Year
1992
Degree Name
Master of Arts (Hons.)
Department
Department of English
Recommended Citation
Hayes, Michael, Autobiography in the Pacific: reading post-colonial autobiography, Master of Arts (Hons.) thesis, Department of English, University of Wollongong, 1992. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/2190
Abstract
Autobiography has a central role m Post-colonial literature, yet its features which are predominantly Eurocentric are not normally addressed in a critical reading. Western values attributed to individuality and personality need to incorporate an understanding of regional and cultural influences. This thesis examines autobiographical writing produced in the Pacific to evaluate how colonization transforms the notions of individuality and community within the narrative form. The assumptions of autobiography in the colonial scene are examined through the myth of Robinson Crusoe, and the naturalization of the superiority of western individuality is discussed in reference to colonial travel autobiography. Autobiography introduces different concepts of space and community to the Pacific Islanders who must confront values of privacy, nationality, and individuality in their life-story. Postcolonial autobiography must be read as a renegotiated narrative which conflates personal and national histories in the exploration of Postcolonial identities.
Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.