Pioneer: Journal of Language and Literature
Vol 15 No 2 (2023)

The Construction of Orientalism in Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing

Bilqis, Bahiroh (Unknown)
Setiawan, Ikwan (Unknown)
Supiastutik, Supiastutik (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Dec 2023

Abstract

This article studies the construction of Orientalism in the novel The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing. Doris Lessing is a British writer born in Persia who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2007. As a white writer, Lessing is known as a writer who fights for the rights of the black community. Still, in this novel, she sharpens the negative image of the blacks as described in the theory of Orientalism. Orientalism focuses on the West’s view of the East. In the novel, Orientalism was carried out by The West against The East, represented by Mary Turner as white people and Moses as the black. This study aims to dismantle the Orientalist discourse in the novel. The study applied the theory of Orientalism proposed by Edward Said (1979). The Orientalist discourse in The Grass is Singing is constructed in the form of stereotypes and oppression against the black people in Southern Rhodesia. Racism, colonialism, and the politics of Apartheid done by white people in the novel showcase the white superiority toward the inferior black.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

pioneer

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Pioneer is a journal of language and literature which provides academics and practitioners with the opportunities to put out their ideas, theoretical applications, data analyses, discourses, and literary criticisms. This journal is managed by Faculty of Letters, University of Abdurachman Saleh ...