Indigenous Identity in Witi Ihimaera's "Whale Rider" and Chinua Achebe's Fiction

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Indigenous Identity
• Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
  • A "Collective Self" in Things Fall Apart
    • History and Time
    • Oral Tradition and Language
    • Rituals: the Circle
  • The Fixed Individual versus the Adapting Community
  • Diaspora Identities
    • The Notion of Change
    • Silencing: Orality into Literacy
    • Relocation
    • Unwriting Eurocentrism
    • Hybridity
• The Whale Rider - Witi Ihimaera
  • "Return to History" in The Whale Rider
    • Oral Tradition and Language
    • Myth
    • Rituals: the Spiral
  • The Hybrid Individual versus the Collective Past
  • Rewriting Indigenous Identity
    • Influences of Western Culture and Globalization
    • Racism
    • Writing Motion
• Comparison: The Shattered Circle vs. the Spiraling Journey
• Works Cited

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper analyzes the literary representation of indigenous identity in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Witi Ihimaera's The Whale Rider. Using Stuart Hall's dual definition of identity, the paper explores how indigenous identity evolves against the backdrop of colonization and its implications for identity in a postcolonial context. Gender issues are excluded from the scope of this analysis.

• The impact of colonization on indigenous identity.
• The interplay between collective and individual identity within indigenous cultures.
• The role of oral tradition and language in shaping indigenous identity.
• The concept of diaspora identities and their relationship to change and adaptation.
• A comparative analysis of the representation of indigenous identity in Achebe and Ihimaera's works.

Chapter Summaries

Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the surprising connection between Chinua Achebe and Witi Ihimaera within postcolonial literature, highlighting the shared experience of colonization in their respective cultural contexts (Nigerian Ibo and New Zealand Maori). It frames the central question of whether postcolonial writing solely focuses on liberation or also maps cultural origins and future trajectories, directly leading to the investigation of indigenous identity as a central theme in both Things Fall Apart and The Whale Rider. The chapter outlines the paper's objective: to analyze the literary representation of indigeneity using Stuart Hall's dual definition of identity to demonstrate its development within the context of colonization and its implications for postcolonial identity. The methodology, focusing on Hall's essay "Cultural Identity and Diaspora," and the structure of the analysis are also detailed.

Definition of Indigenous Identity: This chapter provides a theoretical foundation for the analysis by defining indigenous identity through the lens of Stuart Hall's essay "Cultural Identity and Diaspora" and Peter Barry's Postcolonial Criticism. It establishes Hall's understanding of identity as a continuous process of becoming, highlighting his dual approach: the collective self, characterized by shared culture, history, and ancestry; and the individual's transformative identity, shaped by historical disruptions and the interplay of culture and power. The chapter underscores the importance of considering both aspects to comprehensively understand indigenous identity in a postcolonial context.

Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe: This chapter delves into Achebe's Things Fall Apart, structuring the analysis according to Hall's dual approach. It first examines elements contributing to a collective self, such as history, language, and rituals, analyzing their literary representation. It then shifts focus to the individual's role in representing indigenous identity and the dynamics between individual and community, contrasting the notion of a stable self with a transformative one. The chapter further explores how the concept of change is created through narrative elements, concentrating on the transition from orality to literacy and contextualizing relocation and hybridity within the framework of diaspora identities and postcolonialism. Although primarily focused on Things Fall Apart, the chapter briefly touches upon Achebe's No Longer at Ease as a prequel.

The Whale Rider - Witi Ihimaera: This chapter mirrors the structure of the previous one, applying a similar analytical framework to Ihimaera's The Whale Rider. It begins by analyzing the literary representation of oral tradition and orality, followed by an examination of myth as a key component of Maori identity and its role in the novel. Hall's definition of identity is then applied to individual characters to illuminate the concept of indigenous identity within the narrative. The chapter further discusses the novel in the context of rewriting, examining the interwoven influences of Western culture and globalization and their contribution to the overall representation of indigenous identity. The analysis emphasizes how these factors shape the understanding of rewriting and relocation in the context of cultural identity.

Keywords

Indigenous identity, postcolonial literature, Chinua Achebe, Witi Ihimaera, Things Fall Apart, The Whale Rider, colonization, cultural identity, diaspora, oral tradition, hybridity, collective self, transformative identity, adaptation, rewriting.

Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Indigenous Identity in Things Fall Apart and The Whale Rider

What is the main focus of this academic paper?

This paper analyzes how indigenous identity is represented in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Witi Ihimaera's The Whale Rider. It uses Stuart Hall's theory of identity to explore how this identity changes due to colonization and its effects in a postcolonial world. Gender issues are not included in this analysis.

What are the key themes explored in the paper?

The paper explores the impact of colonization on indigenous identity; the relationship between collective and individual identity; the role of oral tradition and language; the concept of diaspora identities and their connection to change and adaptation; and a comparison of how indigenous identity is shown in Achebe's and Ihimaera's works.

Which theoretical framework is used in the analysis?

The analysis primarily uses Stuart Hall's concept of identity, specifically his dual definition encompassing the collective self and the transformative individual identity. This framework helps understand the evolution of indigenous identity within the context of colonization and its implications for postcolonial identity. The work of Peter Barry on postcolonial criticism also informs the theoretical foundation.

How is Things Fall Apart analyzed in the paper?

The analysis of Things Fall Apart examines aspects contributing to a collective Ibo self (history, language, rituals) and then explores the individual's role and the dynamic between individual and community. It also explores how change is presented in the novel, focusing on the shift from oral to written tradition, relocation, and hybridity within the context of diaspora and postcolonialism. The analysis briefly touches upon Achebe's No Longer at Ease.

How is The Whale Rider analyzed in the paper?

The analysis of The Whale Rider mirrors the approach used for Things Fall Apart. It examines oral tradition, myth, and the role of individual characters in representing indigenous identity. It further discusses the novel's representation of the influences of Western culture and globalization and how they shape the understanding of rewriting and relocation in relation to cultural identity.

What is the structure of the paper?

The paper is structured with an introduction establishing the connection between Achebe and Ihimaera and outlining the research question and methodology. It then defines indigenous identity theoretically, followed by in-depth chapter-by-chapter analyses of Things Fall Apart and The Whale Rider. A comparative chapter follows, concluding with a works cited section.

What is the methodology employed in this analysis?

The paper uses a close reading approach to analyze the literary texts, interpreting them through the lens of Stuart Hall's theory of identity and the relevant concepts from postcolonial criticism. The analysis focuses on identifying and interpreting textual evidence to support the arguments made.

What are the key differences highlighted in the comparative analysis of the two novels?

The comparative analysis contrasts the representation of indigenous identity in Things Fall Apart (depicted as a "shattered circle") and The Whale Rider (a "spiraling journey"). This highlights contrasting approaches to navigating the impact of colonization and the process of identity formation and reformation in postcolonial contexts.

What are some key terms used in the paper?

Key terms include: Indigenous identity, postcolonial literature, colonization, cultural identity, diaspora, oral tradition, hybridity, collective self, transformative identity, adaptation, and rewriting.