THE DOMINATION OF CULTURE CAUGHT UP IN THE DISCOURSE OF MODERNITY IN THE NOVEL THE SLAYER SLAIN

  • JASMIN JOSEPH

Abstract

  A close appraisal of the first generation novel in Malayalam offers seminal insight into the spatio-temporal setting of Kerala at the dawn of modernity. The plot revolves around Syrian Christian landlord Koshy Curian who later repents his callous and inhuman treatment of his Pulaya slaves. Koshys daughter Mariam who is educated and tries to change her father but she failed many time. Though she was educated, the society tries to suppress her and control her in many ways. Cultural domination was the main reason and even it tries to suppress the emergence of modernity in the society. When Mariam tries to raise her voice against her father her mother tries to shut her mouth and she follow the order of her husband silently. The novel also focuses on Syrian and Protestant Christian communities and the rhetoric of faith mask is revealed in the end of the novel. When Christian missionaries try to give education to the people, on the other side the same slaves were treated badly in the society which shows that the education and modernity is failed because it doesnt bring any change in the life of slaves. This paper focuses on the domination of culture in the society even though modernity prevails there. Here the colonial system of education fails to change the attitude of the people and speak about the social condition that prevailed in the 19th century.

Published
2019-11-15
Section
Articles