Constructing National Identity in Keri Hulme's "the bone people"

Table of Contents

• I. Introduction
• II. Expressing Concepts of Identity and National Identity in Postcolonial Discourse
• III. Construction of National Identity in the bone people
  • a. Creating Controversy
  • b. Deconstructing New Zealand
  • c. Constructing Aotearoa
• IV. Thirty Years Later – Placement within the New Zealand Literary Canon
  • a. the bone people and Witi Ihimaera's Whanau and Whanau II
  • b. the bone people and Patricia Grace's Potiki
  • c. the bone people and Alan Duff's Once Were Warriors
  • d. the bone people and Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries
• V. Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This work examines the construction of national identity in New Zealand through the lens of Keri Hulme's novel "the bone people." The author explores how Hulme's work engages with the postcolonial context of New Zealand, particularly the relationship between Maori and Pakeha cultures.

• Postcolonial Identity in New Zealand
• The Construction of National Identity
• Maori and Pakeha Cultural Interactions
• Biculturalism and the Role of Maori Spirituality
• The Treaty of Waitangi and its Impact

Chapter Summaries

The introduction provides context for Hulme's novel, highlighting her achievement of winning the Man Booker Prize and her aim to create a New Zealand myth that harmonizes Maori and Pakeha influences. It discusses the historical background of New Zealand, emphasizing the impact of colonialism and the Treaty of Waitangi on Maori culture. The chapter concludes by exploring the shift towards biculturalism and the rise of the Maori Renaissance in the 1980s.

Chapter II delves into the concept of identity and national identity in postcolonial discourse, exploring the role of literature in shaping national narratives. It discusses how indigenous writers use their works to challenge dominant discourses and contribute to nation-building.

Chapter III focuses on the construction of national identity in "the bone people," analyzing how Hulme presents her vision of a New Zealand society that embraces both Maori and Pakeha cultures. The chapter examines the novel's key themes, including biculturalism, Maori spirituality, and the relationship between the land and its inhabitants.

Chapter IV explores the placement of "the bone people" within the New Zealand literary canon, comparing it to other significant works by authors like Witi Ihimaera, Patricia Grace, Alan Duff, and Eleanor Catton. The chapter examines the novel's influence and its contribution to the evolving national identity discourse.

Keywords

Key terms and concepts explored in this work include postcolonialism, national identity, biculturalism, Maori culture, Pakeha culture, the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori Renaissance, "the bone people," and New Zealand literature.