Paper Summary:

This paper discusses of some of the ways in which First Nations literature makes a criticism of North American society and culture. the paper explains that in "Burning Vision", Clements makes it clear that the First World is pathologically sick in terms of its attitude to the world and its people and resources. The paper then examines the theme of resistance and struggle and decolonization in three of the texts. The writer believes that if First Nations' existence is defined by their status as having been colonized by people of a different race, then their salvation lies in resistance and struggle. The writer concludes that if First Nations cannot decolonize their countries, they can at least decolonize their minds, and that is what many of the best First Nations writers strive to do, which accounts for the central importance of this theme in much of their literature.

From the Paper:

"Clements also seems to imply that the ultimate expression of this rape is nuclear destruction - the ultimate assertion of power, delivered in phallic-shaped bombs by phallic-shaped jets. In this regard, it is important to remember that FAT MAN was the name of one of the atomic bombs. Moreover, the other atomic bomb was code named LITTLE BOY. This was unintentional irony, given that it is Western male aggression that propelled colonization, as well as the kind of destruction meted out by the atomic bombs. In The Unnatural and Accidental Women, Clements seems to be on a totally different track, focusing on poor women living in Vancouver's Eastside in the 1980s."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Annharte. Exercises in Lip Pointing. Vancouver: New Star Books, 2003.
• Clements, Marie. Burning Vision. Vancouver: Talonbooks, 2003.
• Clements, Marie. The Unnatural and Accidental Women. Vancouver: Talonbooks, 2005.
• Smith, Donald B. Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance: The Glorious Imposter. Red Deer, Alberta: Red Deer Press, 1999.

Visitors who viewed this Book Review also liked these:

• Analytical Essay # 132994 : "First Nations Literature"
• Analytical Essay # 132908 : "First Nations Literature"
• Analytical Essay # 103020 : "First Nations Literature"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: