An Interpretation Of A Grain Of Wheat From A Postcolonial Perspective

Ngugi wa Thiong'o is one of the most influential African post-colonial writers today.He is famous for his creation of English novels and is considered to be the most likely African writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.His novel "A Grain of Wheat" is of great research value.This paper has studied Ngugi's masterpiece “A Grain of Wheat” in the perspective of post-colonialism.Based on Homi Baba's postcolonial theory-simulation theory,identity theory,and "mixedness" theory,this paper discusses the behavioral alienation,psychological alienation and cultural alienation occurred in the colonies.Firstly,the "simulation" theory is used to analyze the "simulation" strategy of the British colonialist Thompson's cultural assimilation and discipline for the locals of the Gishma,and the influence of the colonial culture on the Kayuga of the British whites.The "simulation" behavior reveals the alienation of the behavior of colonists.Secondly,using Homi Baba's identity theory to explore the identity issues of the main characters Kayuga,Thompson and Mary Ji in "A Grain of Wheat",revealing the influence of the cultural conflict,the recipients and the colonists Psychological alienation.Thirdly,on the basis of Baba's "mixedness" theory,it explores the hybrid nature of " A Grain of Wheat " and thus discusses the cultural alienation that took place in the colony.Finally,from passive alienation to active resistance,Ngugi created "A Grain of Wheat" to subvert the Western colonial discourse and complete the resistance to alienation.