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Postcolonial Literature & Doris Lessing
How to Do Historical Criticism
1) Know the author
2) Know the history of the period
3) Use what you know to make judgments
4) Understand the relationship between the imperial and the colonized
Postcolonial Literature
Post-colonial literature is a body of literary writing that responds to the intellectual discourse of European colonization of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Post-colonial literature addresses the problems and consequences of the de-colonization of a country and of a nation, especially the political and cultural independence of formerly subjugated colonial peoples; and it also is a literary critique of and about post-colonial literature, the undertones of which carry, communicate, and justify racialism and colonialism.
Doris1. Know the author - Doris Lessing
{http://www.dorislessing.org/doris2008-4.jpg}
Doris Lessing was born Doris May Tayler in Persia (now Iran) on October 22, 1919. Both of her parents were British: her father, who had been crippled in World War I, was a clerk in the Imperial Bank of Persia; her mother had been a nurse. In 1925, lured by the promise of getting rich through maize farming, the family moved to the British colony in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Doris's mother adapted to the rough life in the settlement, energetically trying to reproduce what was, in her view, a civilized, Edwardian life among savages; but her father did not, and the thousand-odd acres of bush he had bought failed to yield the promised wealth.
Lessing's fiction is deeply autobiographical, much of it emerging out of her experiences in Africa. Drawing upon her childhood memories and her serious engagement with politics and social concerns, Lessing has written about the clash of cultures, the gross injustices of racial inequality, the struggle among opposing elements within an individuals own personality, and the conflict between the individual conscience and the collective good. Her stories and novellas set in Africa, published during the fifties and early sixties, decry the dispossession of black Africans by white colonials, and expose the sterility of the white culture in southern Africa. In 1956, in response to Lessing's courageous outspokenness, she was declared a prohibited alien in both Southern Rhodesia and South Africa.
#2 Know the history
The Scramble for Africa, also known as the Race for Africa or Partition of Africa was a process of invasion, occupation, colonization and annexation of Africa territory by European powers during the New Imperialism period, between 1881 and World War I in 1914. As a result of the heightened tension between European states in the last quarter of the 19th century, the partitioning of Africa may be seen as a way for the Europeans to eliminate the threat of a Europe-wide war over Africa. The last 59 years of the 19th century saw transition from "informal imperialism" of control through military influence and economic dominance to that of direct rule.
After the liberation of African countries from the Europeans, many issues developed that are often discussed in postcolonial literature. Ali A. Mazrui and others mention seven conflicts as themes in postcolonial literature: the clash between Africa's past and present, between tradition and modernity, between indigenous and foreign, between individualism and community, between socialism and capitalism, between development and self-reliance and between Africanity and humanity. Other themes in this period include social problems such as corruption, the economic disparities in newly independent countries, and the rights and roles of women. Female writers are today far better represented in published African literature than they were prior to independence.
#3 Make judgements
Ask yourself
-Where did Lessing grow up?
-On what does her writing focus?
-How did she feel towards the native Africans?
-Considering what you know about Lessing, what do you think the short story we are going to read is going to discuss?
#4 Know the relationship between the imperial and the colonized
From the preceeding paragraphs, you should be able to make inferences about the relationship between the Europeans and the Africans.
Ask yourself
-Did racism/prejudice exist?
-Did a dominant racial/ethnic group exist? Why?
-Does the social/political climate in Africa during this period (1950s-1960s) mirror similar events in the US?
"No Witchcraft for Sale"
The short story "No Witchcraft for Sale" focuses on Gideon, a native African, and his relationship with the white family he works for, the Farquars. As you read, you will annotate the text for examples of prejudice, racisim, and stereotyping. In addition, find examples in the text that demonstrate how Gideon feels about the Farquars and how the Farquars feel about Gideon.
Lessing employs implicit criticism in this short story. Implicit criticism means that Lessing "tucked" or "hid" a serious message into a seemingly innocent and unimportant story. What is the message Lessing is trying to convey? Why do you think she had to conceal what she really wanted to say?

Postcolonial Literature & Doris Lessing
Postcolonial Literature
Post-colonial literature is a body of literary writing that responds to the intellectual discourse of European colonization of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Post-colonial literature addresses the problems and consequences of the de-colonization of a country and of a nation, especially the political and cultural independence of formerly subjugated colonial peoples; and it also is a literary critique of and about post-colonial literature, the undertones of which carry, communicate, and justify racialism and colonialism.
Doris Lessing
{http://www.dorislessing.org/doris2008-4.jpg}
Doris Lessing was born Doris May Tayler in Persia (now Iran) on October 22, 1919. Both of her parents were British: her father, who had been crippled in World War I, was a clerk in the Imperial Bank of Persia; her mother had been a nurse. In 1925, lured by the promise of getting rich through maize farming, the family moved to the British colony in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Doris's mother adapted to the rough life in the settlement, energetically trying to reproduce what was, in her view, a civilized, Edwardian life among savages; but her father did not, and the thousand-odd acres of bush he had bought failed to yield the promised wealth.
Lessing's fiction is deeply autobiographical, much of it emerging out of her experiences in Africa. Drawing upon her childhood memories and her serious engagement with politics and social concerns, Lessing has written about the clash of cultures, the gross injustices of racial inequality, the struggle among opposing elements within an individuals own personality, and the conflict between the individual conscience and the collective good. Her stories and novellas set in Africa, published during the fifties and early sixties, decry the dispossession of black Africans by white colonials, and expose the sterility of the white culture in southern Africa. In 1956, in response to Lessing's courageous outspokenness, she was declared a prohibited alien in both Southern Rhodesia and South Africa.
"No Witchcraft for Sale"