The differences between colonialism and post colonialism

The differences between colonialism and post colonialism :

⭕ Background:

Colonialism and Post colonialism refer to certain periods in history relative to the countries being discussed.

Colonialism is discussed as the history of imperial expansion and colonization which was generally initiated during the age of exploration.
Colonialism is usually named as a European domination of American, African and Asian lands. This is true, but this could also include examples like the Roman and Persian empires.

Empires that have taken over other countries have often established colonies as a way of staking out territory.

In literary analysis, colonialism refers to literature and criticism dealing with the periods of colonization. This can be from the perspective of the colonized or the colonizers.

Post colonialism refers to the time after these colonized nations have become independent.
A post colonial analysis of historical or literary documents usually focuses on the challenges faced by the once-colonized and now independent people. The challenges they face could be issues with identity, race, economics, political freedom and identity, for instance: A Passage to India, a colonial study would focus on India during the British occupation.

Generalizing, the concept of colonialism to means “certain degrees of control by one country over another,” there are certainly examples today of colonialism in the form of imperialism

⭕ Introduction:

The main difference between colonial and post colonial literature lies in the time period the literature was created and the perspective of the literary text.

⚜ Colonial literature refers to the literature that was written during the colonial period, before the decolonization.

⚜ Post colonial literature was written after the decolonization.
This is the main difference between colonial and post colonial literature.

Thus, the perspective of these two genres are also different; colonial literature contains the perspective of the colonisers whereas ; post colonial literature is written in the perspective of the colonised or the formerly colonised people.

This article describes:

1. Characteristics of Colonial Literature

2. Characteristics of Post colonial Literature

3. Primary Difference Between Colonial and Post colonial Literature

⭕ Colonial Literature – Characteristics

Colonial literature refers to the literature during the period the colonisation, written from the perspective of the colonisers. These stories are usually set in the distant, colonised lands and explore the exotic strangeness of these colonised land. Most of these stories portrayed the colonisers as the superior race and colonised as inferior, often a primitive group of people.
The main characters in colonial literature are often white; the colonised people only play subordinate roles. These works of literature portray colonisation and imperialism as natural processes, i.e civilising the primitives.

Works of H. Rider Haggard (King Solomon’s Mine, She) and Rudyard Kipling (Kim) can be taken as examples of colonial literature.

⭕ Post colonial Literature

Post colonial literature refers to literature of countries that were colonised by European countries. These works are written by people in the former colonies and therefore discusses the problems and consequences of the colonisation and decolonization. However, some critics also argue that literature that expresses resistance and opposition to colonialism can be defined as Post colonial literature despite its author or period.

⭕ Characteristics of Post colonial Literature:

☢ Post colonial writers describe native people, places and practices to counteract the inaccurate, generalised stereotypes created by the colonisers.

☢ Post colonial writers chose to write in the language of the coloniser; however, most of them deliberately remould the language to reflect the rhythms of indigenous languages. They also invent new words, syntax and styles.

☢ Post colonial writers also reshape and rework colonial art forms by incorporating indigenous styles, structures and themes such as oral poetry and dramatic performance.

Chinua Achebe, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, Anita Desai, NgũgĩwaThiong’o are some prominent post colonial authors.

⭕ Primary Difference Between Colonial and Post colonial Literature?

☣Definition:

Colonial literature is the literature written during the colonisation, using colonies as a setting.

Post colonial literature is the literature that expresses opposition or resistance to colonisation.

☣Perspective:

Colonial literature is often written from the perspective of the coloniser.

Post colonial literature is written from the perspective of the former colonised.

☣Portrayal:

Colonial literature portrays colonisation as a natural, unproblematic, often ‘correct’ process.

Post colonial literature portrays the problems and consequences of colonisation and decolonization.

☣Indigenous People and Culture:

Colonial literature often portrays indigenous people and culture savage or primitive.
Post colonial literature attempts to describe indigenous people, places and practices to counteract the "stereotypical images" portrayed by the colonisers.