Last modified: 2023-12-01
Abstract
This paper delves into the theme of resistance as a recurrent motif in Asian literature, exploring its portrayal in Pramoedya Anantoa Toer's This Earth of Mankind and Min Jin Lee's Pachinko. Against the backdrop of historical colonization experiences in Asia, the study addresses two key questions. Firstly, it examines how resistance is depicted in the chosen novels, shedding light on characters like Minke and Sunja who challenge dominant powers. Secondly, the research assesses the regional nuances of this portrayal and explores the broader significance of resistance as a theme. The analysis draws inspiration from contemporary perspectives on power, emphasizing its relational nature. Grounded in the theories of Albert Memmi, Homi K. Bhabha, and Edward Said, the study delves into Memmi's notion of the mythical portrait of the colonized. It explores how, faced with the impossibility of assimilation and the realization of shouldering the colonizer's burdens, resistance becomes a crucial pivot for the colonized. The narrative of Minke and Sunja illustrates diverse forms of resistance, from challenging educational ideologies to unintentional acts of survival. Ultimately, this study illuminates how resistance serves as a pathway to self-discovery and autonomous dignity in the face of colonial dominance