II, many colonies gained independence. However, political
independence did not automatically remove the cultural and psychological effects of colonial rule. Former colonies continued to struggle with issues of identity, language, race, and economic dependency. It was in this historical moment of decolonization that postcolonial criticism emerged as a field of study.
• Intellectual and Theoretical Origins
Postcolonial criticism has roots in both anti-colonial political thought and European critical theory.
• Anti-Colonial Thinkers
Early resistance writers and political leaders laid the groundwork for postcolonial theory. Frantz Fanon, in Black Skin, White Masks (1952) and The Wretched of the Earth (1961), examined the psychological trauma experienced by colonized subjects and argued that colonialism dehumanizes both the colonizer and the colonized. Aimé
Césaire criticized the hypocrisy of European civilization and exposed the brutality of colonialism. These thinkers emphasized resistance, identity reconstruction, and liberation.
• Influence of Poststructuralism
Postcolonial theory was also influenced by poststructuralist thinkers such as Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida. Foucault’s concept of the relationship between power and knowledge helped scholars understand how colonial discourse produced “truths” about colonized people. Derrida’s theory of deconstruction highlighted how language
is unstable and how meaning is constructed through binary oppositions such as civilized/primitive and West/East. Postcolonial critics used these tools to dismantle colonial narratives.
• Foundational Texts and Key Theorists
The publication of Edward Said’s Orientalism in 1978 is widely regarded as the beginning of postcolonial criticism as an academic discipline. Said argued that
Western scholars, writers, and artists constructed the “Orient” as exotic, backward, irrational, and inferior. This representation was not innocent but served to justify European imperial domination. According to Said, Orientalism was a discourse—a system of knowledge—that reinforced colonial power.
Homi K. Bhabha further developed postcolonial theory by introducing concepts such as hybridity, mimicry, and ambivalence. He argued that colonial relationships are not simply based on domination but involve complex cultural interactions. Hybridity refers to the mixing of cultures that occurs in colonial contexts. Mimicry describes how colonized subjects imitate the colonizer but never fully become the same,
creating instability in colonial authority.
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak added a feminist dimension to postcolonial studies. In her essay “Can the Subaltern Speak?” (1988), she questioned whether marginalized groups, particularly colonized women, can truly express themselves within systems controlled by dominant powers. She introduced the term “subaltern” to describe those excluded from power and representation.
• Major Concerns of Postcolonial Criticism
Postcolonial criticism focuses on several key issues:
1. Representation and Stereotyping – How colonial literature portrays colonized
peoples as inferior or exotic.
2. Identity and Hybridity – The formation of mixed cultural identities in
postcolonial societies.
3. Language and Power – The dominance of colonial languages and debates
over whether writers should use native languages.
4. Resistance and Nationalism – Literature as a form of political and cultural
resistance.
5. Neo-colonialism – Continued economic and cultural control by former colonial
powers even after independence.
6. Race, Gender, and Class – Intersectional oppression within colonial and
postcolonial contexts.
• Postcolonial Criticism and Literature
Postcolonial criticism analyzes both colonial texts and postcolonial writings. It
re-examines canonical works such as Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre to reveal their imperial assumptions. At the same time,
it celebrates writers from formerly colonized nations, such as Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Salman Rushdie, Derek Walcott, and Jean Rhys, who challenge
colonial narratives and reconstruct suppressed histories.
For example, Achebe’s Things Fall Apart responds directly to colonial depictions of
Africa by presenting a complex and dignified pre-colonial Igbo society. Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea gives voice to the marginalized Creole woman in Jane Eyre, thus rewriting the colonial narrative from the perspective of the oppressed.
• Conclusion
In conclusion, postcolonial criticism emerged from the historical realities of
colonialism and decolonization and from theoretical developments in twentieth-century thought. Influenced by anti-colonial activism and poststructuralist
theory, it challenges Western dominance, questions cultural hierarchies, and seeks
to recover the voices of the marginalized. By examining how colonial power shaped
literature and identity, postcolonial criticism continues to be a vital field for
understanding both past and present global inequalities.
★ Home assignment : What Postcolonial Critics Do? And examples
• What Postcolonial Critics Do?
Postcolonial critics study literature and culture produced during and after colonial rule. Their main aim is to analyze how colonialism shaped identities, cultures, language, and power structures, and how these effects continue even after independence.
1. Examine Colonial Representation
Postcolonial critics analyze how colonized people were represented in colonial texts. They show how Western writers often portrayed the East as inferior, uncivilized, or exotic. Edward Said in Orientalism argues that the West created a distorted image of the “Orient” to justify domination.
2. Question Eurocentrism
They challenge the idea that Western culture and knowledge are superior. Postcolonial criticism exposes how European standards were imposed on colonized societies and
marginalized indigenous cultures.
3. Study Power and Discourse
Postcolonial critics examine how power operates through language, education, religion, and
literature. Colonial discourse often silenced native voices and justified exploitation.
4. Recover Marginalized Voices
They attempt to rediscover and promote writings by colonized and oppressed peoples. This includes highlighting subaltern voices. Gayatri Spivak asks, “Can the Subaltern Speak?” and discusses how marginalized groups are often denied representation.
5. Analyze Identity and Hybridity
Postcolonial critics explore issues of identity conflict, cultural hybridity, mimicry, and alienation. Homi K. Bhabha introduced concepts like hybridity and mimicry to explain mixed cultural identities in postcolonial societies.
6. Study Resistance and Nationalism
They examine how literature expresses resistance against colonial rule and supports national identity and decolonization.
7. Language and Decolonization
Postcolonial critics study the use of colonial languages (like English) in postcolonial literature and how writers adapt or resist them.
Conclusion
In short, postcolonial critics analyze how colonial power influenced literature and culture, question Western dominance, recover suppressed voices, and explore themes of identity, resistance, and cultural conflict. Their work helps us understand the lasting impact of colonialism on societies and texts.
★ Postcolonial Criticism – With Example
• Introduction
Postcolonial criticism is a literary theory that examines the effects of colonialism on countries, cultures, and people. It studies how European powers controlled, exploited, and represented colonized nations, and how these nations responded to colonial rule. This theory also explores themes such as identity, race, power, resistance, language, and cultural
conflict. Important postcolonial critics include Edward Said, Homi K. Bhabha, Frantz Fanon, and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.
• Key Concepts of Postcolonial Criticism
Colonialism and Imperialism – The political and economic control of one nation over another.
Othering – Presenting colonized people as inferior, uncivilized, or exotic.
Orientalism – A concept by Edward Said explaining how the West misrepresented the East.
Hybridity – Mixing of cultures due to colonization (Homi Bhabha).
Identity Crisis – Conflict between native culture and imposed colonial culture.
Resistance – The struggle of colonized people to reclaim identity and power.
Example: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart (1958) is a strong example of postcolonial literature.
1. Representation of African Culture
Achebe presents Igbo society as rich, organized, and civilized. This challenges colonial writers who described Africa as primitive and savage.
2. Impact of Colonialism
The arrival of British missionaries and administrators destroys traditional Igbo culture. The novel shows how religion, government, and trade were used to control Africans.
3. Identity and Conflict
The protagonist, Okonkwo, struggles to maintain traditional values in a changing society. His personal tragedy reflects the larger cultural collapse caused by colonialism.
4. Resistance
Achebe resists colonial narratives by telling the story from an African perspective. He gives voice to the colonized people.
Another Brief Example: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Postcolonial critics analyze this novel as a colonial text that portrays Africa as dark and uncivilized. Edward Said argued that Conrad reinforces Western superiority. Achebe himself criticized the novel for being racist.
• Conclusion
Postcolonial criticism helps readers understand how literature reflects colonial power structures and cultural domination. It gives voice to marginalized people and questions Western authority in literature. Through works like Things Fall Apart, postcolonial theory reveals the psychological, cultural, and political effects of colonialism.
★ essay on criticism
• criticism:
Introduction
Criticism is an essential and unavoidable part of literature and human life. The term “criticism” is derived from the Greek word kritikos, which means the ability to judge or to discern. In simple words, criticism means the careful analysis and evaluation of a work of art, literature, or any human activity. It is not merely fault-finding or negative judgment; rather, it is a balanced and thoughtful examination of both strengths and weaknesses. In the field of literature, criticism plays a vital role in shaping understanding, guiding readers, and improving creative standards. Without criticism, literature would remain incomplete and unrefined.
• Meaning and Nature of Criticism
Criticism involves three important processes: analysis, interpretation, and evaluation. First, the critic analyzes the structure, language, style, theme, and technique of a work. Second, the critic interprets the meaning and message behind the text. Finally, the critic evaluates its artistic value and significance. Thus, criticism is both scientific and artistic in nature. It requires logic and reasoning, but also sensitivity and imagination.
True criticism is constructive. It aims to explain and illuminate rather than to condemn. A critic must approach a work with fairness and open-mindedness. Personal bias, prejudice, or jealousy should not influence the judgment. A good critic acts as a mediator between the author and the reader, helping readers understand complex ideas and appreciate deeper meanings.
• Types of Criticism
Over time, different types of criticism have developed to study literature from various perspectives. Some of the important types include:
Historical Criticism – It studies a literary work in relation to the historical period in which it was written. It examines the social, political, and cultural background of the time.
Biographical Criticism – This approach focuses on the life of the author and how personal experiences influence the work.
Psychological Criticism – It analyzes the mental state of characters and sometimes the author, often using psychological theories.
Feminist Criticism – It studies literature from the perspective of gender equality and examines how women are portrayed in texts.
Marxist Criticism – It evaluates literature in terms of class struggle, economic conditions, and social inequalities.
Each approach provides a unique viewpoint. Together, they broaden our understanding and make literature more meaningful.
Functions and Importance of Criticism
Criticism serves several important functions in literature and society.
Firstly, it helps readers understand difficult texts. Many literary works contain complex symbols, themes, and references that may not be easily understood. Critics explain these elements clearly and guide readers toward proper interpretation.
Secondly, criticism evaluates the quality of a work. Not every piece of writing is of equal value. Through careful judgment, critics separate great literature from ordinary writing. This helps maintain high literary standards.
Thirdly, criticism encourages writers to improve. Constructive criticism provides valuable feedback. It motivates authors to refine their style, correct weaknesses, and develop new ideas.
Fourthly, criticism promotes critical thinking. It teaches readers to analyze and question rather than accept everything blindly. This habit of analytical thinking is useful not only in literature but also in daily life.
Finally, criticism contributes to cultural and intellectual development. It keeps literature alive by generating discussion and debate. Through criticism, society reflects on its values, beliefs, and traditions.
• Qualities of a Good Critic
A good critic must possess deep knowledge of literature, history, and human nature. He or she should be honest, unbiased, and courageous in expressing opinions. Sensitivity to language and emotion is also necessary. A critic must balance intellect and imagination. Above all, the critic should aim to educate and enlighten readers rather than to insult or discourage writers.
• Criticism in Daily Life
Criticism is not limited to books and art. In daily life, criticism plays an important role in personal growth. Teachers correct students’ mistakes to help them learn. Parents guide children to shape their character. In professional life, feedback improves performance and productivity. When given positively and accepted with maturity, criticism becomes a powerful tool for development.
However, destructive criticism can harm confidence and creativity. Therefore, it is important that criticism should always be constructive, respectful, and purposeful.
Conclusion
In conclusion, criticism is an indispensable part of literature and life. It is not mere fault-finding but a careful and balanced evaluation based on understanding and reason. Through analysis and interpretation, criticism deepens our appreciation of literature. It guides readers, improves writers, and strengthens cultural values. A healthy tradition of criticism ensures the growth and refinement of art and society. Therefore, criticism should always aim at truth, fairness, and constructive improvement, as it is a powerful force in intellectual and creative progress.
