| dc.description.abstract | This thesis studies Alex La Guma's artistic contribution
to the understanding of the problem of Apartheid
and the effects it has on the people of South Africa.
In its analysis, the thesis has tried to balance the
appreciation of both content and form as expertly treated
in the works of Alex La Guma. Some of the outstanding
techniques that have allowed this artist to communicate
so clearly and so effectively have been identified
in our analysis of each chapter. The thesis has also
endeavoured to closely analyse the content, with a
view to illuminating Alex La Guma's far sighted vision.
In Chapter I, the introduction, I have given: an
exposition of the general problems of criticism that
confront South African literature, the objectives of
the thesis, the hypothesis, literature review, methodology,
definitions of the concepts used in the thesis,
the structure of the thesis and the theoretical framework.
Chapter II deals with Institutionalized Violence.
It emphasizes the fact that institutions are employed
by the perpetrators of reactionary violence to protect
the policies of Apartheid in South Africa. These
institutions are involved devotedly in creating a
slave-consciousness among the masses so that the exploitation
of human labour and that of natural resources
are maintained. The intention of the South African
(viii)
regime is to protect and perpetuate the extension of
western imperialism in South Africa which has conspicuously
become an outpost of western capitalists. In order
to reveal the social realities in Alex La Guma's works,
the thesis identifies the expert use of certain techniques
such as elaborate description, flashbacks, conversation
and dramatization of the plot etc.
Self-destructive Violence is dealt with in Chapter
III, in which this researcher tries to illustrate that
the violence is a response by the masses to the vicious
laws levelled against them. The Chapter treats the
various internalized acts of violence by the victims of
Apartheid in Alex La Guma's art. The victims victimize
other victims while the oppressing forces are left to
continue with their exploitation. Pessimism is treated
as self-destructive for it does not initiate a tigh~ing
spirit for liberation in an individual, instead it
becomes a manifestation of hopelessness, despair and
lamentation.
But as oppression and exploitation increase and
grip the masses, an awakening of collective consciousness
of the workers and the oppressed in South Africa
gradually sparks off deep-rooted . resent. ment against
Apartheid. Chapter IV concentrates on The Awakening
Cix)
of Collective Consciousness whose whole ideology is based
on the solidarity of the working masses in the country.
This collective consciousness refers to the people's
initial and positive response to the vicious oppressive
laws of South Africa. In the two chapters, expert,
employment of detailed use of diction, dialogue, contrast
etc. are revealed by the researcher who tries to show their
effective use by Alex La Guma.
Out of this awakening of collective consciousness,
emerges Chapter V entitled, The Vision Emerging out of
Consciousness. The chapter deals with revolutionary
visions and revolutionary activities that concentrate
on liberating the masses in South Africa and the visions
involving the grasping of the truth that underlies the
facts of the South African situation. The masses clearly
see the direction where society is heading to and try
to analyse and interpret the social contradictions.
They realise that they have only one alternative: to
fight the system physically. The research identifies the
fusion of the employment of techniques in order for La
Guma to put across his message to his readers. Detailed
use of diction and dramatization of plot, elaborate description
and contrast, flashbacks and building of tension
etc. are employed here.
Chapter VI, the Conclusion looks briefly at the achievement
of this research and possible areas that can be
ex)
explored by other researchers in order to illuminate the
readers on the South African situation. | en |
