LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 20:9 September 2020
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Social Degradation of Native People Portrayed in
The Ecstasy Of Rita Joe by George Ryga

Mufitha Moidutty, M.A. Candidate

Abstract

This paper analyses the struggling life of native people whose culture, identity, and social value going through the process of degradation as a result of colonialism. Through the life of Rita Joe, it explores how Rita was elevated to the status of saint, ecstasy freedom she attained, ecstasy of honor, ecstasy of self-affirmation, dignity, ecstasy of sainthood, how she attained integrity which is denied in this physical world.

Keywords: George Ryga, The Ecstasy Of Rita Joe, Canadian aboriginal, social degradation, Class struggle, Colonialism, Assimilation.

The literature that has been produced from the Canadian experiences that is written by Canadians is Canadian literature. While writing about the social condition of indigenous people, the subject matter of the writers is common and general in topic -- inclusive of class struggle; ill-treating of blacks on the basis of education, employment, even unequal justice; alienation; personal unfulfillment; and so on. The reason is all the written text resulted from the same bitter experiences of one’s own which were the common issues faced by the aboriginals in their land.

Being a prominent Canadian playwright and novelist, George Ryga draws the picture of a young native woman who shifted along with her beloved Jaimie Paul from rural to urban; from reservation to city seeking for a good job and to settle their life. That explores the life of aboriginal natives who are marginalized by the whites, and also how the modern youth are attracted by luxurious life of city and they leave their family and reservation in order to follow these luxuries.

The play The Ecstasy of Rita Joe was written in 1967 and first played in Playhouse theatre, now called Vancouver. The story of Rita Joe corresponds to a real incident which happened in 1967. Ryga has written this story based on a newspaper article which reported the murder of an aboriginal girl or woman who was raped and put in a slum.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Mufitha Moidutty, M.A. Candidate
Department of English
Yuvakshetra College
Palakkad, Kerala
mk36845@gmail.com
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