THE ROLE OF LITERATURE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HUMANISM RESTORATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71105/Keywords:
conflict resolution, humanism, racial discrimination, literature, UbuntuAbstract
The different definitions of literature present it more as a tool for entertainment than an instrument for social change. Assuming that literature is indeed a tool for social change, how far have writers and readers resorted to this tool to achieve the needed change? Rare are instances of literature being used explicitly for national and international conflict resolution. Yet, creative writers are intellectuals whose influence on the power structure and on the masses cannot be undermined. Literary texts are meant for public consumption, reaching out beyond geographical and linguistic boundaries. As such, literature has a far-reaching influence on readers and on the world as a whole. Written against formalism criticism approach, this article analyses the relationship between literature, conflict resolution and humanism. It looks at two main texts: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and Time of the Butcherbird by Alex la Guma, in order to investigate the potential role of literature in conflict resolution and in restoring humanism where racial discrimination is threatening it. The work anchors on the hypothetical contention that internal and international conflicts can be better understood and solved through the lenses of literature.
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