A representação da independência do Quênia em A Grain of Wheat, de Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Abstract

This monograph analyzes the representation of Kenya's independence in Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s A Grain of Wheat. The aim of this study is to investigate the articulations between memory, violence and trauma in the above-mentioned literary text, reflecting about the relationships between literature and history (ARISTÓTELES, 2008; BORGES, 2010; CUTI, 2010; LAMMERT, 1994; PESAVENTO, 2003; WHITE, 1994; and others). The work results from a bibliographic research that evolved from the analysis of the literary text, highlighting the overlap between memory, violence and trauma. The discussion of these concepts took place by mapping excerpts from the novel, focusing on the actions and languages of the characters. Memory is discussed based on the contributions of Candau (2019), Monte (2012) and others. The reflection on colonial violence took place from the readings of Fanon (1968), Césaire (2010), Karari (2018), among others. The analysis of trauma reflected in the fictional characters is carried out in dialogue with Seligmann-Silva (2003; 2002). Furthermore, the result of this research points out that the author uses historical episodes, redraws the scenes of the catástrofe and engenders a writing that presents itself as enunciator of pains, which aim is to announce a new time, which turns to the past and seeks lessons in it to reconstruct the present, while working with sensible themes for a country achieving its independence.