LITR 5734: Colonial & Postcolonial Literature

Student Film Presentation 2005

film highlight: White Teeth (part 2)

presenter: Tish Wallace 

Bangladesh, whither now?

“Our children will be born of our actions.
  This is your destiny…embrace it.”

            Part 2 of White Teeth is centered on the phenomenon of the future mouse.  Marcus, a geneticist, is conducting a series of experiments which call for the total elimination of disease in humans.  Tests are conducted on lab mice that develop various forms of cancer before they die.  These genetically improved mice will be valuable to mankind; “man no longer will be a victim of random, but master of their own destiny” (Magid).

            What implications does this have? Perhaps, the mice are those people who were colonized.  People who were considered to be “backward” in moral, cultural, political, and religious aspects in their respective country.  Once the colonizers enlightened the natives, they were “improved”  (The acquirement of education signifying a well-respected and successful person).  In order to have an adverse effect, parents must teach their children what they were taught.  This was the conflict in the movie.  Samad felt torn between the country he lived in and his allegiance to Bangladesh.  In an effort to preserve Bangladesh culture, Samad sends his son, Magid, “home.”

            Samad overlooked the fact that children would become their “true” self through both positive and negative experiences with their parents.  If parents take the necessary steps to ensure success, then the children will be successful; however, if parents hinder their children from upward movement (sometimes this just means spreading their wings), then the children will have to accept mediocrity.  By trying to force his religious beliefs and culture onto his children without allowing them to experience the culture that they lived in, Samad drove them straight into the arms of the “enemy.”  Separating his kids (Bangladesh vs. British experience) was a mistake that Samad  soon came to regret.

Discussion Questions:

1. In White Teeth, Marcus states, “If you don’t adapt, you die.” How can this be applied to the texts that we have read this semester? What is the implied meaning?

 

2. Samad believes that England has corrupted his children, his culture/values through its strong influences.  He has difficulty accepting these influences and feels tortured because of the vivid and readily available temptations.  How does this compare to Du and Jasmine’s experiences? Are they forced to tolerate foreign ideals? Do they feel as if they belong to one or both of the cultures they have been exposed to?

 

3. Common motifs for the second part of White Teeth were those of science and religion.  Which novels share the same motif? What impact do science and/or religion have on the cultures?