TJELLS | The Journal for English Language and Literary Studies

Colonial Disillusionment in Ngugi wa Thiong'o’s Weep Not, Child

Asmitha Jenni. S, Dr. G. Lala — Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Disillusionment is experienced when expectations are not realised. Some of the natives of the colonies naively believed in the nobility of the intentions of the whites, their aspirations to teach their language, convert them to their religion and other prospects of prosperity and development. They hoped that they would lead a respectable life. They were not aware of the hidden agenda of the colonisers. When they find out that the colonial religion or Education or anything that colonialism has brought into their lives is of no use and least worthy to be trusted, an overwhelming sense of disillusionment engulfs them, which results in desperation, a sense of loss, self-hatred, hatred for others, mental and physical trauma, self-doubt, and unexpressed anger against colonial powers. Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a politically skewed post-colonial writer whose works reflect his own experiences as a subject of colonisation. The paper makes use of the concept of disillusionment provided by Paul J. Maher and Eric R. Igou in their article titled "Disillusionment: A prototype analysis", wherein they have scientifically conceptualised the experience of disillusionment. They have worked on both the epistemic and affective factors that characterise disillusionment. This paper utilises their findings to explore the colonial disillusionment in its various aspects in Ngugi's Weep Not, Child. These aspects include Politics, Education, and Spirituality. With reference to the concept of colonial disillusionment, this article makes an effort to probe into the novel for these aspects.

Trauma and Memory: The Impact of Political Turmoil on Individual Lives in Susan Abulhawa's Mornings in Jenin

Dr. Garima Jain, Dr. Sona Agrawal — Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research paper explores the intricate interplay between trauma, memory, and identity in the context of political conflict, as depicted in Susan Abulhawa's novel Mornings in Jenin. Abulhawa's works provide a profound narrative lens through which the Palestinian experience of displacement, violence, and resistance is articulated, making her novels rich sites for examining the psychological and emotional impacts of political turmoil. In Mornings in Jenin, the narrative of the Abulheja family, spanning several generations, offers insights into the persistent trauma inflicted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The novel shows how collective memory and personal trauma are intertwined, shaping the identities of individuals and communities. By analysing this text, this paper argues that Abulhawa not only captures the historical and cultural essence of the Palestinian plight but also delves into the psychological dimensions of trauma. The study utilises a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on theories from trauma studies, memory studies, and postcolonial literature to discuss how memory and trauma are negotiated in Abulhawa's narratives. The paper reveals how Abulhawa’s portrayal of these themes serves as a powerful commentary on the impacts of political conflict on individual lives, proposing that memory can serve as a means of resistance and survival in the face of ongoing turmoil.

The Angry Translator: A Psychosocial Reading of La Nuit by Elie Wiesel and its English Versions

Stéphanie Engola — Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In recent years, researchers have investigated the translated text as a social product which impacts readers and their view of other cultural groups. The commitment of the translator in the translation process has also proven to influence the final product. This paper examines the implication of the translator in the transformation of the source and target texts. Based on textual analysis, the paper analyses the social sharing of emotions through the process of rewriting by translators. It shows how it is used as a tool for personal self-expression and social communication. The corpus used is La Nuit by Elie Wiesel and two of its English versions. The results show that the psychosocial status of the translator afflicts their translation choices and the function of the translated text in the target society.