ABSTRACT
Loss of identity and racial melancholy are essential in a postcolonial Namibia; the feeling of
not belonging is brought to the fore in this study. This thesis is an exploration of racial
melancholy and loss of identity in Zakes Mda’s, The Madonna of Excelsior (2002) and Nadine
Gordimer’s Burger’s Daughter (1979). The main aim of the research is to examine, discuss and
explore how the two concepts are presented in the two novels under investigation. The study is
a desktop study, as the researcher was not in the field to collect data. All the data was collected
from the written texts and was guided by the research objectives. The researcher purposively
selected the two novels, so the purposive sampling technique was used. The study used a
qualitative research approach. This approach was essential as it deals with written information
and making judgement from the texts. The critical race theory and Erikson’s theory of human
development were employed in this study. The critical race theory was vital as it states that
racism is engrained in the fabric of postcolonial societies (Delgado and Stefancic, 2012). The
Erikson theory of human development asserts that, for human beings to develop fully, they
encounter different hindrances in the course of their lives (O’Brien, 2010). The findings suggest
that there are severe issues lead to loss of identity and racial melancholy. Loss of identity and
racial melancholy are exacerbated by racism, apartheid, cultural and linguistic identity. Loss of
identity and racial melancholy thrive in a racially segregated environment where there is an
abuse of power. The study also contributed to the field of knowledge on contemporary
postcolonial studies, which has proven a valuable reference device to students, politicians, and
academics studying African and Namibian literature.
KAVARI, R (2021). Loss Of Identity And Racial Melancholy In Nadine Gordimer’s Burger’s Daughter And Zakes Mda’s The Madonna Of Excelsior. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/loss-of-identity-and-racial-melancholy-in-nadine-gordimer-s-burger-s-daughter-and-zakes-mda-s-the-madonna-of-excelsior
KAVARI, RICARDO "Loss Of Identity And Racial Melancholy In Nadine Gordimer’s Burger’s Daughter And Zakes Mda’s The Madonna Of Excelsior" Afribary. Afribary, 28 Apr. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/loss-of-identity-and-racial-melancholy-in-nadine-gordimer-s-burger-s-daughter-and-zakes-mda-s-the-madonna-of-excelsior. Accessed 09 Nov. 2024.
KAVARI, RICARDO . "Loss Of Identity And Racial Melancholy In Nadine Gordimer’s Burger’s Daughter And Zakes Mda’s The Madonna Of Excelsior". Afribary, Afribary, 28 Apr. 2021. Web. 09 Nov. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/loss-of-identity-and-racial-melancholy-in-nadine-gordimer-s-burger-s-daughter-and-zakes-mda-s-the-madonna-of-excelsior >.
KAVARI, RICARDO . "Loss Of Identity And Racial Melancholy In Nadine Gordimer’s Burger’s Daughter And Zakes Mda’s The Madonna Of Excelsior" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 09, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/loss-of-identity-and-racial-melancholy-in-nadine-gordimer-s-burger-s-daughter-and-zakes-mda-s-the-madonna-of-excelsior