Illustrate the Influence of Post-Colonialism on Edward Said

Answer

Explain and illustrate the influence of post-colonialism on Edward Said.

Edward Said (1935-2003) was one of the key figures in postcolonial studies. His books, “Orientalism” (1978) and “Culture and Imperialism” (1993) deeply influenced how we understand colonialism’s effects on culture and identity. Said’s ideas focused on how Western views often misrepresented colonized cultures. They indicate the lasting impact of colonization on societies and literature.

Challenging Western Narratives: Post-colonialism influenced Said’s drive to challenge and deconstruct dominant Western narratives. Said’s seminal work, “Orientalism,” critiques how the West constructed a distorted image of the East. the West also portrayed it as exotic, backward, and inferior. In “Culture and Imperialism,” he expands on this by exploring how European literature served as a tool to perpetuate colonial ideologies. Said remarks,

Without empire … there is no European novel as we know it.

This line demonstrates how post-colonialism shaped the deep entanglement between culture and imperial power.

Contrapuntal Reading and Analysis: The concept of contrapuntal reading is central to Said’s methodology. It is rooted in post-colonial theory. Contrapuntal reading involves examining a text from multiple perspectives. This also includes considering both the colonizer’s viewpoint and the voice of the colonized. Said uses this approach to analyze works like Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” and Austen’s “Mansfield Park.” He points out that these texts, while central to Western culture, contain narratives that subtly reinforce imperial dominance. For instance, he writes, 

The novel, as a cultural artefact of bourgeois society, and imperialism are unthinkable without each other. (Chapter 2, Part 1). 

His insistence on reading these works through the lens of both power and resistance demonstrates post-colonialism’s influence.

Emphasis on Hybridity: Hybridity is a key concept in post-colonial theory. It  plays a significant role in Said’s analysis. Post-colonialism highlights how cultures are never pure but are instead shaped by historical borrowings and exchanges. Said builds on this idea by asserting that 

The history of all cultures is the history of cultural borrowings. (Chapter 3, Part 2). 

He argues that even the cultures of colonizers are influenced by the cultures they sought to dominate. This  leads to a hybrid identity that defies simple binaries like “East vs. West” or “colonizer vs. colonized.”

Resistance and Oppositional Cultures: Post-colonial theory heavily influenced Said’s focus on resistance and the voices of the colonized. In “Culture and Imperialism,” Said dedicates an entire chapter to resistance literature. He examines how writers from colonized regions pushed back against the narratives imposed on them by imperial powers. He highlights how the works of figures like W.B. Yeats reflect a desire to reclaim cultural identity and resist imperial domination. He remarks that 

Imperialism, after all, is an act of geographical violence. (Chapter 3, Part 3).

Critique of Nationalism and Nativism: Said’s critique of nationalism and nativism also reflects post-colonial concerns. Post-colonialism warns against the dangers of rigid national identities that exclude others. Said is influenced by this idea. He argues that nationalism can become increasingly constraining. Here is a quotation to support the idea.

Nationality, nationalism, nativism: the progression is, I believe, more and more constraining.

This perspective shows how postcolonial thought shaped Said’s vision of a world in which cultures engage in dialogue rather than domination.

In short, Edward Said’s work was deeply shaped by post-colonialism. Through his use of contrapuntal analysis, and critique of nationalism, Said illustrates how post-colonialism influenced his analysis of culture and imperialism. His work offers a nuanced understanding of the enduring impact of colonialism on both the colonized and the colonizers. It also highlights the complex interplay of power, identity, and culture.