Browsing by Author "Corwin, Jay"

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    African historical religions and Africana spirituality in the Caribbean literature: an analysis of Afro-Caribbean philosophical archetypes in contemporary Caribbean literature using Ifá philosophy as a signifying system
    (2019) De La Cruz, Garcia Katia; Corwin, Jay; Martínez-Ruíz, Bárbaro
    This research analyses the presence of Afro-Caribbean philosophical archetypes in Caribbean literature as fundamental elements in the identity formation and racial dynamics of African descendants in the Caribbean. The main focus is on the spiritual component of African historical religions and Africana spirituality. The spiritual component, considering its level of transcendence in the human being, is essential in the formation of the identity since it allows the creation of moral archetypes that can be recognized in literary creations. The research uses Ifá philosophy, Yoruba mythology, and Africana religions, as signifying systems. The research considers the religious foundations of the Ewe-Fon, Kongo and especially, Yoruba traditions, with a focus on the Yoruba Oracle as Literary Corpus as well as the basis for the analysis of the following novels: Of Love and other Demons by Gabriel García Márquez, Changó, the biggest badass by Manuel Zapata Olivella, Ecué Yamba Ó by Alejo Carpentier, The red of his shadow by Mayra Montero and Gabriela, clove and cinnamon by Jorge Amado. This project establishes that the moral philosophy, implicit in the divinatory system of the Yoruba people, known as Ifá, can be traced through the literary structures of Caribbean literature and can be used as a reference for transnational identity in the Caribbean.
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    La soledad en Clen anos de soledad de Gabriel Garcia Marquez
    (2018) Potgieter, Petronella; Corwin, Jay
    This thesis analyses the theme of solitude in Gabriel García Márquez’s Cien años d e soledad given that it is the novel’s main theme, as suggested by the title and illustrated by the author’s focus on it and its related subthemes. The analysis of the novel and the associated literature aims to explain the author’s viewpoint on solitude and illustrate how this emotion affects the author’s homeland (Colombia) and its people as reflected in his work and through characters. The historical context of the novel and pre-Columbian myths form part of the analysis due to their role in understanding solitude as described by García Márquez. The Introduction to the thesis presents the author’s perspective on solitude– he equates it to anti-solidarity–underlining that solitude is recurrent in the work of García Márquez who stated that he only wrote one book in many books, namely the 'book of solitude’. This highlights the significance of this theme and related subthemes. The Introduction then places the novel in the literary period in which it was written (namely the Latin American boom) and examines the particular style (magic realism) that formed part of this era. Thereafter, a short biographic overview of the author is provided, with emphasis on his early childhood and the history of his time, these aspects having influenced his work profoundly. Finally, attention is drawn to pre-Columbian history as this constitutes the point of departure of the current study, in which various themes are explored to determine their link to solitude. Chapter 1 explores the theme of solitude in Latin American literature in particular and then goes on to show which non-Latin American authors also influenced García Márquez Chapter 2 deals with the historical context of the novel and its characters. It refers to the importance of history in García Márquez’s work. The pre-Columbian myths of Bachué and Hunzahúa are delved into as they too focus on solitude and incest, fundamental themes in Cien años de soledad. In addition, the characters affected by solitude are considered from an archetypal perspective. Chapter 3 is an analysis of the sub-themes of solitude and forms the biggest part of the thesis. Special attention is paid to solitude in relation to incest, lack of love, the quest for knowledge, power, nostalgia and death to show their interrelatedness and mutual influence. Cursory reference is made to other relevant aspects such as illegitimacy, insanity, elderliness, repetition, oblivion, narcissism, solipsism, fate and time. The Conclusion shows that in the specific geographic and historical context, the sub-themes analysed are in fact all themes of solitude in this novel and that solitude is the cause of the apocalyptic demise of Macondo and its people. It reveals that solidarity would be the factor that could save Colombia and Latin America.