A Research On Symbols Of Color In Post-colonial Novels

Post-colonial novels play an important role in the contemporary literary works and are studied by literary critics all over the world. This essay concentrates on color as an symbolic image in post-colonial novels. In the first part of the essay, the definition of post-colonial novels and other related definitions, the relationship between symbolism and post-colonial literature are explained, and the patterns of its usage are discussed; In the second part, color as a reminder of colonialism is discussed; In the third part, by studying the novels Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie and some other important post-colonial novels, the characteristics of symbolic meaning of color is discussed in the following three aspects: implicative character of color; cultural character of color; subjective character of color.Post-colonial literature focuses mainly on works of non-western writers, especially writers from Africa, South America and Asia, who are trying to examine and study the political, social and cultural problems and evolutions that are caused by the colonial occupation. One of the characteristics of the post-colonial works is the use of symbolism. Colors are one of the most popular symbols employed by the writers. A case in point is Heart of Darkness, a novel published in 1902. Based on the true experience of the author in Africa, this novel tells us what Marlowe, the leading character, has experienced in Congo. Just like Conrad, Marlowe starts his journey from Brussels to Africa as a sailor. Since his arrival in Congo, Marlowe continuously hears of praises for Kurtz, a British ivory merchant who is regarded as god by locals. With a strong curiosity, Marlowe begins to look for Kurtz. Taking advantage of colors’ implicative effect on readers, the author delivers the abstract theme more vividly with a non-language approach; With distinctive features of region, nation and times, the utilization and perception of colors reflect the aesthetic mentality of a nation and possess abundant cultural connotations. Colors in literary works can produce overwhelming visual effects and enact great influence on readers’ mental feelings and cultural concepts. Vast use of color images in Wide Sargasso Sea enables Jean Rhys to show readers the West Indies, which is entirely different from England; the author could also use colors in a personal way to produce a special effect. The surrealistic methods connect reality and the author’s subjective thoughts together. Midnight’s Children, published by Salman Rushdie in 1981, talks about the fate of Salim and the other one thousand children who were born at midnight of India’s Independence Day, as well as the entanglement of many historical accidents after the independence of India. Rushdie use colors in a quite personal way and puts his ideas into the symbol of color..By writing from the perspective from the oppressed, the post-colonial writers struggle for right of speech and self-interpretation, narrate life of their own nation with an “unfiltered” voice, and keep a real record of colonialism in the world dominated by western countries. Their works concern themselves with the topics such as racism, a hierarchical society and patriarchy. Being deprived of writing in their own native language, the post-colonial writers are keen to find out a substitute mechanism as powerful as language to convey their feelings as exactly as possible. And In order to explore and demonstrate the complex and complicated themes in their novels, postcolonial writers favor symbolism, for it could display and transmit obscure and multiple cultural themes in a direct and concise way.