Why Does Edward Said Call his ‘Culture and Imperialism’ an Exile’s Book
Introduction to Culture and Imperialism is a notable literary work by Edward Said. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Introduction to Culture and Imperialism.
Answer
Why does Edward Said call his ‘Culture and Imperialism’ an exile’s book?
Edward Said (1935-2003) is recognized for his pioneering work in postcolonial studies, mainly through books like “Orientalism” and “Culture and Imperialism” (1993). Said was himself a Palestinian exile. He described Culture and Imperialism as “an exile’s book.” This description reflects his personal experiences and the broader themes of displacement, loss, and the search for identity.
The Perspective of an Outsider: Said’s experience as an exile influenced his perspective as a scholar. Living away from his homeland, he developed a keen awareness of the feelings of displacement and alienation experienced by those affected by imperialism. This sense of exile allowed him to approach Western cultural works critically. Said’s contrapuntal analysis—where multiple perspectives are considered simultaneously—reflects this dual awareness. He writes,
Past and present inform each other; each implies the other. (Chapter 1, Part 1).
This line illustrates how his position as an outsider allowed him to see the connections between different histories.
Resistance Against Imperial Narratives: Said’s position as an exile fueled his determination to challenge dominant imperial narratives. He was critical of how Western literature often portrayed colonized peoples as inferior or uncivilized. By calling “Culture and Imperialism” an exile’s book, he acknowledges that it was written from the perspective of someone who questions and resists these narratives.
Emphasis on Displacement and Hybridity: Said was particularly attuned to themes of displacement and cultural hybridity as an exile. He argues that borrowings and exchanges shape all cultures. Said’s emphasis on the hybridity of cultures is rooted in his own experience of being caught between different worlds. He states,
The history of all cultures is the history of cultural borrowings. (Chapter 3, Part 2).
In short, “Culture and Imperialism” is aptly described as an exile’s book. It reflects his personal experience of displacement and his critical examination of imperialism’s cultural impacts.