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Hier ist die nächste Abiturzusammenfassung. Diese mal für die Sprache in der vermutlich die meisten aus unserer der Stufe ihr Abitur schreiben werden: Englisch. Auch hier habe ich noch einmal den ganzen Stoff zu den short stories zusammengeschrieben. Viel Erfolg beim Lernen!
FAG – ABI – 2012 - Schulhomepage fsure.bplaced.net/fagabi12/
Page 2
Table of Contents
I. One Language Many Voices 1. Colonial Encounters ....................................................................................................................5
1.1. An Outpost of Progress ........................................................................................................5
1.1.1. Content........................................................................................................................5
1.1.2. Setting .........................................................................................................................5
1.1.3. The Characters .............................................................................................................6
1.1.4. The Author: Joseph Conrad ..........................................................................................6
1.1.5. Historical Background ..................................................................................................6
1.1.6. Main themes................................................................................................................7
1.1.7. Links to other short stories...........................................................................................7
1.2. The Force of Circumstance...................................................................................................7
1.2.1. Content........................................................................................................................8
1.2.2. Setting .........................................................................................................................8
1.2.3. The Characters .............................................................................................................9
1.2.4. The Author: William Somerset Maugham .....................................................................9
1.2.5. Historical Background ..................................................................................................9
1.2.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 10
1.2.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 10
1.3. Shooting an Elephant ......................................................................................................... 11
1.3.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 11
1.3.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 11
1.3.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 12
1.3.4. The Author: George Orwell ........................................................................................ 12
1.3.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 12
1.3.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 13
1.3.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 13
1.4. The Second Hut ................................................................................................................. 14
1.4.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 14
1.4.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 14
1.4.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 15
1.4.4. The Author: Doris Lessing........................................................................................... 15
1.4.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 15
Page 3
1.4.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 16
1.4.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 16
2. Cross-Cultural Experiences ........................................................................................................ 17
2.1. A Horse and Two Goats ..................................................................................................... 17
2.1.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 17
2.1.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 17
2.1.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 18
2.1.4. The Author: Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan .......................................................... 18
2.1.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 18
2.1.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 19
2.1.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 19
2.2. Dead Men’s Path ............................................................................................................... 20
2.2.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 20
2.2.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 20
2.2.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 21
2.2.4. The Author: Chinua Achebe ....................................................................................... 21
2.2.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 21
2.2.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 21
2.2.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 22
2.3. A Meeting in the Dark ........................................................................................................ 23
2.3.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 23
2.3.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 23
2.3.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 24
2.3.4. The Author: Ngugi wa Thiong’o .................................................................................. 24
2.3.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 24
2.3.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 25
2.3.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 25
3. Post-Colonial Consequences ...................................................................................................... 26
3.1. The Black Madonna ........................................................................................................... 26
3.1.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 26
3.1.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 26
3.1.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 27
3.1.4. The Author: Muriel Spark ........................................................................................... 27
3.1.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 27
3.1.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 28
Page 4
3.1.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 28
3.2. Good Advice is Rarer than Rubies ...................................................................................... 29
3.2.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 29
3.2.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 29
3.2.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 30
3.2.4. The Author: Salman Rushdie ...................................................................................... 30
3.2.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 30
3.2.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 31
3.2.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 31
3.3. A Pair of Jeans ................................................................................................................... 32
3.3.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 32
3.3.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 32
3.3.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 33
3.3.4. The Author: Quaisra Shahraz ...................................................................................... 33
3.3.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 33
3.3.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 34
3.3.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 34
3.4. My Son the Fanatic ............................................................................................................ 35
3.4.1. Content...................................................................................................................... 35
3.4.2. Setting ....................................................................................................................... 35
3.4.3. The Characters ........................................................................................................... 36
3.4.4. The Author: Hanif Kureishi ......................................................................................... 36
3.4.5. Historical Background ................................................................................................ 36
3.4.6. Main themes.............................................................................................................. 37
3.4.7. Links to other short stories......................................................................................... 37
II. Closing Remarks of the Author
Page 5
I. One Language Many Voices
1. Colonial Encounters
1.1. An Outpost of Progress
Joseph Conrad
1.1.1. Content
The short story “An Outpost of Progress” is set on an outpost in
Congo. On this outpost two new agents arrive, Kayerts and Carlier
who get the supervision of the outpost. The director who comes
with them predicts the failure of their work within the next six
months.
At the outpost Kayerts and Carlier actually don’t do any work. The
supervision is done by Makola, a “Sierra Leone nigger” who is
better educated than the other stationmen and who lives at the
outpost with his wife and his three children. The food for the
outpost is provided by a tribe near it, leaded by “Goblia”.
Later a group of black stranges arrive. Makola organizes a
(forbidden) slave trade with those strangers. He exchanges the
ten stationmen with six valuable tusks. The two white agents
don’t know anything about the deal. They recognize it, when
seeing that the stationmen aren’t there anymore at the next
morning.
Caused by this forbidden trade the tribe of Goblia stopped the
food supplies for the outpost. As a result Kayerts and Carlia get
morally ill and they suffer from their loneliness, what leads them
to a (senseless) discussion about sugar which escalates that far
that Kayerts shoots Carlier dead.
The day after the steamer arrives who was supposed to bring the
agents back. But when the director sees Kayerts he already had
hanged himself on a cross with his outstretched tongue.
1.1.2. Setting
The story is set on an outpost at Congo Free State. Congo was
property of the Belgian King back then, what leads to the suggestion
that the two protagonists are from there. The so-called “Outpost of
Progress” consists Makola’s hut, the agents’ house (which is quite big
in comparison to the rest of the outpost), a storehouse and the grave
of the agent who built the outpost but unfortunately died of fever.
Introduction
Kayerts, Carlier and director arrive - director predicts failure
K&C enjoy life, Makola cares for work at the outpost
strangers arrive
slave trade arranged by Makola
K&C become morally ill, get no more food supplies
Discussion about sugar
Kayerts shoots Carlier dead
Kayerts hangs himself
Page 6
1.1.3. The Characters
Kayerts Carlier Makola
Has a daughter
Worked at a telegraph administration but left it cause it didn’t provided enough money
Fat and short
Chief of the outpost
Weak moral: accepts slave deal
In the beginning: lazy Later: aggressive, ready to kill somebody, mental breakdown (caused by the loss of food)
In the beginning good relation to Carlier, later he shoots him and hangs himself.
Worked as a cavalary officer, was forced to this job because his brother-in-law didn’t want to provide him with money anymore
Tall
Assistant of Kayerts
Weak moral: accepts slave deal
In the beginning: lazy Later: aggressive, mental breakdown, caused by the loss of food
In the beginning good relation to Kayerts, later not anymore
Has three children and a wife
Civilized
Well-educated (speaks two languages, bookkeeping skills)
Two names (Makola, Henry Price) two identities (criminal slave-trader, bookkeeper and supervisor) two cultural systems (African, European/western)
Tidy, organized
Betrays his own race
Morally ill
Seems to be without problems
1.1.4. The Author: Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad was born in Poland and grew up there with his father (a translator and poet) and his
mother. But both his parents died early, so he became an orphan. Later he joined the French and the
British Marines and realized his life dream, to travel around the world on a ship. So he sailed across
the oceans with the “Otago”. He visits Africa, Australia and as well Congo Free State on his trip.
Furthermore he was shocked by the colonists and how they trade the native population, and he left
his believes in enlightenment. Furthermore he got seriously ill in Africa, so that he wasn’t able to go
to sea furthermore. That’s why he started writing books and short stories in which he often reflects
scenes or events out of his own life.
1.1.5. Historical Background
1.1.5.1. King Leopold’s Rule
Back then Congo Free State was under the rule of King Leopold II. He divided Congo into several
districts and those districts into zones, those into sectors and those into posts. And on this lowest
level the short story is set. But even though the king had such an organized system in Congo he had
several problems with economy, especially with slave trade. There were two groups of slaves who
fought for their independence against the Belgian ruler between 1892 and 1894.
1.1.5.2. Humanitarian Disaster
Under King Leopold II, Congo Free State had several humanitarian problems. The slave trade which is
mentioned in the short story is only one of those. Caused by hunger and illnesses from the colonizers
countries there was a high death toll (=Todesrate) in Congo. The trouble with this was, that the
Belgian didn’t care for the native population and let over 15% of them die.
Furthermore they didn’t only accept their death, they tortured them. They forced the native
population to collect rubber for the colonized state and they forced them to reach very high quotas
Page 7
(=Quoten). And if they weren’t able to collect the required amount, the colonizers used to cut them
the hands off, quite inhuman as well.
1.1.6. Main themes
1.1.6.1. Civilization
Civilization is one of the most important topics in the short story. Makola is for example introduced
as a “civilized nigger”. Civilization is in Western view a kind of Progress for a society. In the short
story Civilization is a support for morally weak characters like Kayerts and Carlier who both need
someone who’s superior to them (you see this when looking at their earlier jobs in the army or the
administration). They fail when seeing themselves on the top of the hierarchy.
Furthermore even “civilized” people behave morally wrong, for example Makola who organizes the
slave deal without telling the two agents about this.
1.1.6.2. Racial differences (black & white)
In this short story the two white men are superior to the black persons. The agents actually don’t do
the work, but they enjoy good meals in opposition to the stationmen. But the short story shows as
well, that even if the black persons are officially behind the whites, they have the power to destroy
the lives of the white men. And Makola acts (criminal) without the permission of Kayerts and Carlier,
so he seems to have more power than the two agents.
1.1.6.3. Colonization as a Failure
The two white colonists, Kayerts and Carlier, fail economically and morally when trying to live and
“reign” in another country. The colonization leads the two into death, as well as the agent who died
of fewer (the one who build up the outpost).
Furthermore the colonists have much bad character traits which can be referred to colonization
itself. They are untidy and lazy and have a very weak moral.
1.1.7. Links to other short stories
1.2. The Force of Circumstance
William Somerset Maugham
Survival
The Second Hut
Failure
The Second Hut
The Force of Circumst.
Dead Men's Path
Loneliness
Shooting an Elephant
Views on natives
Shooting an Elephant
Wilderness Tropics
The Force of Circumst.
Page 8
1.2.1. Content
The Force of Circumstances is about Doris and Guy. Doris fell in love
with Guy, who isn’t good-looking, but who is kind of funny. Doris
even sometimes jokes about why she had married a person like
him.
But even though Doris moves into Guys home in Malaysia. When
arriving there she changes the whole decoration of the home, she
makes it habitable.
After that a new person appears, the Malay woman. She has
children and Doris and Guy often meet her. Doris kind of likes the
woman (says she’s attractive and beautiful), but Guy seems to be
troubled by her presence (remember the scene when he plays
tennis worse than usual).
Later on Guy is so morally ill that he confesses that he had a
relationship with the woman and that her children are his children.
Doris is shocked, but wants to forgive Guy. She sets one bed out of
the bedroom, so that they sleep in separate rooms.
But even if Doris tries to get on with guy, she can’t forget and
forgive Guys relationship with the Malay woman, so she finally
moves out.
Guy is disappointed by this, but he lets the Malay woman move
into his house with the children.
1.2.2. Setting
The short story is set in Malaysia which lies between south-east Asia
and Australia. The town in which the story is set, called Sembulu, is
a fictional place, where else the Dyak culture and the town, from
where the newspapers arrive, really exist and lead to the suggestion
that the story is set in the south of the western island.
Furthermore the setting is interesting, because it changes with the
current situation in the short story. In the beginning the house is very
untidy and described as a bachelor’s room. As well several fragments of Dyak culture lay around in
the house. But when Doris moved in, all this changed. The house became tidy and habitable, just like
Guys life changed (at first) to a better life, with the wife he loves. But unfortunately this love has a
soon end and Doris moves out and with Doris all the tidiness moves out of the house and the
bachelor-style returns with the Malay women. And this is done step by step. So at first one bed has
to go out of the bedroom before Doris moves out.
So the tidiness of Guys room is connected to his mood, the tidier it is, the happier he is!
Introduction
Doris moves with Guy to his house, changes decoration
D&G meet the Malay woman often
Guy confesses that he had a relationship with the Malay women
Doris wants to forgive Guy but sets one bed out of the bedroom
Finally Doris moves out
Guy lets the Malay woman with the children move back in the house.
Page 9
1.2.3. The Characters
Doris Guy Malay woman
Decent
Superior to Guy (contrast to “usual” gender roles)
Later: desperate (=verzweifelt), calm and quiet
Makes Guy think, that they will get together later.
Tidy
In the beginning very happy, later very sad
Dislikes “going native” attitude
Prejudices against natives
Is in an relationship with Guy, moved to him
Humerous and ironic, cheerful
Moves between two cultures (Western and Malaysian)
Noisy
Not that good-looking
Untidy
Isn’t honest to Doris in the beginning
Went native (seems to be kind of morally ill and ignorant)
Thinks natives to be inferior
Had a relationship with the malay women, is in a relationship with Doris
Beautiful and attractive
Seductive (=verführerisch)
Inferior to Guy
Makes Guy a bad conscience
Doesn’t talk that much, rather quiet
Powerful (she’s the trigger for Guy to tell the truth)
Native
Has a child
Had a relationship with guy
1.2.4. The Author: William Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham was born 1874 in Paris. He learned English in school as second language.
He had a unhappy youth (probably caused by his homosexual setting). He became a full-time writer
already in the age of 23, when his first novel got a huge success. Later he wrote as well theater plays
(which were often comedies) and a few Novels and short stories.
About 20 years later he started to travel around the world. He visited the Colonies of the British
Empire and he seems to be opposed to the colonial system even though he had never confirmed it.
You can recognize this in a few short stories of him as well.
In 1928 he settled down in France where he died in 1965 after a lot of trips through the world.
1.2.5. Historical Background
1.2.5.1. Dyak culture
The Dyak culture is one, which developed in south-east Asia and which still
exists. It’s a nature worship (=Naturreligion). A few Dyak tribes still live as
hunters and gatherers and don’t really have an access to modern technique.
The Dyak culture is separated in lots of tribes which often differ in their
practice of religion and their language.
The Dyak culture is so interesting in connection with the short story,
because it is very opposed to the British culture. The Western culture often
doesn’t take care of nature and of the colonized people, but suppressed
both. The Dyak culture respects nature and lives in several tribes without
using force against each other, they are rather peaceful.
Page 10
1.2.5.2. Colonization
Malaysia was colonized by two powers, the English and the Dutch in cooperation. The British
colonizers where in charge of the northern part of Malaysia and the Dutch governed the rest of the
separated country. So the story is as well connected to colonization, what seems to be one of the
common things in all short stories.
The Dutch reigned part later joined the British Rule, so all Malaysia was colonized and reigned by the
British crown. Malaysia gained its independence in 1957.
1.2.6. Main themes
1.2.6.1. Going native
In the British colonies were very few British women. That and the fact that the natives didn’t have a
real use for wives caused the development that more often relationships between British men and
native women came up. The natives were often treated inferior to the British.
Anyhow the children of a British and a native (called Half-Castes) were a kind of reprehensible
(=verwerflich) and so it wasn’t good if you had to admit that you had a relationship with a native
women.
The term “going native” describes exactly this action, to build up a relationship with a native woman
and to treat her inferior. Those relationships often broke up quite early, mostly caused by the
superior British men.
If you relate this to the short story, you can see that Guy went native with the Malay women and that
he has half-caste children. He’s afraid that Doris will leave her, when she finds out that he did such a
reprehensible thing.
1.2.6.2. Colonization as a Failure
Just like in “An Outpost of Progress” the colonizers fail while acting with the natives. The foreign
person (Doris) can’t live with the moral settings and has to leave the country. She tried to change
Guy (she e.g. rearranged his room) but in the end she leaves without have changed anything,
because Guy and the Malay woman live again together in the house.
1.2.7. Links to other short stories
Women
The Second Hut
Failure
An Outpost of Progress
The Second Hut
Dead Men's Path
Clash of Cultures
An Outpost of Progress
Views of natives
An Outpost of Progress
Shooting an Elephant
Wilderness
An Outpost of Progress
Husband and Wife
The Second Hut
The Black Madonna
Page 11
1.3. Shooting an Elephant
George Orwell
1.3.1. Content
The story begins when the narrator who’s the police officer himself
starts describing his opinions against the Burmese population and
against the British colonizers. He dislikes the Burmese population,
because it used to discriminate him, but he doesn’t feel well with the
colonizers either, because they sometimes suppress the native
population without any reason.
That’s when the actual story begins. The police officer gets a call from
a sub-inspector who tells him of a must elephant ravaging the bazaar.
Caused by this, the police officer takes a small gun and goes into the
town, searching for the elephant, when he sees the ravaged bazaar
and a dead coolie with crucified arms. Frightened and shocked by
this, he asks for a larger elephant riffle to shoot the elephant if
necessary.
But when he finds the elephant it is peacefully eating grass, so the
officer doesn’t want to shoot it anymore. Meanwhile a large crowd
came up behind him. They want the narrator to shoot the elephant to
have some excitement in the town.
Finally the officer shoots the elephant 5 times with his riffle till he
couldn’t see the suffering elephant anymore and left. The elephant
suffered for half an hour after the shots of the officer till it finally
died. The Burmese population went to the death elephant and took
the meet and the ivory.
In the end the narrator thinks, weather it was legal to shoot the
elephant and comes to the result that it was, caused by the dead
coolie, legal for him, but he isn’t saying how he personally feels.
1.3.2. Setting
The story is set in a town called Moulmein, which lies anywhere in Burma
(today: Republic of Myanmar). Burma was under British colonization and
received not such a good treatment by the British crown ( Historical
Background).
The town Moulmein seems to be quite poor and is described with
words like “a very poor quarter” or “labyrinth”.
The setting is as well in contrast to the British. We’ve got a Buddhist
religion and we are in a not very industrialized country with antagonism
against the British rule in society.
Police officer gets a call: must elephant
searching the elephant
find out that the elephant killed sombody
asking for a elephant riffle
finds elephant peacefully, doesn't want to shoot
large crowd behind him wants him to shoot
officer shoots the elephant (5 times!)
elephant suffers, officer leaves
elephant died half an hour later, citizens used meat
Page 12
1.3.3. The Characters
Police officer - narrator Burmese population Elephant
Young and without experience
Caught between Burmese and British/Elephant
The British at least better as the once who would replace them
Hate against the Burmese population
Officer = narrator (looking back to its past)
Claims he wants to give up his job
Ill-educated but acts human
Very two-sided character
Acts as if it was one person
Hate against their oppressors and the officer
Blind hate against the elephant, when it killed one of them
Immoral
Like to see blood to have some excitement
Take the meat and ivory from the dead elephant
Force police officer to shoot the elephant
As well ill-educated
Used to be tame, working elephant
Great value to its master
Went must
Shows human traits while he’s dying (is paralyzed, is surprised, looks suddenly old, last cry)
Seems to go over into another world in the end (mystique)
Might resemble the empire (is as well opposed to native population!)
1.3.3.1. The Elephants stages of dying
1.3.4. The Author: George Orwell
George Orwell was born 1903 in British India. He served for the Indian Imperial Police from 1922 till
1927 when he was as well in Burma. While being there he got pretty much the opinion of the
narrator. He got angry with the native population, because it made it difficult for him to do his work
and who used to discriminate him and he developed a hate to the colonizers and he expressed this
with his writing.
So his novels usually tell from failure due to colonization, just like “Shooting an Elephant”. This short
story was one who George Orwell really experienced while he was working for the Indian Imperial
Police in Burma. So the narrator and the police officer is the author George Orwell.
1.3.5. Historical Background
1.3.5.1. Myanmar and Burma
The story is set in Myanmar, which was called Burma in that time. Burma was a colony of the British
Empire, and received no good treatment by the British crown. And as a result of this there was a hate
towards imperialism and the colonizers.
India, which is quite near to Myanmar gained its independence a lot earlier, and was a crown colony
as well. So the Burmese population saw a possibility for a better life under British rule, and fought in
lots of civil wars for their independence. Furthermore they were partly controlled by their neighbors
from India, what lead to ha hate against them.
Firs
t sh
ot terrible
change
elephant alters (old)
bullet paralyzes
Aft
er 5
sec
on
ds sagged on
his knees
slabbered
helpless, suffering
Seco
nd
sh
ot did not
collapse
rises again
still standing
Thir
d s
ho
t cause of death
fell down, large impact
last cry
The
end
last two shots in heart
huge torture
Page 13
And so they get at first a British crown colony and later on an independent country. And as a result of
this they often changed their own name, to celebrate this independence (e.g.in Birma or Myanmar).
1.3.6. Main themes
1.3.6.1. Loneliness
The protagonist of the short story, the police officer is the only one who’s torn in a conflict. He’s in a
“one against one thousand”-situation. He is the only one in the whole city, who doesn’t want to
shoot the elephant. Other persons who might have supported him (like the owner of the elephant or
other officers) aren’t available and so he has to decide if he shoots the elephant or not.
He finally suffers from the group pressure by the Burmese population, so that he kills the elephant.
1.3.6.2. Colonization as a Failure
Just like in other short stories, the colonizers fail with their original purpose. The British colonized
India and Burma to enlighten the country and furthermore to gain influence and respect all over the
world.
In “Shooting an Elephant” the purpose of the colonizers is to increase morality in the Burmese
population, but the Empire is trying this by a police officer who is himself not completely on the side
of the colonizers.
When reflecting that the Elephant resembles the Empire you are supported in the suggestion that
the Empire fails, while acting in the colonies. The Empire ravaged and exploited the Burmese
population while their progress of colonization and now they die in the end, without having achieved
anything.
In this short story George Orwell predicts the failure of the British Empire with colonization!
1.3.7. Links to other short stories
Corruption of the colonizers
An Outpost of Progress
Failure
The Force of Circumst.
The Second Hut
Clash of Cultures
An Outpost of Progress
The Force of Circumst.
Dead Men's Path
A Horse and Two Goats
A Meeting in the Dark
A Pair of Jeans
My Son the Fanatic
Views on natives
An Outpost of Progress
Clash of Cultures
Page 14
1.4. The Second Hut
Doris Lessing
1.4.1. Content
The story begins with an introduction about the protagonist Major
Carruthers. He used to live in England and served for the British army in
the first world-war. After the death of his relatives, they inherited their
house to Major Carruthers brother, so Carruthers had to build up a new
existence. He went with his wife to southern Africa, where they build up
a farm. Due to bad conditions and a bad economy Mrs. Carruthers got ill
and asks her husband to get some help from his brother in England.
Major Carruthers refuses and employs the Afrikaner Van Heerden as an
assistant. It actually is surprising that Van Heerden accepts the job,
because he has to live in an old, dirty and untidy hut and he isn’t earning
much money. Van Heerden did a good job and the Major was very
satisfied with him.
When Major Carruthers finds out that Van Heerden lives with his
women and nine children in the old destroyed hut, he is quite shocked
and he decides to build up “The Second Hut” for Van Heerdens family
even though the native workers at the farm complained about the
terrible treatment against them, caused by Van Heerden.
When the new hut was built up it started burning at night (not sure why)
and the youngest child of Van Heerden died in the night. Surprisingly
Van Heerden wasn’t really sad, because his wife was again pregnant and
the new child could replace the old one.
Shocked by this inhuman attitude Major Carruthers finally decides to
accept the suggestion of his wife and writes to his brother, asking for a
job in England.
1.4.2. Setting
The short story appeared in a short story collection in which all the stories
are set in a fictional area in Zimbabwe. In “The Second Hut” itself, the
setting is only described as “southern Africa”.
The story takes place at a farm in this fictional area. The farm seems to be
rather old and untidy. So, just like Van Heerdens hut not such a nice place
to live. From inside the huts you only know the room of the Majors wife,
where she’s lying in her bed, while having a bit mystique atmosphere all
around.
The outside nature is in contrast to the both huts. It’s always described as rather beautiful and open.
Introduction (Mrs. C is ill, brother as help, Mr. C refuses)
Mr. C employs Van Heerden as assistant
Van Heerden lives with women and nine children in the old hut
native workers complain about Van Heerden
Carruther forces natives to build up a second hut
hut is burned down
Mr. C accepts Mrs. C suggestion, writes his brother
Page 15
1.4.3. The Characters
Major Carruthers Van Heerden
In a conflict between his family and what he wants (his wife can accept the failure, he can’t)
Old military officer
Is a gentleman (question of instinct, important for him)
Treats workers fairly
Helps Van Heerdens family, feels responsible
Moral attitudes
(too) pride of what he has built up
Major Carruther can’t accept his failure
Opposite to Van Heerden
Opposite to his wife
Strong, no fear of spiders or ugly animals
Understands animals
Has nine children and a wife
Children are seen more as object, than as persons
Very poor
Not happy that he has to work for a British person.
Immoral (“Well, one comes and another goes” when one of his children died in the fire)
Opposite to Major Carruthers
1.4.4. The Author: Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing was born in May Tayler which is in Iran (back then: Persia) in 1919 and had two British
parents. Her mother worked as a nurse, her father as a clerk. With six years she moved with her
family to Southern Rhodesia (a colony of the British Empire, today: Zimbabwe) where she grew up.
Her father didn’t come along that well with the circumstances in their new home. He tried with the
rest of the family to build up a farm, but failed to live civilized as usual in Great Britain and he wasn’t
able to achieve that, what he had planned and hoped. So the family was not as rich, as similar ones.
Doris Lessing’s mother didn’t have such strong difficulties to live in Southern Rhodesia. In that time,
she cared for the young Doris and sends her to school for some education.
So you see, that the farm on which the Carruthers family lives is a real place, as well as the plot in
which the father had problems to live like a gentlemen in Zimbabwe, where else the mother acts
rather fictional in the short story.
1.4.5. Historical Background
1.4.5.1. Southern Rhodesia and Colonization
The colonization of southern Africa was started by the Dutch East India Company, which settled 1652
at the Cape of Good Hope. The colonizers were called Boers or Afrikaners. Over 100 years later the
British crown came to the Cape Colony and forced the Dutch to give the colony to the British,
because it had a strategic importance for them. The Boers at first continued living under British rule,
until they abolished slave trade. The Afrikaners, who were frightened to lose their cheap workers,
emigrated to the north and founded “Orange Free State” and “Transvaal”.
The British crown accepted the both states until Gold and Diamonds were found there. Then they put
pressure on the Afrikaners to join the British colonies. When the Boers decided not to do so, the
Anglo-Boer war broke out which the Afrikaners lost in the end, so that they had to give up Orange
Free State and Transvaal to the British colonizers, who renamed the areas to e.g. “Southern
Rhodesia”.
Page 16
This new colony often demanded to be a self-governing country, which the British didn’t allowed
because they didn’t accepted Africans in their government. When a Rhodesian minister decided to
declare the independence the United Nations answered with economic restrictions, so it lasted till
1980 till there were the first free votes in Southern Rhodesia. In the same year the colony became
independent and changed its name into Zimbabwe
1.4.6. Main themes
1.4.6.1. Colonization as a Failure
Just like in all other short stories of the “Colonial Encounters” the colonizers were opposed to some
problems and fail in the end. In this short story it is Major Carruthers who tries to get rich in the
colony and who wants to fulfill his life dream of a great farm.
He finally fails because he has to reject his own principals. He always wants to act like a gentleman
and cares well for his workers. But because he’s doing this, he isn’t really successful. So he rejects his
principals and lets Van Heerden treat his workers badly and even rewards him with building a second
hut (even if his purpose was a different).
1.4.6.2. Loneliness
Major Carruthers is the only character with his opinion. He’s torn in a conflict between himself and
his family and in another conflict between his workers and his moral understandings opposed to Van
Heerden and how he is acting.
The Major suffers from not being sure how to act, and because he had no one who acts like a
gentleman in the colony he fails in the end. This might not have happened, if he would have had
another one who was supporting him.
1.4.7. Links to other short stories
Survival
An Outpost of Progress
Failure
An Outpost of Progress
The Force of Circumst.
Dead Men's Path
Women in the colonies
The Force of Circumst.
Husband and wife
The Force of Circumst.
The Black Madonna
Page 17
2. Cross-Cultural Experiences
2.1. A Horse and Two Goats
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan
2.1.1. Content
The short story “A Horse and Two Goats” by R. K. Narayan is about troubled
communication between languages, misunderstandings and the uprising
problems, when one language develops in two different ways.
The story is set in the small village Kiritam, which is in India. The village is so
small, that it isn’t even really located on local maps. The only special thing in the
city is a cheerful colored statue of a warrior with his rearing horse. The statue is
a quite old one and lost a lot of the original cheerful colors. In this city an
American tourist, of whom we don’t know the name visits on his tour through
India. When he sees the statue he cries out how wonderful he thinks it is.
While that an Indian, called Muni, comes there with his two goats. The
American tourist decides that he wants to buy the statue and so he asks Muni,
whether he can sell it to him. The American starts a dialog with Muni. Because
Muni only speaks Tamil and the American tourist only speaks American English,
there are lots of misunderstanding between them, resulting, that Muni thinks
the American tourist is a police officer, because he wears khaki.
Meanwhile the tourist, repeats his questions about the statue, so he asked for
example when it was made. On this the native Indian answers with the whole
story about Hinduism religion and the reincarnation of the avatar in this statue
as a horse. The tourist came up with the Idea to show Muni some money, what
should makes him thinking, that he really wants to buy the statue. Muni first
wants to lead the tourist to a changing office, because his idea was that he
wants to get some smaller currency notes. But when the American strokes the
backs of his goats (out of politeness) he left him standing there with the goats
and took the money, to realize is life dream, to build up a small shop. He
thought the American wants to buy the goats with the money. The American
waits for Muni to come back, because he would need some help to get the
statue on the pick-up, when the story ends.
2.1.2. Setting
This short story is set in south-east India, in the region where the Tamil
language is spoken. The story is set in a village called Kiritam, which is special
because of the statue which stands in front of the town and is guarding it.
The town is in a dry and infertile region, which doesn’t have a real
significance for India or for the British colonizers. Important is, that the town
is not important. The story could be set anywhere in the area of south-east
India. Narayan probably didn’t want to restrict the message to one little
town, because you can apply it on the whole region.
Intro about small village and statue
tourist sees statue
tourist wants to buy - Muni thinks he's a
officer
tourist asks age of the statue - Muni answers
about Hinduism
tourist shows money - Muni thinks he should
change it
tourist strokes goats - Muni thinks tourist wants to buy them
Muni leaves the tourist standing there
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2.1.3. The Characters
Muni The American tourist
Only speaks Tamil language
Believes in Hinduism and fortune telling mythology
Owns two goats, is rather poor/in a lower caste
Is from India
Respectful, polite and friendly
Lives in the past
Dream to sell the goats and open a little own shop
Classical native (religious, friendly, respectful)
Only speaks English
Not interested in religion (at least not very much), sees statue only as material
Can afford a trip to India, has 100 rupees to pay for the statue, rich
Is from New York, America
Pretends to be polite, but actually acts ignorant (continues speaking English even though Muni can’t understand him.
Classical tourist (sunburned, shorts, wants to buy a souvenir)
2.1.4. The Author: Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan
Narayan was born in India, where he wrote the most novels. He searched a long time for a publisher
in the beginning, even if he became more famous later on. In all his stories he uses simply English and
he never criticizes anything about the Indian social system. Nearly all of his stories are set in India
and the protagonists are mostly men. He had been awarded great literary honors in India and
America. Furthermore he was voted as one of the three best authors of India.
In his first years he grew up in one of the highest castes of the Hindu caste system. In his childhood
he only used to speak Tamil language. His first contact with the English language he made in school,
where the Tamil language was behind the English one only second language and not that accepted by
the British colonizers.
2.1.5. Historical Background
2.1.5.1. Hindu caste system
In Hinduism everyone is sorted in one of 5 cases. Those of the upper cases are allowed to do higher
jobs, those of the lower ones, aren’t even allowed to work e.g. as a trader, only because they were
born in a different case. Furthermore you can only be married to someone in your case. This case
system is represented by the social difference between Muni and the tourist and in the one situation
where Muni isn’t able/allowed to change the money of the officer.
2.1.5.2. Vishnu
A Vishnu is the reincarnations of one of the most important Gods in Hinduism.
He’s the master of past, present and future and is always reborn in form of an
animal, or a human. The future reincarnation of this God is Kalki, who will arrive
in the form of a horse, will guarantee a fair world order.
2.1.5.3. Reincarnation
Reincarnation leads a Hindu to good behavior in your time on earth. Because if you behave well,
you’ll be reborn in a new higher case, if you behave badly, you may be reborn as an animal or in a
lower class. The highest aim of a Hindu is to achieve salvation. This seems to be the reason why Muni
acts respectfully in the story.
Page 19
2.1.5.4. The British in India
The British colonized India years ago. The reasons for the colonization were economical reasons like
resources and cheap workers and financial ones like taxes. This lead to disadvantages for the native
population which are as well in the short story: traditional culture changes to European style, exploit
of the Indian materials und culture.
2.1.6. Main themes
2.1.6.1. Troubled communication
The whole short story is based on this problem, the problem that Muni and the American tourist
don’t have a common language. The American tourist wants to buy the traditional statue, while Muni
is thinking that the tourist wants to buy his goats. Finally these misunderstandings lead to the end,
where both think, that they have achieved their aims, but where actually no one has achieved
anything.
The behavior of the American tourist is very interesting in that situation. Even when he realizes that
Muni doesn’t understand him he continues speaking English and still wants to buy the statue even
though it has a serious religious importance for the town. This behavior is often connected to Wall
Marts behavior in different countries, where they always stick to their behavior in America and
where they didn’t fit their strategies to the usual behavior in the country and fail caused by this.
2.1.6.2. Opposition west/east
In Narayan’s short story we’ve the both characters Muni and the American tourist, who represent
the east and the west and who both act a bit like the eastern stereotypes for a western and an
eastern world would act. The American tourist is ignoring the eastern culture and religion and is only
focused on his own profit and Muni is religious and respectful against the tourist.
2.1.7. Links to other short stories
Clash of cultures
An Outpost of Progress
The Force of Circumst.
Dead Men's Path
A Meeting in the Dark
A Pair of Jeans
My Son the Fanatic
Mysticim vs. materialism
My Son the Fanatic
Clash of cultures
Page 20
2.2. Dead Men’s Path
Chinua Achebe
2.2.1. Content
The story tells from Michael Obi, who is the new head teacher at the
missonary Ndume Central School in Nigeria. He is a very motivated and
dynamic teacher and has lots of progressive ideas for the school. One
of those is to make the schoolyard more beautiful and that for he
created a few flower beds (=Blumenbeete) and tidied up the
schoolyard.
The next day he saw a woman from the town walking straight over the
schoolyard trampling the new flowers. A teacher from the school tells
Obi, that there’s an old path through the schoolyard which is anyhow
important for the citizens of the town. But even though Michael Obi
closes the path, because he thinks it is unusual for citizens to walk over
the schoolyard destroying the flowers.
When the citizens noticed this the religious leader, the Ani, comes to
Michael Obi and tells him politely about the importance of the path for
the native population, but Michael Obi still leaves the path closed,
which is supposed for the spirits of the death and newborn people.
In the next night a young women in the town dies in childbed and the
citizens are convinced that this had happened because the path is
closed and so they went to Ndume Central School and ravage the
schoolyard. They even pull down one school building.
The next day the supervisor comes to write a report about Michael
Obi’s work at the school. When he sees the ravaged school he writes a
bad one about Obi in which he mentioned that the head teacher
ignored the traditional conditions and caused a kind of tribal war
(=Stammeskrieg).
2.2.2. Setting
The story is set in the 1950s in Ndume Central School in Nigeria. Nigeria was
back then under British rule and had several missionary schools just like the
one in the story.
The schoolyard is the most important place in the short story. However it
lies between the town and a shrine on a path on which, after traditional
believe, the spirits of the new-born children arrive and on which the spirits
of the death persons leave. Furthermore is the path the way, on which the
death relatives of the citizens come to visit. So the closing of the path is a serious problem for the
natives and they see this, when the spirit of the new-born child can’t come over the path and the
mother dies in childbed.
Introduction (Obi as head teacher)
Obi wants to make the school more progressive
A woman crosses the schoolyard on a path
Obi closes the path
Ani tells Obi politely about the importance of this path
Obi leaves the path closed
A young women dies in childbed
School gets destroyed
Supervisor comes, bad report for Michael Obi
Page 21
2.2.3. The Characters
Michael Obi The Ani
Young, between 20 and 30 years old
Western education, adopted colonial mindset
His duty: enlighten the Nigerians
Ambitious, self-confident
Arrogant and ignorant
Ruins his own career
Sees traditional believes as “narrow vies”
Michael Obi acts like a colonizer, who is convinced that his opinion is the only right one and who ignores traditional believes.
Village priest
Believes in traditional values
Quiet
Modest
Polite to Michael Obi
Shows tolerance, suggests a compromise
peaceful
The Ani is the opposite of Michael Obi and wants to find a compromise, which is acceptable for both sides.
2.2.4. The Author: Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe was born in south-east Nigeria in 1930 and was member of the Igbo ethnic group
there. His parents taught him to respect the native values even though the western world was a part
of Achebe’s live. His father worked at a missionary school (just like Michael Obi) and so he grew up
under them.
Even though his parents were more torn between two cultures and had seen them more as rivals,
Chinua Achebe always was happy to be able to profit from both. He believed in the traditional values
but went as well to a university and studied English, history and theology. So he didn’t always
criticize the western values like in this short story.
2.2.5. Historical Background
2.2.5.1. Colonization in Nigeria
Nigeria was colonized by the British in the end of the 19th century. Before the British colonizers
profited already from several slave trade stations in Nigeria, until slavery was forbidden in 1807. The
British colonized Nigeria because they had high amounts of palm oil in the Niger delta.
The British brought as well their western education with missionary schools in the country and
“convinced” the south of Nigeria to Christian believes, where else the north remained mostly
Muslim. Furthermore there were other ethnic and religious groups, which triggered tensions
between each other. So there was a civil war, in which Muslims killed thousands of Christians and
other breakouts of violence in the country.
Nigeria gained its independence on the 1st October 1960, even before the brutal civil wars. The short
story is one example of a violent breakout which is resulting from the ignorance of other religious
believes.
2.2.6. Main themes
2.2.6.1. Clash of Cultures
In the Dead Men’s Path we have to cultures clashing against each other. There is Michael Obi with his
western Christian believes, which he probably took up in missionary schools and we’ve the Ani with
the traditional believes of the village. Those cultures clash when Obi closes the “Dead Men’s Path”
which has a serious importance for the villagers.
Page 22
Interesting is that Chinua Achebe isn’t only describing the fact that the both cultures have different
opinions, but he also tries to give some advices for a better behavior and he actually criticizes the
behavior of the colonizers.
He’s rating colonization in this case, when they’re ignoring native values as something bad, because
the colonizers aren’t willing to make compromises but stick to their own believes and see them as
the only right thing.
2.2.6.2. Hybridity and Mimicry
Hybridity means to have a mix of several religions or identities which are together in one individual.
Nigeria has such a mix of identities. Nigeria contains lots of different ethnic groups besides Christians
and Muslims and has itself a hybrid character.
But the protagonist Michael Obi is as well kind of hybrid. He mixes his native identity as a Nigerian
citizen with the western attitudes of the colonizers, even though he gives the western values a higher
priority. You might say he rather imitates the western values and ignores his native origin, this would
be Mimicry instead. Mimicry means exactly this: replacing another culture.
2.2.6.3. Failure of the Colonizers
In the short story the colonizers are represented by Michael Obi. He fails and gets a bad report in the
end because he isn’t taking the tribe and his believes serious and because he is blind for a peaceful
compromise which the Ani is proposing to him.
You may connect this to the usual behavior of the British colonizers in several colonies when they
always try to satisfy their own interest (like getting oil in Nigeria or enlighten a country) without
respecting the traditional values.
2.2.7. Links to other short stories
Clash of Culture
Shooting an Elephant
A Horse and Two Goats
A Meeting in the Dark
A Pair of Jeans
My Son the Fanatic
Hybridity
A Meeting in the Dark
A Pair of Jeans
Failure
An Outpost of Progress
The Force of Circumst.
Clash of cultures
Page 23
2.3. A Meeting in the Dark
Ngugi wa Thiong’o
2.3.1. Content
The story starts in the house of John and his parents Stanley und Susana,
when Stanley tells John what he expects of him (to act like proposed in
religion) and when John thinks that his father found out what he has
done. After John left Stanley talks to his wife who is rather on John’s side
and tells her husband that John seems to be frightened of Stanley.
While this John went to the town where he meets a native woman and
comes into a short dialog with her, which shows how accepted he is in
society and what his plans are.
After this John goes to Wamuhu and wants to talk with her but she isn’t
at home so he comes into a short dialog with the parents but is finally
leaving. Wamuhu and John meet later on in the dark. Before the story
starts, John has impregnated Wamuhu which is a taboo in the native
religion as well as in Christianity and that’s why the young girl wants John
to marry her. She even sets John a deadline to tell his parents about the
marriage. John is thinking why he shouldn’t marry Wamuhu and doesn’t
find a real reason why not, without the single one that he can’t go to
university if the he’d marry her.
After the end of the deadline John and Wamuhu meet again. John doesn’t
want to marry Wamuhu and offers because of this money to Wamuhu, so
that she doesn’t tell that the child is Johns’. Because Wamuhu is rejecting
John’s offer, he gets completely out of mind and finally kills Wamuhu (he
strangles her). And while doing this John kills as well the child he has
created himself.
2.3.2. Setting
The story is probably set in the 1970ies. There isn’t a real sentence
clarifying this, but you may suggest this time when you hear from the
“Mau-Mau-War” which ended in 1963.
John lives in a town called Makeno village, a fictional place in Kenya.
Kenya was a white settler country back then but Makeno village seems
to be a very small town and is rather ugly. The village is overfilled with
houses and it isn’t that important. Wa Thiong’o actually says, that it is
only one of the villages which had grown up everywhere after the Mau-
Mau-war” – so all in all nothing special.
Dialog between John and his father/Stanley and Susana
Meeting of John and the woman
John visits Wamuhu
John and Wamuhu meet in the dark
John is thinking weather he can marry Wamuhu
next meeting: John offers money to Wamuhu
John is out of mind
John has "created and killed"
Page 24
2.3.3. The Characters
Stanley and Susana John Wamuhu
Stanley Traditional, old preacher strict education sinner himself bad opinion about
women, hides emotions
Susana Aware of own guilt Self-confident, brave Frightened of Stanley Used to be beautiful
Stanley and Susana resemble John’s inner conflict!
Young
Wants to go to university
Well-educated, smart
ambitious
Afraid of Stanley
Very polite, respectful
Caught between religion, tradition and western opinions like education and going to university
Broke a taboo
Later: out of mind, crazy
Very pretty, knows how to use her assets
Pregnant
Quite uneducated (in comparison to John)
Self-confident
Pays less attention to money but pays attention on her dignity (=Würde)
Not sure if she loves John or is forced to love him due to tradition
2.3.4. The Author: Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Ngugi wa Thiong’o was born in Kamiriithu, Kenya in 1938. Kenya was under British rule back then. He
was at first part of the largest ethnic group in Kenya but later he became a devout Christian due to
his education in Kenya’s missionary schools. He even had a Christian name back then: James Ngugi.
But after studying at several universities in Africa and the United Kingdom James Ngugi rejected his
Christian believes and even changed his name into Ngugi wa Thiong’o because he saw his original
name as a sign of colonization. He actually was against colonization and once was even set into
prison because he openly criticized the British behavior in Kenya. Furthermore he went into
American exile on voluntary basis where he worked as a professor on several universities.
So the author as well had contact with Christianity and the traditional religion and had to decide
between them. Just like the protagonist John.
2.3.5. Historical Background
2.3.5.1. Kenya’s history – Mau-Mau-war
Kenya was a British colony and the native population got suppressed by the colonizers. And because
of this in the 1950ies a freedom movement rose to fight against the British army to not be instructed
anymore by the colonizers. In this very brutal and bloody fight the resistance was beaten down in
1956 first, but achieved independence for Kenya in 1963. This war between civilians and colonizers is
better known as the Mau-Mau-war.
2.3.5.2. Kenya’s ethnic – Kikuyu
The Kikuyu is the largest ethnic group in Kenya with over
8.000.000 members. They are mainly engaged in agriculture and
are strongly against missionaries and western education. They
are as well represented in economy and politics. In Kikuyu
believe the individual is the least important person, who has to
obey the parents for example.
God
spirits
elders
parents
individual
Page 25
2.3.5.3. Circumcision
Circumcision is quite normal in Kenya and other African countries. They circumcise women, by using
old scissors in a very brutal and inhuman way to achieve a better feeling for the man even though
they hurt the women. Circumcision is as well possible for male persons but it isn’t that usual.
2.3.5.4. Missionary schools
In the opinion of the older native people in Kenya the missionary schools endanger the native culture
and shrank the traditional values because they are heavily influenced by British colonists and
Christian values. So they fear the alienation of the youth (=Entfremdung der Jugend).
2.3.6. Main themes
2.3.6.1. Tradition vs. western values
This short story shows the conflict between tradition and western values very open. John has to
decide whether he wants to stick to the traditional values or if he takes the western values. The
traditional values are represented by Stanley who empowers John a very strict Christian education
and by Wamuhu who is pregnant from John and wants him to marry her.
But John can’t resist the attraction of the western values. He wants to go to university on any way
and isn’t even shrinking back from destroying another ones live. I don’t want to say that John killed
Wamuhu on purpose, but he didn’t want to marry her and that would mean a destruction of her live
as well.
In the end neither the western values nor tradition are represented as being something really good.
Both together lead John in a dilemma out of which he can’t break out and lead him in the end to a
murder. Maybe Ngugi wa Thiong’o wants to tell the reader that he has to find his place anywhere
between both sides.
2.3.7. Links to other short stories
Clash of Cultures
An Otpost of Progress
The Force of Circumst.
Dead Men's Path
A Horse and Two Goats
A Pair of Jeans
My Son the Fanatic
Father-son conflict
My Son the Fanatic
Hybridity
Dead Men's Path
A Pair of Jeans
Religion
My Son the Fanatic
Generation conflict
A Pair of Jeans
My Son the Fanatic
Clash of cultures
Page 26
3. Post-Colonial Consequences
3.1. The Black Madonna
Muriel Spark
3.1.1. Content
The story “The Black Madonna” tells from Lou and Raymond parker and a
mystique statue called the Black Madonna.
When the short story starts the environment where the parkers live is
described very detailed. Even road and house number are mentioned as well
as that they live in the 5th floor.
The actual plot sets in, when Lou Parker invites two black Jamaicans, who
work with Raymond, to her house. Oxford St. John and Henry Price often
step by in the next time and Lou shows the two Jamaicans to all the friends
of her and Raymond, pretending what a good example of integration and
tolerance they are.
However Lou gets annoyed by the presence of Oxford who is too often at
their flat to her taste. So she prays to the new statue in the town church
that Oxford St. John leaves and she is successful. Soon after her prayer
Oxford gets a job offer in another town and leaves.
Convinced from the success of the first time Lou goes a second time to the
Black Madonna. This time she prays for getting pregnant because she wants
a baby.
And again the Black Madonna is successful. Lou gets pregnant and gets a
baby. But Lou and Raymond are very shocked when realizing that their baby
has a black skin color.
After a longer discussion between both of them they decide to give the baby
up and to move to London. They pretend to do this because too much of
their neighbors would suggest that Lou had slept with one of the Jamaicans
(what isn’t true: the baby is black because of distanced relatives of the
Parkers) but in fact they do so because they can’t accept this racial
difference.
3.1.2. Setting
The story is set in a town called Whitney Clay. A city which is partly
catholic and whose population increased in the last few years. Especially
black people out of the different colonies went to Whitney Clay to get an
impression of the colonizers. The setting is furthermore quiet concrete;
we exactly know where they live. It’s even said that our protagonists live
in the 5th floor in flat 22 in Manders Road. In the city it is usual to have
children and the Catholics represent a minority in the town.
introduction (the Parkers flat,...)
Lou invites Oxford and Henry
Lou shows the Jamaicans to all their friends
Lou gets annoyed by Oxford, prays to the Black Madonna
Oxford leaves
Lou prays to the Black Madonna that she wants to get pregnant
she gets pregnant
black baby
Lou and Raymond give it up, move to London
Page 27
3.1.3. The Characters
Lou Parker Raymond Parker
Devout catholic
Well-organized
Good educated (reads books, newspaper…)
Wants to have children
Wants to be in middle-class
Selfish
Cannot accept a black child, even though she’s a bit black herself
Abuses catholic faith to her own benefit
She uses the black persons as a trophy for her played acceptance
Very religious, catholic
Connections to town councils
Inferior to Lou – adopts her opinion (only once he tried to contradict her but gets quickly overruled)
Racist tendencies
Pretty similar to Lou
3.1.4. The Author: Muriel Spark
Muriel Spark was born in 1918 in Edinburgh and had a Jewish father and a Protestant mother. She
started writing early and was very successful with poetry in the schools magazine.
Later she married Sydney Spark, a teacher from Southern Rhodesia, and moved there and lived there
for quite a long time even though the marriage caused a horrible life for the author. Because of this
experiences in Zimbabwe Muriel Spark wrote several poems and short stories in which she deals with
them.
With 40 years she converted to Catholicism (so neither Protestant nor Jewish as her parents) but she
always criticized the narrow views of lot of devout Catholics.
In her life she lived as well in Rome and New York and she was the publisher of several successful
poetry magazines.
3.1.5. Historical Background
3.1.5.1. The Black Madonna
The Black Madonna comes from religious believers and describes
pictures and statues of the holy Maria where she always has a black
face (or is completely black colored).
Because those statues used to be quite seldom there was a huge
admiration of those Madonna pictures and the religious community
awarded them with special abilities.
The most importance gains the Black Madonna for sure in the Marian
devotion (=Marienverehrung) and in Christianity.
3.1.5.2. Racism in England
Even in the 1980s and the 1980s there was an “anti-black-attitude” in England. For sure not any more
that hard that it wasn’t allowed for other-colored people to drive in the same bus (like in the United
States) but that far that some separate extremist groups even burn down a Mosque in Greenwich
and that the newspaper don’t write a report about this because racism is “nothing new”.
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Other events were the murder of the child of a Muslim woman, Molotov cocktails in Islamic flats and
the killing of a foreign Taxi driver (comparable to the subway murders in Germany!) – so racism was
still a topic back then in England.
Alone in 1986 there were 70000 cases of racist motivated violence in England and that’s a very big
number.
3.1.6. Main themes
3.1.6.1. Racism
In the beginning Lou and Raymond always pretend to be devout and good Catholics and they seem to
accept the two Jamaicans. But actually the two use the foreign workers to show their friends and
relatives how friendly and progressive they’re concerning narrow racist views. You realize this when
Lou gets annoyed by one of them and wants to get rid of him because he has served his purpose (=er
hat seinen Zweck erfüllt).
So the acceptance is only played and pretended and not real! This is directly shown in the end when
the two get the baby and are completely shocked and discuss for quite a while.
You see that Muriel Spark criticizes the behavior of Lou and Raymond towards Oxford St. John and
Henry Price in the short story and shows this with the higher power of the Black Madonna who is
shocking the couple with a black baby and with the aversion you feel against Lou (and maybe as well
Raymond) when you read the short story.
3.1.7. Links to other short stories
Husband and Wife
The Force of Circumst.
The Second Hut
A Pair of Jeans
Immigration
Good Advice is Rarer than
Rubies
Page 29
3.2. Good Advice is Rarer than Rubies
Salman Rushdie
3.2.1. Content
The short story “Good Advice is Rarer than Rubies” by Salman Rushdie
starts in front of the British Consulate in Pakistan, when Miss Rehanna, a
Pakistani women, arrives there because she needs to get a permit for her
immigration to Great Britain to live with her fiancé she hadn’t seen for
years.
Miss Rehanna gets out of the bus and meets the cheater Ali who is always
in front of the Consulate, selling illegal passports or answers for
immigration tests to the Tuesday women. Ali is telling Miss Rehanna that
he wants to give her an advice how to pass the test. Ali is even so
overwhelmed be the beautiful lady that he offers his advices for free.
But when he offers the wrong passports to Miss Rehanna she gets angry
and rejects the purpose telling Ali that she doesn’t want his illegal help. So
she goes into the consulate, while Ali is screaming after her that she’s
going to fail when she isn’t taking his tips.
Miss Rehanna, unimpressed from the screaming Ali, wents in the
consulate and talks to its members. After a while she comes out with a
smile that makes Ali think that she really got the permit without his help.
Miss Rehanna even invites him to eat something with her. While eating
Miss Rehanna tells him she didn’t get a permit and that she isn’t sad
about it. She actually doesn’t want to live with her fiancé whom she
hadn’t seen for such a long time.
When she leaves Ali she even has the happiest smile he has ever seen in
his live, so she really isn’t disappointed.
3.2.2. Setting
The story is set anywhere in Pakistan, the village is not clarified.
Probably Rushdie wanted to show, that the location isn’t important,
because this attitudes are kind of normal in whole Pakistan.
The only things we know from the town is that it is quite poor and that
it’s build of old and shabby houses, then there’s the bus stop and the
British consulate which is guarded by British soldiers. The British
consulate is shown as a contrast to the town in the beginning because
it shows the western lifestyle as something good and desirable
(=erstrebenswert), especially because the Tuesday women come there every week.
Miss Rehanna and the bus
Miss Rehanna meets Ali: offer of Ali
"Good advice is rarer than rubies"
Miss Rehanna hadn't to pay anything
hint of Ali
Miss Rehanna gets angry, rejects
Miss Rehanna didn't get a permit
She talks to Ali, reconcilation
Page 30
3.2.3. The Characters
Miss Rehanna Ali
Beautiful, knows how to use her female charms
Clever
Poor
self-confident,
becomes very angry
engaged to her fiancé in Great Britain
needs to get a permit
independent from Islamic rules
cares for the children in the end instead of going to her fiancé
It isn’t possible to stereotype Miss Rehanna, she has western (uses female charms) and eastern elements (cares for the children) and resembles anyhow both sides
poor, bagger
cheater (tries to earn money by this)
abuses the Tuesday Women
clever
overwhelmed and bewildered by Miss Rehanna
3.2.4. The Author: Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie was born in June 1947 in Mumbai and grew up there under a modern and not that
religious education. With only 14 he moved with his family to England and he later studied at
Cambridge University in the United States. In England he as well went to a theatre where he
performed several plays.
His first novel published Salman Rushdie with 28 years, it was called Grimus. Rushdie often deals with
religion and religious problems in his novels, as well as he deals with colonization and problems
which lasted till today (just like forced marriage).
Salman Rushdie got serious problems with his fourth novel called “The Satanic Verses” in which he
anyhow insulted Muslim believes that far, that some religious leaders sentenced him to death.
Caused by this event he lived for 9 and a half years under police protection and wasn’t able to rest
anywhere longer than a night.
3.2.5. Historical Background
3.2.5.1. Pakistan’s colonial past
India and Pakistan were both British colonies. When India gained its independence it became a
completely Hindu country. The Muslims in India mostly emigrated to Pakistan and the Hindus in
Pakistan had to emigrate to India.
Later Pakistan was divided into West and East Pakistan and this lead to tensions between the both
areas. East Pakistan fought because of this a war against the other area and declared its
independence in 1971 and is today known as Bangladesh.
So Pakistan had several conflicts with India on the one hand (that’s one reason why there’s still
hatred between the both countries) and had problems dealing with religious freedom over the years
(which is officially guaranteed in Pakistan!).
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3.2.5.2. Arranged marriage/Arranged engagements
In Pakistan it is still today often usual to arrange marriages. Those marriages or engagements are
often organized by the parents of the married ones and their decision is most of the time made
because of educational or financial reasons and seldom because the promised ones love each other.
There are usually two forms of arranged marriages. The semi-arranged marriage, where bride and
bridegroom can decide in the end, whether they want to marry or not and the completely arranged
marriage, where they really have to marry without any own decision.
Islam and the Pakistan government don’t officially allow arranged engagements and so they usually
are set “behind the scenes” and today the love marriage starts to establish in Pakistani society.
3.2.6. Main themes
3.2.6.1. Advices
An advice is an opinion which someone offers you about what you should do or how you should act
in a particular situation. This short story deals with advices and that you have to reflect which advices
you should take and which rather not.
Ali claims to have an advice for Miss Rehanna even though it isn’t really his opinion what he’s saying.
So you may ask yourself the question whether Ali really wants to help Miss Rehanna or not.
3.2.6.2. Stereotypes
Salman Rushdie makes it difficult to apply stereotypes to the characters of the short story. Miss
Rehanna seems to be the beautiful women who bewitches the men and is independent from Islamic
rules but on the other hand she is engaged to her fiancé in Great Britain, cares for the children whose
nanny she is and becomes very angry in the situation when she rejects Ali’s purpose. A few character
traits you wouldn’t expect from her after having read the beginning.
And the same thing happens with Ali. He appears as the cheater who fools the Tuesday women and
makes his money with this and suddenly he offers his “services” for free and is beginning to take care
for Miss Rehanna (so he is afraid, that she won’t get the permit without is help). Quite surprising that
someone who used to cheat women starts to help one he doesn’t even knows.
3.2.7. Links to other short stories
Immigration
The Black Madonna
Page 32
3.3. A Pair of Jeans
Quaisra Shahraz
3.3.1. Content
The short story begins when Miriam is coming home later than planned from
a trip with her friends. She’s dressed in a western way, with a tight pair of
jeans and a shirt showing her midriff. When she arrives at home she meets
her future parents-in-law who are anyhow shocked by her appearance, just
like Miriam’s mother (Fatima) who opens the door.
When they all went in, Miriam hurried up the stairs to her room where she
quickly changed her clothes to the traditional Muslim outfit. But Ayub and
Begum (her future parents-in-law) were still disturbed by her earlier dressing
and leave very soon with a lousy excuse.
When they’re at home Ayub and Begum discuss about what to do now with
Miriam’s inappropriate dressing. Begum likes Miriam and didn’t want to
cancel the marriage, but she is suppressed by her husband and has to talk to
Fatima, telling her that the marriage is cancelled. She is satisfying this with a
white lie. She’s telling the shocked mother that Farook was promised to the
daughter of Begums sister and can’t marry Miriam because of this. Fatima
explains this to her daughter who quickly realizes the lie.
Now the story is divided into two endings.
3.3.1.1. First Ending
In the first ending Miriam gets angry and throws away her western clothes
and can’t understand why Farook is leaving her because of this (even though
it actually wasn’t Farook’s decision).
3.3.1.2. Second Ending
In the second ending Miriam takes her western clothes back on and calls
Farook because she wants to discuss with him what he’s thinking. So she is
more self-confident in this ending.
3.3.2. Setting
The story is probably set in Northern Britain in a town with a larger
Pakistani community. The quarter in which the story is set seems to be
rather poor, but you actually don’t really get detailed information
where in Britain the story is set. The town has to be rather big, because
of the large Pakistani community.
The action takes place in the two houses of the Pakistani families about
which we as well know not really much. The only thing we realize is
that Miriam’s room is upstairs from the living room.
Shahraz intention to leave the location that open might be, that the story could be set anywhere in
Great Britain, because such things simply could happen everywhere.
Miriam is hurrying home: meets parents-in-law
Fatima opens the door →shocked
Miriam changes, Ayub and Begum leave
Discussion between Ayub and Begum
phone call: white lie (Begums sisters daughter)
1st ending: Miriam gets angry and kicks her clothes
2nd ending: M. takes her "dirty" clothes back on
2nd ending: M. calls Farook and discusses with him
Page 33
3.3.3. The Characters
Fatima Miriam Farook Ayub Begum
mother of Miriam
good friend of Begum
anxious about the marriage
helps her daughter although she breaks the “islamic tradition”
tries to bridge the gap between tradition and western values
daughter of Fatima
Muslim
wants to marry Farook
very integrated in the western world
adapts values of both worlds
studies in Britain
beautiful
self-conscious
obedient
respectful
embarrassed
son of Begum and Ayub
Miriams future husband
he shares the same hobbies
he doesn`t know anything about what happened
husband of Begum
Miriams future dad in law
strong ties with islamic tradition
dominance over Begum
good friend of Fatima
loves Miriam like her own daughter
has an own opinion
obedient
dissatisfied
3.3.4. The Author: Quaisra Shahraz
Quaisra Shahraz was born 1958 in Pakistan as the daughter of two Pakistani parents. She grew up her
first nine years in Pakistan till the family moved to Manchester in England (where she still lives
today).
So you see that Quaisra Shahraz got influences from both cultures and you may even suggest that the
short story is set in Manchester where she’s living. Furthermore she had always been an active
member of the Pakistani community in the United Kingdom and tried always to combine her home
country and its traditions with the new country.
In her novels and other stories she mainly dealt with two problems. On the one hand the problems of
the Pakistani community in England and on the other hand the suppression of women in their rights
(so she fought against gender roles or arranged marriages and engagements). With both topics she
deals as well in “A Pair of Jeans”.
3.3.5. Historical Background
3.3.5.1. The Pakistani community in England
The Pakistani community is a minority in England and counts about 1.3% of the English population.
They mostly immigrated in England when the British crown has colonized India and Pakistan and
forced the huge displacement of people due to India’s independence (see as well: 3.2.5.1. Pakistan’s
colonial past). The next wave arrived when the war between East and West Pakistan broke out.
Over 90% of the Pakistani community believes in Islam and is quite religious and furthermore a big
part is very aware of the honor of their families (which sometimes even leads to honor killings or
violence against women or men – last years: 3000 cases (even though they were not only committed
by the Pakistanis)).
In the short story we only have Pakistani characters. And when we take a look at characters like Ayub
we see as well that he’s Muslim and that he’s aware of the honor of his family.
Page 34
3.3.5.2. Arranged marriage/arranged engagement
Arranged marriages are as well a topic today in England. The English officials suggest that in more
than the half of the cases of forced marriage Pakistanis are involved. Furthermore they say that
about 90% of the forced women are Muslims.
The marriage between Farook and Miriam seems to be an arranged one, but it isn’t a problem for
Miriam and neither for Farook, because they actually love each other.
3.3.6. Main themes
3.3.6.1. Gender roles
The gender roles and the suppression of women are shown by Farook’s parents Ayub and Begum in
their discussion about whether the young couple can marry or not. Begum actually still wants the
marriage but she is overruled by her husband.
Furthermore he blames his wife that the arrangement was her fault and he forces her to call Fatima
to cancel the marriage even though such actions are usually done by both parents.
So all in all Begum has an own opinion, but she isn’t allowed to make it public and is suppressed.
3.3.6.2. Clash of cultures
Just like in several other short stories we’ve here two cultures clashing. There’s on the one side the
Western free and liberate lifestyle which is here represented by the attractive and short clothes
Miriam wears in the beginning of the short story and on the other side we’ve the Islamic traditional
clothes Miriam wears after she went in the house.
So we see that Miriam and her mother used to accept both cultures and as well tried to profit from
both whereas especially Ayub is focused on the traditional outfit and rejects the new Western
culture and furthermore isn’t accepting that others will live in that way.
3.3.7. Links to other short stories
Women
The Force of Circumst.
The Second Hut
The Black Madonna
Good Advice is Rarer than
Rubies
Hybridity
Dead Men's Path
A Meeting in the Dark
Clash of Cultures
An Outpost of Progress
The Force of Circumst.
Dead Men's Path
A Horse and Two Goats
A Meeting in the Dark
My Son the Fanatic
Clash of cultures
Page 35
3.4. My Son the Fanatic
Hanif Kureishi
3.4.1. Content
The story tells from Parvez a Pakistani Taxi Driver in Northern England and
his son Ali. Parvez used to care very much for his only son and was
because of this very shocked when Ali changed his behavior. He left his
girlfriend, distanced himself from his other friends and gave away most of
the things which were in his room.
The shocked Parvez is talking after this with his taxi driver colleagues who
suggest that the young Ali is taking drugs. Parvez is convinced from this
idea and talks as well to Bettina, a prostitute and friend of him, who
describes him the usual signs of drugs.
Parvez supervises his son and realizes that he actually isn’t taking drugs
but that he is a religious fanatic. The father wants to talk to his son and
goes out for a dinner with him. While eating, Ali accuses Parvez’s western
lifestyle and openly criticizes his behavior. The discussion escalates and
Parvez is drinking too much alcohol to play down his anger.
After this Parvez talks another time to Bettina who tries to support him
and who even talks to the fanatic in the taxi. But when Ali insults her for
her work as a prostitute she goes out of the taxi and leaves Parvez and Ali
alone.
When they arrive at home Parvez is really angry about his son’s behavior,
especially because he had made bad experiences with religion and he hits
his face. Ali, probably shocked by this, answers with the simple question
“Who’s the fanatic now?” when the story ends.
3.4.2. Setting
The story is set in a not specified town in Great Britain. You can suggest
that it is a rather big town, when hearing from traffic jams and the taxi
drivers. The story isn’t related to the colonization times but seems to take
place in the 1980s or the 1990s, so rather in our time (arguments are
again: traffic jam, lots of taxis).
The next important part of the setting is Ali’s room which dramatically
changes from a teenager’s room with television, video games, books and
cricket bats in a very tidy and ordered room with a surprising emptiness.
In the social environment of the Protagonist we’ve the taxi drivers, the prostitutes and Parvez’s wife,
who is just like in other short stories suppressed by him.
Parvez in Alis clean room
Parvez afraid: talks to his collegues (drug theory)
no drugs but praying
dinner with Ali
Parvez talks to Bettina "I've lost my son"
Bettina meets Ali
Parvez and Ali drove home and went up
Parvez hits Ali's face
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3.4.3. The Characters
Ali Parvez Bettina
son of Parvez
second generation immigrant
broke his education as an accouter
left his girlfriend
cleaned out his room
left all his friends
religious fanatic, devout
acts like Parvez’s father (tells him what is right and wrong)
first generation immigrant from Punjabi (Pakistan)
taxi driver
proud of his son
not religious since his religious education
adopted western values, unable to accept religious fanaticism
alcoholic and violent (in the end)
superior to his women
prostitute
good friend of Parvez (for years)
beautiful
not religious and no understanding for religious fanaticism
knows a lot about “underground phenomena” (drugs,…)
nice, friendly
understanding
3.4.4. The Author: Hanif Kureishi
Hanif Kureishi was born 1954 in Great Britain. He had a Pakistani father and a British mother. So he
used to grow up under two cultures and that’s one of the topics he often deals with in his plenty
works.
Kureishi wanted to be a writer since his childhood but started publishing his first works when Salman
Rushdie was sentenced to death by religious fanatics (see also 3.2.4. The Author: Salman Rushdie).
Shocked by this outbreak of violence in the Muslim world, Hanif Kureishi often criticizes fanatic
behavior and made it to one of his central themes in lots of his plays and novels.
The author received several prices for his works and was even once nominated for the Oscars for the
best screenplay with the film “My Beautiful Launderette”.
3.4.5. Historical Background
3.4.5.1. The Pakistan community in Great Britain
The Pakistanis are a minority in Great Britain. They immigrated after Indians declaration of
independence (see 3.3.5.1.). In Northern Britain they often form separated groups with own quarters
in which they often have separate shops and markets. Furthermore it’s interesting that every 6th
Pakistani men in Great Britain is working as a taxi driver.
Today the Pakistan community changes in that far that she begins to demand full integration instead
of creating a separate group. But even though there are still some radical and fanatic groups working
in an international network to terrorize the country.
The relation to the short story is that the story is set in a Pakistani community and that furthermore
Parvez is a taxi driver. The religious fanatic is Ali, who rejects the western lifestyle and isn’t accepting
that his father has another opinion.
Page 37
3.4.6. Main themes
3.4.6.1. Generation gap
A Generation gap describes differences in understandings and ratings of certain phenomena
between members of two generations.
In “My Son the Fanatic” we have this difference between Parvez (a first generation immigrant) and
his son Ali (second generation immigrant). Parvez probably immigrated to England because he saw
the Western lifestyle as something progressive and desirable. Parvez dislikes religious education
because he had bad experiences while he was educated.
Ali is a second generation immigrant and suddenly changed to religious fanaticism without that the
reader knows from a certain occasion which leads to this.
3.4.6.2. Religious fanaticism
In the short story there’s Ali who has changed into a religious fanatic and claims that his opinion is
the only right one. Religious fanaticism often leads to violent breakouts and so it’s quite surprising
that in the short story the non-fanatic immigrant hits his son instead of Ali.
But even though you feel, when you read the short story, rather sympathy for Parvez and not for Ali
that far. So Hanif Kureishi rates religious fanaticism as well as something bad and wants to convince
you to get the same opinion.
And anyhow religious fanaticism leads as well in this short story to a violent breakout, even though it
is one from the other side, it isn’t rated as being something good.
3.4.7. Links to other short stories
Religion
A Meeting in the Dark
Mysticism vs. Materialism
A Horse and Two Goats
Hybridity
Dead Men's Path
A Meeting in the Dark
A Pair of Jeans
Clash of Cultures
The Force of Circumst.
Dead Men's Path
A Horse and Two Goats
A Meeting in the Dark
A Pair of Jeans
Generation gap
A Pair of Jeans
A Meeting in the Dark
Page 38
II. Closing Remarks of the Author
So auf 10 Seiten weniger als in Mathe wäre jetzt auch der erste Teil fürs Englisch Abitur zusammengefasst: die Short Stories und pro Short Story jeweils drei Seiten mit (hoffentlich) allen wichtigen Informationen dazu. Ich weise wie immer in Englisch darauf hin, dass Englisch nicht gerade mein Lieblingsfach ist und dass sich mit Sicherheit einige Fehler eingeschlichen haben. Von daher schreibt mir gerne eine Mail, wenn sich ein Fehler so häuft dass es nervt, weil dann hilft mir das mit Sicherheit auch in meinem Abitur Wie immer bei Fragen/Fehlern/eigenen Zusammenfassungen und was auch immer sonst dürft ihr mir gern eine Mail schreiben ([email protected]). Ich werde als nächstes fürs Abitur die Physik-Zusammenfassung schreiben und vielleicht kommt auch noch Deutsch vor dem Abi, da bin ich mir allerdings noch nicht so sicher – mal schauen. In dem Sinne wünsche ich allen, die ich nicht mehr vor dem Abitur sehe viel Erfolg beim Abitur und viel Erfolg in eurem weiteren (Berufs-)Leben. Mit freundlichem Gruß,