ニュージーランドにおける多文化主義の一面 : ウイティ・イヒマエラの文学(上)

概要

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This paper aims to investigate the characteristics of multicultural situations in New Zealand mainly through the novels and short stories written by Witi Ihimaera, a famous Maori writer. It is well known that Ihimaera has been trying to establish a sense of biculturalism in New Zealand and to make an authentic Maori world view comprehensible both to young urban Maori and to Pakeha. He witnessed a great increase in immigrations of the Maori from their rural and agriculturally based communities to the urban areas, which, he assumed, would lead to a cultural discontinuity or, the loss of the spirit of Maoritanga, among them. According to Ihimaera's view, the gradual assimilation of the Maori into the dominant Pakeha culture will not be helpful to make the Pakeha realize that there are positive aspects of the cultural differences that exist in New Zealand. In writing novels and short stories, Ihimaera has been preoccupied in reconstructing a view of history different from that seen from the Pakeha perspective. His attitude towards the relationship between the Maori and the Pakeha can safely be said to have showed a subtle shift in his thirty years' litrary career from a non-activist stance to a militant one. In the former half of this paper, my discussion will be focused on his early works, Pounamu Pounamu, Tangi, Whanau and The New Net Goes Fishing. ( End of Part 1 )
2001-01-31