Critique on Western Notion of Rational Modernity in Derek Walcott’s Dream on Monkey Mountain

Abstract

This paper explores criticism on the notion of Western rational modernity in Derek Walcott’s Dream on Monkey Mountain. It is obvious that Walcott portrays ‘in-between’ identity of the Caribbean subjects, where, Caribbean society being a post-colonial world. ‘In-between’ identity suggests such a position which does not indicate one particular thing rather is more than the hybrid position of ‘neither this nor that’ but something else besides called in-between. However, this researcher argues that this play is a vehement criticism of Western rational modernity; since the play represents Makak as a mythical character returner for his ancestral roots, employs the hallucinations so as to escape from mimic man, manipulates colonizer’s language in order to attempt an independent identity for the West Indies and depicts Makak’s venture in life (in dream) for search of his real identity and belonging. For accomplishing this analysis, the researcher brings key theoretical ideas from Homi Bhabha’s ‘in-between’ position of post-colonial world, Bjorn Thomassen and Dara Downey’s view on liminal experience of Caribbean subjects, Robert John Young’s concept on hybridity and ambivalent attitude of the post-colonial subjects and Stuart Hall’s notion on unstable and uncertain cultural identity. The researcher ultimately concludes that Walcott’s inner motive is to reclaim his pure origin as the play reflects difficulty for looking at the national or cultural identity in the Caribbean island.