Trauma,Revolt And Non-Violence—An Analysis On A Chain Of Voices From The Perspective Of New Historicism

As one of the three most prominent writers in South-Africa,André Brink has produced a great many outstanding literary works in his life,also achieved tremendous success and significant influences in such areas as education,politics and human rights.A Chain of Voices,as André Brink's sixth novel taking anti-apartheid as its theme after his academic visit to France,is praised by a New York Times journalist as the most excellent novel by André Brink.This novel has perfectly presented André Brink's gifted writing techniques and firm political standpoint.Taking Galant Rebellion which happened in 1825 in Cape Town as its background,A Chain of Voices illustrates how black slave Galant leads other slaves to violently fight against their masters in hope of getting themselves freedom and independence but unluckily ends up with failure.Utilizing New Historicism as the theoretical foundation,this thesis is attempting to explore how André Brink fights against South-African government and the grand History with the power of his pen,and how he voices out for the marginalized “Other”.With meticulous discussions on such elements as racial problems,gender conflicts and so on,this thesis will closely observe André Brink's sense of history and his aim of historical reconstruction.Also,the real and hidden existence of the marginalized “Other” can be brought back to the present society.This thesis can be divided into five chapters.Chapter one introduces André Brink's lifelong achievements in many areas,the main plots,the theoretical foundation and writing features of A Chain of Voices,all of which help to ensure the frame and fundamental goal of this thesis.Chapter two to chapter four are the body parts which explore how André Brink represents,adapts and brings back Galant Rebellion from the perspective of New Historicism based on the court record,the relevant anecdote and his personal experiences living in the country.Through researches on the above topics,this thesis will hopefully find out the features symbolizing the existence of New Historicism in A Chain of Voices.To be specific,chapter two focuses on the textuality of history in the novel,namely how the South-African government dresses up the event of Galant Rebellion and marginalizes the women group according to their political needs.Chapter three introduces the historicity of the A Chain of Voices and highlights it's historical existence.Through comparing the record of Galant Rebellion by the government with the novel,we will see the connection spots between the literature text and the history.Thus,this thesis is able to prove the complicated interactive relationship between them.Chapter four gives a detailed introduction to André Brink's historical writing aiming to testify his sense of history by explaining his writing intention and goals.Chapter five is the conclusion.The publication of the novel proves that André Brink's historical view is in accordance with New Historicism.It not only exposes the dark control of South-African government but also shows Brink's such writing purposes as representing the apartheid history,highlighting the significance of violent liberating and reconstructing the history for the marginalized.All of those demonstrates André Brink's deep and sincere love to his motherland,his strong social responsibilities as well,which has significant values to understanding South-African society as well as new forms of segregation which appear due to rapid economic development in other countries.