The treatment of escape and conservatism in Naipaul's fictional works
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Date
2007Author
Kyunguti, Patrick N
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
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This study investigates the portrayal of escape and conservatism in Naipaul's selected
works. It further seeks to examine the author's employment of satire as a crystallization
of his regenerative quests and lastly, to evaluate the gender responsiveness of his texts.
Guided by the sociological theory of literature and stylistic criticism, the study examines
the author's biographical data and his creative output. A confluence is noted between his
literary constructs and his personal experiences. He has fictionalised real situations, real
people and real incidents from his own life. The study goes on to elucidate the author's
treatment of escape and conservatism and their relation to human progress. While escape,
it is revealed, is portrayed from varying perspectives as a condition for and at the same
time an impediment to progress, conservatism is treated marginally as an antithesis to the
survival and continuity of a society. An examination of the author's presentation of
women characters alongside men reveals that the former are, to a large extent, portrayed
as more escapist and conservative than their male counterparts. The analysis of satire in
the texts shows that Naipaul has realized this device through unique linguistic strategies
which have enabled him to effectively integrate his pedagogical motives with his
inimical sense of humour.
This study concludes by arguing that the author's selected works are socially
regenerative. He has an affirmative social vision which finds expression in his adoption
of satire, a mechanism of exposure. However, as a male focaliser, Naipaul has subscribed
to a phallocentric ideology in his delineation of gender roles and images.
Citation
Kyunguti, P. N.(2007). The treatment of escape and conservatism in Naipaul's fictional worksSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Literature, University of Nairobi
Description
MA - Thesis