"Death is the Only Reality": a Folkloric Analysis of Notions of Death and Funerary Ritual in Contemporary Caribbean Women's Literature
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Date
2010-06
Authors
Vrtis, Christina E., 1979-
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Caribbean cultural ideas and values placed on death
and mourning, especially in relation to cultural roles
women are expected to perform, are primary motivating
factors in the development of female self and identity in
Caribbean women's literature. Based on analysis of three texts, QPH, Annie John, and Beyond the Limbo Silence, I
argue that notions of death and funerary rituals are
employed within Caribbean women's literature to (re)connect
protagonist females to their homeland and secure a sense of
identity. In addition, while some texts highlight the
necessity of prescribing to the socially constructed roles
of women within the ritual context and rely on the uproper"
adherence to the traditional process to maintain the status
quo, other texts show that the inversion or subversion of
these traditions is also an important aspect of funerary
rituals and notions of death that permeate contemporary
Caribbean culture.
Description
viii, 91 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.
Keywords
Funeral rites and ceremonies in literature, Death in literature, Caribbean fiction (English) -- Women authors -- History and criticism