Political Reading of Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions

Majed Alenezi

doi:10.15294/lc.v14i2.24074

Abstract

This paper explores Tsitsi Dangarembga’s debut novel, Nervous Conditions, from a political perspective. It has been read as portraying of gender relationships, social hierarchies and oppression of African women. This paper takes a different route as it analyses the role of masculinities through a political perspective. The conflict and struggle between genders in the text can be read through a political and historical perspective. This particular reading is permitted through a close analysis of the male characters in the novel. The research argues that male characters resemble or behave in away similar to white colonizers in their treatment of African women. Reading the novel through a political perspective provides the reader with the benefit of understanding the changes that occur in the characters and the role of gender conflict in the text. The triumph of Tambu and Nyasha at the end underscores the failure of colonial power to colonize Zimbabwe.

Highlights

Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions (1988) is considered a masterwork of modern African literature
This paper takes a different route as it analyses the role of masculinities through a political perspective
Dangarembga’s view of Africa has a great value to the above research question as the paper examines the gender relationship through a political perspective. Dangarembga in her interview was not talking about the male characters in the text, but she was providing a realistic view of Zimbabwe

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions (1988) is considered a masterwork of modern African literature It is the first English novel written by a black Zimbabwean woman. It has become one of the most important literary texts in African literature. The conflict and struggle between genders in the text can be read through a political and historical perspective. This particular reading is permitted through a close analysis of the male characters in the novel. Viewed from a political perspective, the female characters signify the colonized nation (Rhodesia), whereas male characters represent the British Empire. Other characters are brought into light to support the above claim

LITERATURE RIVIEW

ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL

On several occasions Nyasha and Tambu

CONCLUSION