Barbara Trevino

Exile as a Mode of Character Evolution

            World History and Politics is a dynamic field that can only be studied in a theoretical framework subject to the predominant ideology of the person or establishment studying the event. Literary fiction can be a useful tool in determining the events of history and politics and providing a voice in which the reader can identify and better understand the conflicts and events of the time period. The novel, in particular, as a unit of study provides a snapshot of the political and social climate of the time period it was written providing the reader with a more intimate account of  past events shaping our present and future. By utilizing different novels intertextually and in dialogue with one another, the reader can create a more holistic understanding of the various sentiments of a time period. This is especially helpful in postcolonial studies because it allows for the humanization of both the colonizer and colonized by providing insight into the actions, words, and thoughts of both factions.

            In postcolonial literature, it seems that various elements are common throughout many novels in the genre. In the novels Train to Pakistan, Jasmine, Things Fall Apart, and Heart of Darkness the role of exile, either forced or self imposed, has a major impact on the plot of each novel. In these novels, exile has been necessary for the evolution of the story and characters. Further, it is through exile that the reader is able to gain a better understanding of the motivations of the character which creates a more humanized portrayal eliminating the stereotypical villain/victim roles. In her 2003 Final Exam “Identity of an Exile” April Davis states,

            Whether self imposed or forced, the feeling of disconnectedness which results   from physical or psychological exile has a great impact on the formation of     identity.  It seems to affirm individualism to the point of rejecting serious         relationships with others.  In terms of colonial and postcolonial literature, feelings    of exile seem to be common among the colonized as well as the colonizers. 

In postcolonial literature, exile is often a tool for evolution in literary characters. Further, it is through exile, the reader can gain a more clear insight into th e historical implications and context of the novel.

            In Heart of Darkness, Marlow embarks on a self imposed exile from his native European country to seek work and adventure piloting a steam boat for a Dutch trading company in Africa. It is during his exile that the reader is introduced to Marlow’s perception of the indigenous people of Africa, and a fellow exile Kurtz who has been living among the native Africans. It is through this perception of Africans and subsequently Kurtz that the reader gains an understanding of the ethnocentrism rampant during the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. Marlow’s impression of Kurtz is interesting because Kurtz too is a self imposed exile, but has devised his own place in the African society. It seems that Marlow upon first hearing about Kurtz, was fascinated and almost enamored by him, but after meeting him, sees Kurtz as a warning of what could happen to him if he allows himself to become enmeshed in the primitive, “dark”, world. As representative of  a colonizer’s perception, it is interesting to note that although Marlow was still a man of the sea, he did subsequently return to Europe and lived to tell the story, while Kurtz who did not return to hisnative country died a death plagued by madness.

            In contrast, Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart experienced exile very different than Marlow or Kurtz. Okonkwo did not choose to leave his home, but instead was forcibly banished from his home as a punishment for accidentally killing one of his tribesmen. During his exile, Okonkwo becomes upset and angered about the influx of white Christian missionaries in his place of banishment and further incensed when he expects to return to the village he left, but instead  returns to his home after seven years to find that his former home is not how he left it. Christianity has taken a stronghold on his former village. After coming home to a world he no longer understands, Okonkwo eventually commits suicide It is through the eyes of an exiled man that the reader gains an understanding of the infiltration of western ideals to colonized countries and the devastating effects they have on individuals and societies.

            Jasmine’s exile in the novel Jasmine was much different because it was self imposed and led her through a journey of self-discovery, adaptation, and transnational migration. While Okonkwo’s exile was the catalyst to his demise, Jasmine’s exile seems to be infinite and leading her to a place of self-fulfillment. Unlike Marlow and Oknokwo, Jasmine does not return to her homeland of India and does not seem like she is going to. Through her exile, the reader gains insight into the motivations, conflicts and experiences of immigrant to the United States.

            Train to Pakistan approaches exile in a much different way because it is a background theme which contributes to the plot as a catalyst to start the story. The novel takes place in a small isolated town during the Partition of India, home to Hindu’s, Sikh’s and Muslims. People are being forced to exile their homes, Muslims to Pakistan and Hindu’s to India. While the story is not centered on one exiled individual, the theme is important because it is the pretense upon which the story is based. The forced exile of millions of Muslims and Hindus was devastating and took the lives of many. Through the use of the novel, the reader gains an understanding of the tremendous negative impact the sudden partition of India had on millions of people.

            Exile is a powerful theme within colonial and postcolonial discourse. It is often after one has been removed from his homeland that true growth can take place. While the growth can be negative as well as positive, it is inherent for progress to occur.