There is no way that I would survive the strike. Maybe it's the level of comfort that I'm used to, but I find the descriptions of famine and thirst in these chapters heartrending.
"Real misfortune is not just a matter of being hungry and thirsty; it is a matter of knowing that there are people who want you to be hungry and thirsty - and that is the way it is with us." - Ramatoulaye (p. 53).
To me it is interesting that there is no talk of trying to expel the French from Sengal. They have reached the point in the colonial experience where the French and Senegalese peoples fates are inextricably bound up together. You see this when the men think with longing of "the machine", the railroad that the French have brought to their country, but which seems to define the Senegalese men's lives.
I just taught another post-colonial novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, which is set in Nigeria. The difference between the two stories is that Things Fall Apart relates some of the first experiences that the native Africans have with white missionaries. There is a lot of shock, misunderstanding, and violence. In God's Bits of Wood, on the other hand, we see a country later on in colonialism, under the control of a frustrated and weakened colonial power. Keep in mind that the French were in many ways humiliated by the Germans in World War II.
"Real misfortune is not just a matter of being hungry and thirsty; it is a matter of knowing that there are people who want you to be hungry and thirsty - and that is the way it is with us." - Ramatoulaye (p. 53).
To me it is interesting that there is no talk of trying to expel the French from Sengal. They have reached the point in the colonial experience where the French and Senegalese peoples fates are inextricably bound up together. You see this when the men think with longing of "the machine", the railroad that the French have brought to their country, but which seems to define the Senegalese men's lives.
I just taught another post-colonial novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, which is set in Nigeria. The difference between the two stories is that Things Fall Apart relates some of the first experiences that the native Africans have with white missionaries. There is a lot of shock, misunderstanding, and violence. In God's Bits of Wood, on the other hand, we see a country later on in colonialism, under the control of a frustrated and weakened colonial power. Keep in mind that the French were in many ways humiliated by the Germans in World War II.
I agree with the thought of there has been no talk of expelling the French from Sengal. I think though in a way the natives must feel like this is a part of life now and that these French people will be in it.
ReplyDeleteMmm, yes. Let's get the villages together, and expel the French from Senegal, that sounds like a great idea to begin with. Not only do the Senegalese people already depend on the bit of comfort and increased quality of living that colonization has brought to them, (even though they attempt to cling to a critical standpoint) no, they also have no means whatsoever to do such a thing. I mean, come on, what do you expect they do, in order to expel one of the most powerful military... actually... one of the military powers of Europe from their country? Especially in this age of industrialism, and innovation, when the technology gap is so great; the phrase that comes to mind is "Resistance is futile."
ReplyDeleteAs far as the difference of the experiences go, consider this: how often did missionaries come with the economic, military, and technological resources to colonize a country? Also, you say "frustrated and weakened." What? I understand that they may be frustrated, but weakened? Not by a long shot. There is a difference in displaying weakness in France (which was not that great at the time) and the weakness of the high-servants upon their golden throne, in the land of the savages. The only thing one could consider weakness, is their attempted negotiations, as they display a step down in the iron grip in which they (can) hold this underdeveloped country.
I must agree, however, I could not give up the comfort that we have, in order to participate in the strike. And perhaps that is to an extent the refusal to accept the increased level of comfort that the colonizing force brings. Should there be an acceptance of such, all of the roots in which the strike lies would be un-earthed.
Most European countries came out of World War II weakened, by which I mean they had lost their capacity to administer their colonies. France is also in this situation, which makes me wonder when and if this strike is going to turn into an independence movement. After all, it is clear that they are hesitant to send military forces to put down the strike.
DeleteMr. Brammer, are you sure you really read the book?
ReplyDeleteOnly kidding, stop this banter and enjoy a good book. Although some people in the novel can be said to appreciate the changes that the French brought upon them, others do not (the elders who want things to go back to the old ways), and would rather not depend on the increased quality of living. Or depend on anyone else at all for that matter. This strike is also about separation from a upper hand that is using its power unfairly.
mkay...
DeleteOnce colonialism happens, you can't undo all of its effects. I'm just saying that, at some point, the people of Senegal refuse to accept the power structure that exists, and want to form their own government.
ReplyDelete