In
The Notebook of a Return to the Native
Land by Cesaire, there are many passages that show the terrible acts of the
colonists using a surrealist form of writing. One of the most important ways
that this tension is shown is through the depiction of the land itself. To the
colonists, the land represents what they can do to it in order to increase
their revenue as well as power. Similarly, the colonists feel the same way
about the people there. The colonists show little concern about the natives as
people and are only focused on how to make money by trading them or using them
for labor. Cesaire makes this connection by depicting the land as a person and
the people similar to the land. This type of depiction shows Cesaire’s
surrealist tendencies because it is very surrealist to use these types of metaphors
and personification methods.
In many ways, Cesaire’s writing is more important than other surrealist writings. Here, he is making a really important point about the treatment of his people by the colonists as well as the treatment of the land. One can feel the emotions he feels while writing this piece. His emotions shine through the repeated phrases, especially the more vulgar ones he uses. There seems to be a tension between what he was and how the colonists treated him at home and who he is now and how people treat him. As a famous surrealist writer, Cesaire does not want to allow himself or others to forget where he came from and what it was like.
One phrase that depicts this idea well is found on page 59: “So much blood in my memory.” This phrase shows that while Cesaire is different, his memory will always be stained. At the same time, it shows that he might not dwell on this past, hence it is found in his memory. The blood represents the harsh times he and his people faced by the colonists. This passage is particularly interesting because it, again, ties together the land and the people; in this case it ties specifically him with the land. It equates his memory with the water that is not covered in water lilies. From this passage, one understands the emotional trauma felt by Cesaire and the rest of his people as well as the destruction of the land itself by the colonists. These two tragedies are linked here simply by Cesaire’s substitution one for the other midway through the passage. This connection is used to show that while Cesaire might not still be living there, he will never forget his homeland and what the colonists did there.
It is also important to note how Cesaire manages to make this writing a form of surrealist writing. While the meaning is comprehensible, one must take the time to understand it because it is, in fact, surrealism. In many ways, he contradicts himself, such as on page 59, when he is discussion Europe and what Europe is like. He states that Europe is both timid and proud and that he must leave it “utterly twisted with screams,” as though it is in pain. Cesaire makes a point to not outright explain what he is attempting to portray in his writing. He focuses much more on the emotional draw of it rather than the actual meaning behind it.
In many ways, Cesaire’s writing is more important than other surrealist writings. Here, he is making a really important point about the treatment of his people by the colonists as well as the treatment of the land. One can feel the emotions he feels while writing this piece. His emotions shine through the repeated phrases, especially the more vulgar ones he uses. There seems to be a tension between what he was and how the colonists treated him at home and who he is now and how people treat him. As a famous surrealist writer, Cesaire does not want to allow himself or others to forget where he came from and what it was like.
One phrase that depicts this idea well is found on page 59: “So much blood in my memory.” This phrase shows that while Cesaire is different, his memory will always be stained. At the same time, it shows that he might not dwell on this past, hence it is found in his memory. The blood represents the harsh times he and his people faced by the colonists. This passage is particularly interesting because it, again, ties together the land and the people; in this case it ties specifically him with the land. It equates his memory with the water that is not covered in water lilies. From this passage, one understands the emotional trauma felt by Cesaire and the rest of his people as well as the destruction of the land itself by the colonists. These two tragedies are linked here simply by Cesaire’s substitution one for the other midway through the passage. This connection is used to show that while Cesaire might not still be living there, he will never forget his homeland and what the colonists did there.
It is also important to note how Cesaire manages to make this writing a form of surrealist writing. While the meaning is comprehensible, one must take the time to understand it because it is, in fact, surrealism. In many ways, he contradicts himself, such as on page 59, when he is discussion Europe and what Europe is like. He states that Europe is both timid and proud and that he must leave it “utterly twisted with screams,” as though it is in pain. Cesaire makes a point to not outright explain what he is attempting to portray in his writing. He focuses much more on the emotional draw of it rather than the actual meaning behind it.
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