An analysis of the theme of identity in Michelle de Kretser's novel "The Hamilton Case".
Written in 2008; 1,434 words; 1 sources; MLA; $ 47.95
Paper Summary:
The paper discusses how Michelle de Kretser's "The Hamilton Case" is a novel which complicates notions of identity, using the post-colonial genre as its method. The paper focuses on Sam, the novel's main character, and his obsession with being exclusively English despite his skin color, his location and his status as the colonized. The paper shows how Sam confuses our ideas of identity, allegiance, nationality, or even right and wrong in the colonial and post-colonial scene.
From the Paper:
"An argument may be made that Sam argues for, and inhabits, an integrated Ceylonese identity--one which recognizes its English history, but remains as something separate. At one point in the novel, Sam is mocked by Jaya, who questions his allegiance to Englishness: "[Jaya] snorted. 'A grove, a glade - why use words designed for an English forest? They have nothing to do with this jungle of ours'" to which Sam replies "'English is our inheritance too,'... 'Why shouldn't we mould it to our needs? Grove and palu in the same sentence - isn't that distinctively Ceylonese?'" (de Kretser, 71). At another time, Sam reflects nostalgically on his schooldays, claiming that the culture there was one of integration, despite the backgrounds, religions or races of the students: "'As any Old Edwardian will attest, the prevalent tone of the school was one of comradeship unmarred by racial or religious strife. We spoke English, our only common tongue, to each other as well as to our masters." (deKretser, 26). "
We have thousands of high-quality term papers, research papers, essays, book reports and dissertations on every topic. At AcaDemon, you can download those term papers to help you write yours! You can be sure that the term paper, essay, book report or research paper you download are top-quality, competitively priced and high-level work.
This Free Term Paper Abstract is a part of our Term Paper Library.Here you can purchase research papers, examples of essays, academic dissertations, articles, notes, analytical papers, book reports, stories and poems. We have thousands of persuasive, point-of-view, narrative, critical, compare and contrast and other types of essays in our Library. You can also find here Term papers on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Essays on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Research papers on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Student papers on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Book reports on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Dissertation on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Thesis on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Summary of paper on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"", Articles written on "Identity in "The Hamilton Case"".