Deconstruction and Postcolonialism Theories Deconstruction

Deconstruction and Postcolonialism Theories

Deconstruction and Post Colonialism theories

This paper will analyze 'Death by Landscape' written by Margaret Atwood in the light of two important theories; post-colonialism and deconstruction theories.

Postmodern colonialism is often referred to as one of the postmodern methods of discourse that are used for the analysis of cultural legacies that were followed in the period of colonialism as well as imperialism. Within the colonial nations, the detailed study of human relationships is carried out by the anthropologists using postmodern colonialism (Young 67). All important questions in relation to post colonial identity are explored with the help of post colonial theory. Some of the most important matters that are addressed by the post colonial theory include race, gender, interaction within the society, the interaction of gender and race within the post colonial society, usage of knowledge of post colonial people against them, the generation of knowledge in relation to the world in the socioeconomic conditions of the post colonial world and how the relationships are shaped between the powerful and powerless.

The second important theory is the deconstruction theory. The deconstruction theory in itself is known as a school of literary theories. Some of the main disciplines in which the theory of deconstruction is used include history, anthropology, theology as well as law. Deconstruction argues that there is always some hidden meaning in the texts that needs to be decoded. Thus, when an individual tends to read a text, it is important that the information given in the background of the text is decoded.

The traumatic events in the life of an individual are important in how he acts as an adult. The events in the past can have a positive or negative effect on the lives of individuals. The important factor in these cases is the strategy used by the individuals to cope with these events. The choice made for coping with these events is the factor that defines the mental state of the person in adulthood. Lois is an important character in the short story by Margaret. When the text of the short story, is deconstructed, it can be seen that the main aim of the story is to tell the audience an importance of choice of strategies adopted for coping with the traumatic past events. With the help of this character, the author has shown contrasting ways that are used to deal with childhood memories and how these memories have an effect on a person (Norris 56). The trauma in Lois's life plays roles when one of her best friends goes missing and Lois is blamed for it. Lois starts to blame herself as she thinks that she could have reversed the situation. As post colonialism suggests, there are certain factors that define the relationship of an individual with the society. In the case of Lois, these factors included the strategies that were adopted by Lois in order to deal with the trauma that she faced in her childhood. The feeling of guilt that Lois had of not being able to save her friend was killing her from inside. This was also one of the reasons why Lois was trapped in loneliness as Lois had chosen loneliness and sadness over normal social life. The story is slowly proceeding into the stage where depression and loneliness along with guilt take over the thoughts of Lois. All she is consumed with is the guilt, to the level that she never cares about her own family.

Post colonialism has also suggested that the psychological factor is the main determinants of relationships of an individual with his or her surroundings, with the people he or she knows and so on. The way Lois has been shown to cope with the traumatic event that she faces is an important evidence of the fact. How Lois has coped with the event is important and this has defined the relationships that she has with her surroundings (the Oxford books 90).

If the short story by Margaret is decoded, it can be added here that the story is more about growing up and dealing with the traumas of life. Trauma is the main theme of the story itself. Trauma is the basis of failure in life being faced by Lois. There are two levels based on which the deconstruction within the story can be identified. The first level has been achieved by the author herself and the second level where the short story needs to be decoded itself (Wilson 29).

In the case of the first level, at the level of the author, the effect of trauma in the life of an individual has been explained in terms of an ability of an individual to cope with the trauma. In these cases, the author has decoded the relationship that exists between coping abilities and the quality of life of an individual. The author has mentioned that the way the trauma was dealt with Lois was unproductive and it was leading her into further depression. Her social appearance was lessening and the relationship that she had with her family was greatly reduced, thus having a negative effect on Lois's life. The main aim of the story is to attract the attention of the audience and illustrate the fact that dealing with traumatic events in the past in a positive way is important. Though it may seem of lesser importance, but the effects that the events can have on an individual are immense, unless coping is done in a productive manner.

The second level of decoding is at the level of the reader. When the information is decoded at the level of the reader, the information being given to the reader deals with the fact of how relationships can be affected by various events in life. but, these events need to be dealt with positively. Otherwise, there are greater negative effects on an individual himself and his or her surroundings.