An Approach To In A Free State From The Perspective Of Postcolonial Eco-criticism

Since the middle of the19thcentury, social problems such as politicalfragmentation, social upheaval, and revolution, etc. which emerged as a result ofcolonial domination have gradually become the major concern of a growing numberof writers. V. S. Naipaul, with his profound cultural experiences and unique vision, isamong the most prominent. Thus, it is no surprise that he is regarded as “the Father ofCaribbean Literature.”As a writer of keen insight, he discusses the most noticeable hot issues of thisera like identity, home, history and so on in his travel and fictional works. This hasoffered topics for various kinds of present popular critical schools, such asPostcolonialism, Feminism, Identity search, Race study and History study, etc. andthe major themes they explore are identity seeking, displacement and culturalconflicts, etc.In contrast to the usual study that merely pays attention to the sufferings ofmarginalized people, this thesis analyzes In a Free State, a Booker Prize-winningfiction from the perspective of postcolonial ecocriticism, showing solicitude for theenvironment, a sufferer of Western exploitation as well. By examining the depressivecolonial life and environmental degradation of the postcolonial states reflected in thenovel, this thesis attempts to explore the fundamental reasons for the currentenvironmental and social situation of the Third World and to manifest the significanceof ecological and social justice the world over.Apart from the introduction and the conclusion, this thesis consists of fourchapters.The introduction deals with Naipaul’s experiences and works. It includes threepoints:1) Naipaul’s life and the basic plotlines of In a Free State;2) A review of thestudies on Naipaul and his works at home and abroad;3) the purpose and significanceof this thesis.Chapter One introduces the main viewpoints of postcolonial ecocriticism, its development and its practical significance.Chapter Two analyzes the relationship between humans and environmentembodied in In a Free State. The first half of this chapter mainly examines theintimate relationship between indigenous people and nature and discusses how theymanage to maintain this close ties in foreign countries. The latter part of this chapterinspects the environmental disasters caused by colonists as a result ofoverexploitation and waste dumping. In addition, the internal causes of environmentalproblems are probed here.Chapter Three studies former colonial powers’ continued control over theex-colonies in the fields of culture, politics and economy in In a Free State, showingthat though many colonies have gained independence, the dominate-subordinaterelationship between the colonizers and the colonized established in colonial periodremains intact. This testifies to the fact that postcolonialism is a continuing process ofresistance and reconstruction.Chapter Four analyzes the author’s appeal for global justice. By indicating thedownfall of the empire and showing sympathy for the developing countries, Naipaulshows his longing for global harmony.Based on the above analysis, this thesis draws the conclusion that only bywiping out all kinds of discrimination the world over, can indigenous people andenvironment in the Third World achieve real freedom.