How do authors depict sexual exploitation and slavery in postcolonial and transnational contexts?
Sexual exploitation and slavery are common themes that appear in literature from different periods and cultures. Postcolonial and transnational literatures have their own unique ways of depicting these issues, which can be explored through a close reading of some representative texts.
In postcolonial literature, sexual exploitation is often used to illustrate the power dynamics between colonizers and colonized people. In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, for example, colonialism leads to the abuse of women and the degradation of their culture. The white missionary Mr. Brown forces himself on the young local woman Nwanyereuwa and then takes her away from her family when she becomes pregnant. This act symbolizes the way that colonialism destroys traditional African values and turns people into objects for the sake of profit.
Transnational literature also explores sexual exploitation, but often focuses on how it affects migrants and refugees. In Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake, Ashoke is caught up in a sexual relationship with a woman who manipulates him financially. She uses his vulnerability as an immigrant in America to control him and take advantage of him emotionally and financially. This theme reflects the challenges faced by many immigrants who may not fully understand American customs or laws.
Slavery is another recurring theme in both postcolonial and transnational literatures. It is often used to explore historical oppression and its legacy in contemporary society. In Toni Morrison's Beloved, Sethe was once enslaved and escaped to Ohio, where she now lives with her children.
She is haunted by the memories of her past life and must confront the trauma she endured while enslaved. Her story reveals the long-term effects of slavery on individuals and communities.
In postcolonial literature, slavery can be seen as a continuation of colonialism. In Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, characters are forced into labor without pay due to their caste status. They are treated as property and have no say in their own lives. This depiction shows how social hierarchies created by colonialism continue to shape Indian society even after independence.
Transnational literature addresses modern forms of slavery such as human trafficking. In Valeria Luiselli's Lost Children Archive, a family travels through Mexico looking for a young girl who has been abducted from her home country. They encounter other migrants along the way, some of whom were victims of sex trafficking. This theme highlights the vulnerability of people who are displaced and at risk of exploitation.
Authors use sexual exploitation and slavery to explore power dynamics and the consequences of oppressive systems. By examining these themes in postcolonial and transnational contexts, writers shed light on the ways that history continues to impact our world today.
How do authors depict sexual exploitation and slavery in postcolonial and transnational contexts?
The authors present a complex picture of sexual exploitation and slavery in postcolonial and transnational contexts. Some portray it as an issue that has been prevalent throughout history, with one example being the African slave trade that took place between the 16th and 19th centuries when Europeans transported millions of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to serve as slaves on plantations in America and elsewhere.