Unveiling Colonial Shadows in Gothic Realms: A Post-Colonial Critique of 'The Devil in The Belfry'
Keywords:
Colonialism, Post-colonialism, Devil, Ideology, Symbols, Dominance, Power dynamics, Identity and Gothic LiteratureAbstract
Literature has always been regarded as the reflection and mirror of society. Gothic literature, a genre characterized by a penchant for darkness and dread, is often considered a fertile ground to discover colonial themes, elements, and legacies. This study delves into "The Devil in the Belfry” as its text serves as a case study that encapsulates the process and aftermaths of colonialism through its narrative structure, character interactions, and symbolism. Magical realism established by certain literary devices in gothic literature is used to show the intensity of the aftermaths of colonialism. Drawing from the theoretical framework of post-colonialism, the study seeks to deconstruct and analyze the power dynamics and colonial shocks embedded in colonial discourse. The paper delves into discovering how the story reflects colonial and colonized ideologies and notions of "civilized" colonizer and "savage" colonized through nuanced character and events portrayals. The research attempts to analyze how colonized voices and perspectives emerge within the Gothic framework, offering resistance to colonial narratives. The study concludes by offering plausible insights for the eradication of colonial remains and to achieve the native order of things.