Literary Analysis Essay on a Far Cry From Africa by Derek Walcott

Introduction

Post-colonial literature "A Far Cry from Africa" by Derek Walcott essentially is about Walcott discussing his separated loyalties concerning his ties with Britain and Africa. The title of the poem provided a clue about his cultural instability. To an extent, Walcott believes that he is cursed because of his mixed race. "I who am poisoned with the blood of both, /where shall I turn, divided to the vein?" primarily, the poem is crying for help. Therefore, this essay aims to provide a postcolonial text analysis of the poem "A Far Cry from Africa" by Derek Walcott.

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The poem title in ambiguous because it involves an idiom "a far cry" that contains two connotations. The phrase suggests that the real state of Africa is far away from what we have read in descriptions of the fascinating flora and fauna. Alternative meaning put forward that the unsuccessful attempt to write about Africa from a distance but the poet himself experiences challenges in writing a culture that he is factually far from.

In line 5 and 6, "Only the worm, colonel of carrion cries. Waste no compassion on their separated dead'." Walcott uses various metaphors including "colonel or carrion," and sarcastic statements including "corpses are scattered through a paradise" to show critics of the cruel and damaging nature of both African and European cultures. He is torn in between two cultures and takes advantage of his cross culture to separate the innate intention of Europe and Africa. Walcott tries to express the idea that every colonized individual would try to be in the position of a colonizer. Therefore, Walcott utilizes his genetic and cultural mixture of Africa and Europe to show the extreme of his unhomeliness.

Walcott's search for his identity is more complicated as the poem progresses because he is in an ambiguous state and he has no options out. Despite numerous questions, Walcott states in line 29 " How to choose/between this Africa and the English tongue I love?". He does not know the answer; it indicates that Walcott admires both cultures. He chooses to remain an African partially in his way of life, but he prefers English language and literary tradition which resemble the colonizers.

In lines 31 and 32, "How can I face such slaughter and be cool? How can I turn from Africa and live?" Walcott struggles with his attraction to advancement in technology contained in the British culture and his ironic longing for the African culture. The pull that both cultures have for Walcott results to a considerable amount of tension that arguments as the poem progresses. His divided loyalties create a sense in him not to accept and appreciate a culture of his own. Although Walcott admits the civilized side of British culture, he does not recognize the cruel done to Africans by the British claiming to civilize them.

In line 26, "I who am poisoned with the blood of both, where shall I turn, divided to the vein?" Walcott endures his search to establish his true identity and used phases including poison to support the idea that his dual identity haunts him that develops a certain level of guiltiness for failing to trace his origin. Walcott feel being isolated and displaced despite him expressing his love and passion for English and technology, he cannot entirely embrace the culture of the colonizer, and similarly, he cannot fully associate himself with the culture of "darkness." Therefore, he endeavors to end the struggle within himself by accusing his sense of in-betweenness.

Due to Walcott "sharing blood" is not able to identify his own culture. The sad ending of the poem upholds the fact that the poet contemplates himself as a foreigner because of his mixed blood which puts Walcott in a state of isolation. Cultural effects are essential in conveying the identity of an individual's character by a specific society's values. Walcott's doubt towards both African and British cultures make him acknowledge both cultures in the typical functions of vanquisher and conquered. He critiques the cruel imperialistic deeds for the British, but he does not show compassion to his African tribesmen.

Hence, this shows that Walcott efforts to acknowledge the fault of both African and British culture without portraying any form of biasness. However, in line 5 and 6, only the worm, colonel of carrion, cries: "Waste no compassion on these separate dead!" Walcott blames the British because of their imperialistic technique to control the native culture (African) devoid of empathy for the colonized.

Walcott's hybrid existence between the two cultures presented him with the scope to pull apart the evil sides of both the colonizer and colonized. Therefore, postcolonialism is often double identity where the colonized lost their original selves and try to adopt the colonizer's culture. Walcott is in a fragmented condition meaning that indigenous people are empty of cohesive identity. This means that they are uncertain of who exactly they are and where they belong. Indigenous people exhibit both characteristics of the western culture and the native culture; hence they are "in-between." Therefore, colonized cultures cannot be regarded as pure; they show multicultural characteristics with mixed cultures.

Although it is said that colonialism ended, there are significant elements left in the post-colonial error that portrays colonized cultures as a mixture of western and native qualities. Hence, Walcott being a person from "mixed blood," he shows mixed cultures which he feels is the primary reason that he failed to identify his true origin.

Another challenge that Walcott encounters in the poem is how he will express his agonizing circumstance. This is because it is often challenging to express Blackman's pain in Whiteman's arguments. Because of the prolonged detachment from the African culture, Walcott is doubtful if he will be safeguarding the suffering of his fellow Africans using colonialist's language. Therefore, the poem gives a clear view of the conflict of identity that Walcott is fighting. His name symbols the culture of the colonizer while his injured dark body allegorizes their brutality.

Conclusion

Walcott identifies the characteristic of the culture that he admires most. He desires the "African terrain lifestyle and favors the English language and literary tradition." According to Walcott, both cultures have specific elements that attract him that prolongs the poem, and at the end, he has not found any solutions to resolve his dilemma "How can I face such slaughter and be cool? /how can I turn from Africa and live?" He has the view that his divided loyalties troubles him and desires that he embraces the "civilized" British culture, however, he cannot confirm their cruelty towards the Africans.

Works Cited

Walcott, Derek. "A Far Cry from Africa." The Norton Anthology of Poetry. Ed.