This essay focuses on the cultural, social, political, and historical contexts from three classic books: Equiano’s “Journey into Slavery”, Staples’ “Black Men and Public Space,” and Satrapi’s “The Veil”. It discusses the themes of racial and ethnic identity in memoir as cultural, social, and historical context.
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Literary analysis1 Introduction: This thesis focuses on the cultural, social, political, and historical contexts from three classic books. That is Equiano’s “Journey into Slavery”, Staples’ “Black Men and Public Space,” and Satrapi’s “The Veil”. These books central theme is racial and ethnic identity. In this essay, we are going to discuss in details based on memoir as cultural, social and historical context. Part A: The story “Journey into slavery” written by Olaudah Equiano this is a narrative story about his life. The story started with the year 1745, in the kingdom ofEboe, Eastern Nigeria, Equiano was born. He was eleven years old when he was kidnapped by two men and sold to white people(Equiano, 2002).In addition, he was sold many times during this time. The culture at that period indicated slavery as black skinned men were considered as slaves and they were sold forcefully and were tortured and abused by the white men. Equiano also fought for anti-slavery in the white country after his freedom from slavery. This book also historicizes Equiano as a subject of desire at a particular moment in the history from British imperialism to circum-Atlantic movement. The short essay written by Staples “Black Men and Public Space” is a stereotypical misconception of race. People judge other people by appearance and treat them differently (Staples', 1986). Staples show how racism affectsblack men in spite of achieving everything in the in life.Staples use rhetorical devices to geton the same side as thereader while still managing to get his point. He narrates his own story of how a woman reacted to his appearance and reacted towards him. He also uses rhetorical devices, pathos, ethos and logos to provide the readers the experience of the black men in the society facing racism. The
Literary analysis2 author also accomplishes his goal of making his viewers recognize the society culture, racial stereotype and discrimination. Satrapi’s “Persepolis the veil” is a graphic novel. This book opens at the time when the implementation of government policy of wearing the veil was must. In this, the political level captures the representation of Islamic republic. For Marjane, the woman protagonist has to fight for her desires, freedom and self-expression(Satrapi, 2000).Marjane explains the difference between Iran and her own pre and post revolution in 1979. Co-education and foreign influences were not allowed and was considered against the Islamic religion. From the start of the memoir, Marjane expresses about her family beliefs is religious where wearing a veil is compatible whereas the government is opposite to what the family believe. She imagines of making this world better but she fails. Marjane illustrate and wants to implement a different version of religiosity that treats people equally and accepts women as equal as men. Part B: The story by Equiano is a self-narration, autobiography. In the book the story is told in a epistolary form (narration through letters) the narration begins with original letters about Equiano speaking to his characters. Once the memoir begins, he uses the third person perspective with contrast to first person in the letters. He narrates the travel journey and slavery that is said as travel narrative and slave narrative in the book. In his travel narrative is describes about the various cultures during his travel journey. In slave narrative, Equiano used second person to engage the readers. He appeals the readers by describing the autobiography with the horrific abuse against slaves(Equiano, 2002). Black men and public space by Brent staples is an autobiography where he is dealing with racism issues and discrimination in United States. Staples use metaphor to describe the
Literary analysis3 confusing and painful effect which he experienced by his own perception. Using an auditory image, he highlights the fact that he discovers the reality of prejudgment when the woman was trying to escape him without any deceptive reasons. Staples further uses, metaphor describing the distance between black and white people. In the end, the author takes unnecessary efforts to make his presence in the street less conspicuous for the white people (Staples', 1986). The veil by satrapi is a “drawing style” or a graphic novel. Satrapi illustrate the image of Iran as a black and white country and the strict rules and regulations in the country. She uses the collocation of words and images for dramatic effects(Satrapi, 2000). Conclusion: This essay concludes that Equiano’s “Journey into Slavery”, Staples’ “Black Men and Public Space,” and Satrapi’s “The Veil” they are all based on racism and ethnic issues faced by the protagonists. These are all autobiographical stories fighting their own war against slavery, racism, and women liberation in a country. References: Equiano, O. (2002).The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano.Canada: Broadview Press. Satrapi, M. (2000). The Veil. InPersepolis(pp. 276-278). Pantheon Books. Staples', B. (1986, december).Harper's magazine.Retrieved december 20, 2018, from Black men and public space: https://harpers.org/archive/1986/12/black-men-and-public- space/
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