[英语论文精品] 从《走出非洲》分析伊萨·迪内森的人生追求——探索生命的意义analyzing isak dinesen from out of africa-----exploring the meaning of life 毕业论文

A1A1A1A2A0A3A3A5A4A6A7A8A9A10A11IANALYZINGISAKDINESENFROMOUTOFAFRICAEXPLORINGTHEMEANINGOFLIFEABSTRACTTHEFAMOUSNOVELOFOUTOFAFRICA,WRITTENBYISAKDINESEN,CANPERHAPSBEREGARDEDASONEOFTHEDISTINGUISHEDAUTOBIOGRAPHICALNOVELSINTHEWESTERNLITERATUREIN19THCENTURYITISNOTABOOKTHATFAVOURSREADERSWITHITSSTORIESANDPLOTSBUTENLIGHTENOTHERSWITHTHEDELICATEPROSECONNOTATIONASWELLASTHEDEEPATTACHMENTTOTHELANDANDPEOPLEOFAFRICASOFARASIKNOW,ISAKDINESENWASNOMINATEDWITHNOBELPRIZETWICEANDTHISNOVEL,CONDENSEDTHROUGHTHEPAINSTAKINGEFFORTSOFTHEAUTHOR,HASBEENADOPTEDINTOAMOVIEIN1986,WHICHBROUGHTABOUTANINTERNATIONALREPUTATIONTOTHEAUTHOROFTHENOVELISTAFTERWINNINGSIXITEMSOFOSCARAWARDSCOMPAREDTOTHEREPUTATIONSHEHASWON,THEAUTHORSPERSONALEXPERIENCEISFARMORESTIMULATINGANDINTRICATEWITH17YEARSOFLIFEEXPERIENCEINAFRICA,DINESENEXPLOREDTHEMEANINGOFLIFE,THUSESTABLISHINGHERPARTICULARCONSCIOUSNESSOFFEMALESUBJECTIVITYINANATTEMPTTODISCUSSWHATDINESENHASDONEASTOEXPLORINGTHEMEANINGOFLIFE,THEPAPERISAIMEDTOANALYZETHEWRITERTHROUGHTHISBOOKMYSTUDIESWILLINCLUDEHERBACKGROUND,HERINTERIORLIFEWHENSHEARRIVEDINAFRICAATFIRST,ANDTHEPROCESSOFMIXINGWITHNATUREANDAFRICANBLACKNATIVES,ETCINADDITION,WEHAVEALSOANALYZEDHERSPIRITTOPURSUEFREEDOMANDHERSTRONGVOLITIONTOMAKESURVIVALONTHECONTINENTTOTALLYNEWTOHERWITHREMEMBRANCEOFTHEUNFAITHFULNESSOFHERHUSBAND,ANDTHEDEATHOFHERLOVERTHOUGHSHEHASSHOWNHERINDIFFERENCETOFAMEANDWEALTHASAWRITER,HERPIONEERINGSPIRITISSTILLINSPIRINGHERREADERSTOIMITATEANDINHERITTHESPIRITUALWEALTHSHEHASLEFTTOUSFURTHERMORE,ITPROVIDESABROADTHINKINGSPACEFORTHEPEOPLEWHOLIVEINSOMEOUTERMOSTFRONTIER,ANDANAUTHENTICACCESSTOTHEUNBELIEVABLEHARDSHIPSTHATAWOMANCANENDUREANDCHOOSEAMEANINGFULHARDLIFEASSHEHASDEDICATEDHERSELFTOFROMTHEPROSPECTIVEOFAFEMALEBESIDES,THENOVELALSOPRESENTSGREATENLIGHTENMENTONTOUSTHROUGHITSTHOUGHGOINGEXPLORATIONOFTHEFATEANDSURVIVALANDVALUEOFTHEHUMANBEINGSKEYWORDSOUTOFAFRICAMEANINGOFLIFEHUMANISMFEMINISMCONSCIOUSNESSOFINDEPENDENCEA12A12A12A13A14A15A15A16A17A18A19A20A21A22A23II从走出非洲分析伊萨迪内森的人生追求探索生命的意义摘要走出非洲是一部自传体小说，它是丹麦著名女作家伊萨克迪内森最著名的一部小说，它不靠故事情节来哗然取众，却带着浓浓的散文内涵，饱含着作者对非洲风土人情的深深眷念之情。伊萨克迪内森曾两次获诺贝尔文学奖提名，而这部凝聚了她多年心血的作品，在她逝世多年后被改编为电影，还赢得了奥斯卡奖，更为作者带来了国际声誉。然而作者的亲身经历却比作品更为传奇动人。在这部作品中，她以17年的亲生经历和体验，探索了生命的意义，以及女性主体意识的确立。G7424文G17902G17819对这部作品来G2010G7524伊萨克迪内森G6116G19283G13984G7235，以及她走G17839非洲之G2033G2052走出非洲之后，在G994自然和土著人G8677的G5942G5942G15713G2524中经历的心G17347G17819G12255，探G16764作者在这部小说中G3926G1321探索生命的意义。G8504G3818，她对非洲人G8677G18039G1233浓G2414的G9921G10245之情，G18039G17873G8726自G11013的G7424性，在经历了G988G3839的出G17724，G2666G2869G3265G3845G9791，情人G5820G8527后，G1185G7099带着G5875G9620G994G5588念之情，G10432自一人G3374G5390G3332生G8975着，还G7389她作为一名作家的G18039G1233G9141G8862名G2045之心G12573G12573，这一G2011对G6117G1216来说G18129是一G1022G5468G3835的G2563G2469，一G12520G7509G19602得的G12946G12082G17142G4512。走出非洲G13485G3800G1122G17805G13548G3332带的人G1216，提G1391了G5203G19432的G5617G13783G12366G19400，G1186女性的G16294G5242G5468G3921G3332G5617G13783了人G5224G16825G3926G1321G5242G17819一生的G19394G20076，G2528G7114，它还对人的命G17828G994G4396在意义G17839G15904了深G2063的探索。关键词G726G463走出非洲G464生命的意义人文主义女性主义G10432立意识A24A24A24A25A26A27A27A28A29A30A31A32A33A34A35IIICONTENTSABSTRACTIABSTRACT（INCHINESE）II1ABRIEFINTRODUCTIONTOTHEBOOK111ABOUTTHENOVEL112GENERALREVIEWOFTHESTORYANDSUBJECTSOFTHENOVEL12KARENBLIXENTHEAUTHOROFOUTOFAFRICA121ISAKDINESEN,THEPSEUDONYMOFKARENBLIXEN,ANDHERWRITINGBACKGROUND122CRITICISMONOUTOFAFRICA23ABOUTEXPLORATIONABRAVEPIONEERINEXPLORINGAFRICA231ATTHEBEGINNINGOFEXPLORATIONENTERINGAFRICA232THEDIFFICULTYOFEXPLORATIONEXPERIENCEDBYTHEAUTHORINAFRICA3321WOMENANDNATUREABLENDOFNATURE3322EUROPEANSETTLERSFRIENDSHIPBETWEENCOLONISTSANDABORIGINES4323THEAUTHORANDTHEABORIGINES53231DINESENANDKAMANTEANATIVECHILD53232FARAHASERVANTOFDINESENANDTHEAUTHOR53223BESTPICTUREOF1985UNFORGETTABLEMOVIEMOMENT633FIGHTINGFORFATE6331FORPRIDE6A36A36A36A37A38A39A39A40A41A42A43A44A45A46A47IV332REGRETLESSNESSANDPERSEVERANCEINCHERISHINGHERLOVE74CONCLUSION7REFERENCES9ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS10A48A48A48A49A50A51A51A52A53A54A55A56A57A58A5911ABRIEFINTRODUCTIONTOTHEBOOK11ABOUTTHENOVELAPARTFROMDESCRIBINGHER17YEARSPRIVATELIFEOFRUNNINGACOFFEEPLANTINAFRICA,DINESENRECALLSTHENATURALLANDSCAPE,ANIMALSANDBLACKNATIVESTHEREINTHISNOVELWECANTOUCHHERDEEPAFFECTIONTOWARDSTHELANDANDPEOPLEBETWEENTHELINESWHILEKEEPINGONOURREADINGWOVENFROMHEROWNSTORIES,THEBOOK,FULLOFROMANCEANDEXOTICISMANDINTEGRATINGHERBIOGRAPHY,ANTHROPOLOGY,POEMS,PROSEANDPAPER,ALLOFWHICHPRESENTSUSTHEMYSTERIOUSANDWHIMSICALANDNIGHTMAREAFRICANSCENETOUSFURTHERMORE,WECANTOUCHDINESENSSOLIDPOWEROFLANGUAGESHEALWAYSPORTRAYSTHELANDSCAPEANDCHARACTERSOFAFRICAWITHINTENSIVETHOUGHTSANDLIVELYCOMPARISON,WITHATENDERANDAFFECTIONATESENSATIONLIKEWISE,WECANGETAGLIMPSEOFHERIMPLICITCRITICALATTITUDETOWARDSTHEMODERNEUROPEANCIVILIZATION,ASWELLAS,HEROWNHUMANISTICEUROPEANFRATERNALCOMRADES,LOVEANDUNDERSTANDINGONTHELOCALCULTURE,TRADITIONANDNATURALWONDERINAFRICA12GENERALREVIEWOFTHESTORYANDSUBJECTSOFTHENOVELIN1959,OUR73YEAROLDAUTHORCAMETOAMERICAFORTHEFIRSTANDTHEONLYTIMETODELIVERHERSPEECHINAMERICANLITERATURESTUDYCONFERENCE,ONWHICHSHESUMMARIZEDHERWHOLELIFEEXPERIENCESHESAID“EVERYONEAMONGUSMUSTFEELTHATOURLIVES,ISSOUNIQUE,RICHANDWONDERFUL”WHENANALYZINGTHEINCLINATIONSOFHERWRITINGOFTHEBOOKANDHERDEPICTIONOFNATURE,ANIMAL,NATIVEINHABITANTSANDTHEAUTHORSOWNEXPERIENCE,THEAUTHORCANNOTBUTFEELPROUDOFHERTHOUGHTSANDINSIGHTSINTOTHEMEANINGOFLIFE,THEINDEPENDENCEOFAWOMANANDHERPURSUITOFTHESUBJECTCONSCIOUSNESSOVERTHEMAINLINEPENETRATINGINTOTHEBOTTOMOFHUMANHEARTANDSURVIVALINHERWORDSDINESENINDEEDDOESWELLINTELLINGSTORIESTOEXPRESSMEANINGSOFLIFEANDTHEINTEGRITYOFHUMANSURVIVALANDHUMANVALUEASTHESUPERIORCREATURES,WHICHDRIVESUSTOTHINKMOREAFTERREADINGDINESENSLETTERS,SENTTOHERFAMILY,DEMONSTRATEHERCULTUREANDHERINTIMATEINVOLVEMENTWITHART,LITERATURE,ANDIDEASPARTICULARLYSOCIALTHOUGHTSABOUTTHEROLEOFWOMENINTHATLANDANOTHERQUOTATIONISSUITABLETODEFINEHERSIGNIFICANCEOFWRITING“IAMJUSTAMESSENGERSENTFROMAFARJOURNEYTOTELLPEOPLETHATHOPESTILLEXISTSINTHEWORLD”MARIANISMESENFROMKARENBLIXENMUSEUMONCEMENTIONED”THEINTEGRITYOFSURVIVAL,ANDTHATHOWSHOULDOURTRACESBELEFTBEHINDOURLIVES,REMAINSTHEMAJORSUBJECTSOFDINESEN”INDEED,THESEIDEASWERELIKELYTOREMAINTHEWAYFORDINESENUNTILTHEENDOFHERLIFE2KARENBLIXENTHEAUTHOROFOUTOFAFRICA121ISAKDINESEN,THEPSEUDONYMOFKARENBLIXEN,ANDHERWRITINGBACKGROUNDISAKDINESEN,APSEUDONYMTOKARENBLIXEN18851962,ISFAMOUSFORHERMEMOIR,OUTOFA60A60A60A61A62A63A63A64A65A66A67A68A69A70A712AFRICA,WHICHBRINGSHEREVERLASTINGINTERNATIONALPRESTIGE,ANDFORSEVERALWORKSOFFICTION,INCLUDINGSEVENGOTHICTALES1934,WINTERSTALES1942,THEANGELICAVENGERS1944ANDTHELASTSTORIES1957A2007POLLOFOPINIONINHERNATIVEDENMARKLISTSKARENBLIXENASONEOFTHEMOSTREPRESENTATIVEPERSONALITIESINDANISHLITERARYHISTORYSHEWROTEINBOTHENGLISHANDDANISHAFTERLIVINGONACOFFEEFARMINKENYAFROM1914TO1931ANDDIEDIN1962THOUGHBORNINTOANOBLEFAMILY,DINESENHADTASTEDALIFELONGFRUSTRATIONANDMISFORTUNEITSRIGHTINSAYINGTHATSHEBEGANTHINKINGABOUTLIFEATANEARLYAGEWHENSHEWASTEN,HERFATHER,APOLITICIANANDWRITERHANGHIMSELFDUETOBADDAYSINPOLITICSANDTHEINFECTIONOFSYPHILISSHESPENTHERSTORMYCHILDHOODWITHHERMOTHERIN1914,SHEBEGANTHEUNFORTUNATEMARRIAGEWITHHERCOUSINBRORBLIXEN,WHOTURNEDTOBEALUSTFULMANSOONAFTERWARDS,FROMHERHUSBANDSHEWASCOMMUNICATEDWITHSYPHILIS,THEDISEASETHATWASASHAMETOMENTIONANDREMAINEDANGUISHTOHERFORALONGTIMEITMAYRESULTINHERINTROSPECTINGABOUTDESTINYANDHUMANISM,EXPLORINGTHEMEANINGOFLIFE,ESPECIALLYEXPERIENCESDEPICTEDINTHISBOOK22CRITICISMONOUTOFAFRICAAUSTERITY,FRESHNESS,FASCINATIONANDFANCYARETHEMAINFEATUREOFDINESENSWORKS,WHICHISSIMILARTOTHESTYLEOFTHEEPICSANDTHEARABIANNIGHTSTHECHICAGOTRIBUNEONCECOMMENTEDTHATITMAYBETHEBESTBOOKINTERMSOFDESCRIBINGAFRICASOFARJOHNDAWENBO,ANENGLISHCRITICSPOKEHIGHLYOFHER“FEWPEOPLEINOURERACANWRITEASLITTLEANDWONDERFULASHER”HEMINGWAYUSEDTOEMPHASIZETHECEREMONYOFNOBELPRIZE“IWOULDBEMOREGRATEFULIFTHEBEAUTIFULISAKDINESENWOULDHAVEACCEPTEDTHISHONOUR”THEATLANTICMONTHLYMAGAZINEREGARDEDTHEAUTHORASONEOFTHEUNIQUEARTISTSINMODERNAGEWHILETHEWOMANWRITEREUDORAWELTYDECLAREDTHATTHEBOOKPROVIDEDANACCESSTOTHESPECIALMINDOFDINESEN,WHOALSOWASDESCRIBEDASANIMAGINATIVEANDINTELLIGENTWRITER3ABOUTEXPLORATION31ATTHEBEGINNINGOFEXPLORATIONENTERINGAFRICAINTHEEARLY20THCENTURY,AFRICAWASTHESYNONYMOFHOTNESS,DROUGHT,PLAGUE,POVERTY,BACKWARDNESSANDIGNORANCEAFTERLIFTINGITSMYSTERIOUSVEILINGENERAL,THOSEWHOWENTINTOTHEBARRENLANDAREMAINLYCRAFTYSPECULATORSANDPEDDLERS,THOUGHAMONGWHOMTHEREWERESOMEBRAVEEXPLORERSANDISAKDINESENWASSUCHARARELYSEENPOSITIVEPIONEERBUTWHATDROVESUCHAWOMANWRITERTOEXPERIENCETHEHARDSHIPSINTHETRACKLESSREGIONACCORDINGTOAFRIENDOFDINESEN,THEAUTHOROFTHEBIOGRAPHYOUTOFAFRICAANDISAKDINESEN,DINESENMADESTARTLINGDECISIONSINFRONTOFHERFAMILIESANDFRIENDSINSOMECRITICALLIVINGCONDITIONSHAVINGBEENBITTERLYHATEDTHOSECOMPLICATEDFORMALITIESINVICTORIA,SHEHADALWAYSBEENLIVINGINACONDITIONTHATCOULDHARDLYBEDEFINEDBYHEROWNDEFINITIONABOUTLIFESHEMARRIEDBRORBLIXENSUDDENLYIN1913ANDGAVEAWAYHEREASYLIFEINEUROPE,DECIDINGTOGOTOKENYAIN1914IN1920,SHEDEFUSEDBRORSIDEAOFTURNINGTOOTHERBUSINESSBYSELLINGTHEFARMAFTERTHEDIVORCE,SHEBEGANTORUNTHECOFFEEPLANTATIONALONEALLTHESESHOCKINGDECISIONSORIGINATEDINHERNATUREOFGOINGAFTERFREEDOMANDFIRMNESSOFPURPOSE,SINCESHEWASSUCHAA72A72A72A73A74A75A75A76A77A78A79A80A81A82A833WOMANWHOBOASTEDOFCOURAGEANDPOWERTHATMENSELDOMPOSSESSEDYOUNGASSHEWAS,SHEWASEAGERTOHAVEANEWLIFEASTORECEIVETHETITLEBARONESS,SHEEVENMARRIEDAMANSHEDIDNOTLOVE,ATWINBROTHEROFHEREXLOVERACTUALLY,ITWASTHEDESIRETOESCAPETHELIFEINEUROPETHATPROMPTEDHERTOCHOOSETOGOTOAFRICASHESAID”MYLIFEHASNOMEANING”SHEWASLOOKINGFORNEWHOPEINTHEFERVOUROFLIFEAGAINOFCOURSE,ALLTHESEDEMANDCOST,GREATCOST,TOUGHNESSANDHARDSHIPENDURINGSTRONGWILL32THEDIFFICULTYOFEXPLORATIONEXPERIENCEDBYTHEAUTHORINAFRICAABRAVEPIONEERINEXPLORINGAFRICA321WOMENANDNATUREABLENDOFNATUREFORDINESEN,EVERYTHINGHADTHESAMELIFEVALUEASLONGASMANKEEPSONHISEXPLORATION,INCLUDINGANIMALS,MOUNTAINANDGRASSLANDIFMENCOULDLEARNTOTAPTHEMOUTANDLIVETHEMALONGWITHTHENATURALSURROUNDINGSHARMONIOUSLYSHEDEPICTEDTHECHARMINGSCENERYOFAFRICATHATWASPRIMITIVEANDVIGOROUSONLYTHOSEWHOAREABLETOSETTLEDOWNTHEMSELVESTOREADHERBOOKCANAPPRECIATETHEBEAUTYOFTHEAFRICANCONTINENTNOW,LISTENTOWHATSHESAYS,“IHADAFARMINAFRICA,ATTHEFOOTOFTHENGONGHILLSTHEEQUATORRUNSACROSSTHESEHIGHLANDS,AHUNDREDMILESTOTHENORTH,ANDTHEFARMLAYATANALTITUDEOFOVERSIXTHOUSANDFEETINTHEDAYTIMEYOUFELTTHATYOUHADGOTHIGHUP,NEARTOTHESUN,BUTTHEEARLYMORNINGSANDEVENINGSWERELIMPIDANDRESTFUL,ANDTHENIGHTSWERECOLD”ITSEEMEDTHATHERWORDSHAVEAKINDOFMAGICALPOWER,WHICHCONVINCESUSTOCOMEDOWNANDREMOVEOURWORRIESFROMTHESTIROFTHESOCIETY“THEHILLCOUNTRYITSELF,WHENYOUGETINTOIT,ISTREMENDOUSBIG,PICTURESQUEANDMYSTERIOUSVARIEDWITHLONGVALLEYS,THICKETS,GREENSLOPESANDROCKYCRAGS”“UPINTHISHIGHLAND,THEAIRYOUCANBREATHEEASILY,DRAWINGINAVITALASSURANCEANDLIGHTNESSOFHEARTINTHEHIGHLANDSYOUWOKEUPINTHEMORNINGANDTHOUGHTHEREIAM,WHEREIOUGHTTOBE”ALLTHESENTENCESABOVEINDICATETHATDINESENHADBEENINVOLVEDHERSELFDEEPLYINTOTHELANDMANYTITLESOFTHEPASSAGEINTHEBOOKARENAMEDAFTERTHEANIMALSLIVINGTHERE,FROMWHICHWECANSEEDINESENSATTENTIONTOTHOSEWILDCREATURESINTERMSOFANIMALFEATURES,SHEDIDWELLINSUBTLEDESCRIPTIONS,ESPECIALLYINHERGRASPOFTHESITUATIONSTHATCOULDBELOSTINTHETWINKLINGOFANEYEFOREXAMPLE,THEMEEKLAMB,ILLGROOMEDBUFFALOS,MYTHOLOGICALBUG,COLOURFULIGUANAS,SELFSACRIFICINGANDHARDWORKINGTAURUSANDHORRIFYINGLIONSITISWORTHMENTIONINGTHATDINESENUSEDTOGOHUNTINGLIONSWITHHERLOVERDENYSTWICEJUSTIMAGINEWHATTHRILLINGSPECTACLESTHEYAREWITHTHETIMEGOINGON,THEAUTHORHADLEARNEDMANYWAYSOFCOMMUNICATINGWITHLOCALPEOPLEINABUNDANTNATURALRESOURCESLETSLOOKATHOWOURAUTHORWROTEABOUTLULU,AMEEKLAMBTHEAUTHORADMIREDTHETRAITOFLULUSCOURAGETOCONQUERTHEWORLDASAFEMALE“SHEHAD,TOTHEHIGHESTDEGREE,THEFEMININETRAITOFAPPEARINGTOBEEXCLUSIVELYONTHEDEFENSIVE,CONCENTRATEDONGUARDINGTHEINTEGRITYOFHERBEING,WHENSHEWASREALLY,WITHEVERYBITOFFORCEINHER,BENTUPONTHEOFFENSIVEAGAINSTWHOMAGAINSTTHEWHOLEWORLD”ANDBESIDES,DINESENAPPRECIATEDLULUSCOMMUNICATIONSKILLSTHATWONHER“THEPOWERANDPOSITIONINTHEHOUSE”“STILLNOBODYCOULDBEOFAGENTLERDEMEANORTHANLULUWASWHENSHECAMEANDLAYDOWN,INTHEMANNEROFAPERFECTLADYWHODEMURELYGATHERSHERSKIRTSABOUTHERANDWILLBEINNOONESA84A84A84A85A86A87A87A88A89A90A91A92A93A94A954WAYSHEDRANKTHEMILKWITHAPOLITE,PERNICKETYMIEN,ASIFSHEHADBEENPRESSEDBYANDANOVERKINDHOSTESS”SHEDESCRIBEDLULUSBEAUTYLIKETHIS“HERNOSEWASASBLACKASATRUFFLEHERDIMINUTIVEHOOFSGAVEHERALLTHEAIROFAYOUNGCHINESELADYOFTHEOLDSCHOOL,WITHLACEDFEETITWASARAREEXPERIENCETOHOLDSUCHAPERFECTTHINGINYOURHANDS”CANANYONEWITHOUTAFFECTIONTOWARDSCREATURESHAVESUCHPASSIONANDATTENTIVECARETOOBSERVETHESESITUATIONSEVENLULUWENTBACKTOTHEFORESTAFTERGROWINGUP,SHENEVERFORGOTTOGOBACKTOVISITHERMASTERNOWANDTHEN,ALONGWITHHERFAMILIESNOTONLYDIDSHESHOWHERCARETOANANIMAL,BUTALSOTHEHUMANISMTOANINDIVIDUALGRADUALLYTHECONCORDRELATIONBETWEENMANANDANIMALSANDTHEFRIENDLYRELATIONBETWEENTHELOCALPEOPLEANDTHEAUTHORPROMPTHERTOEXPRESSHERAFFECTIONONTHEPLACEANDTHELOCALPEOPLE,WHICHHASENABLEDHERTODISCLOSEAFARMOREPROFOUNDMEANINGOFLIFE322EUROPEANSETTLERSFRIENDSHIPBETWEENCOLONISTSANDABORIGINESTHEPERIODOFTIMEWHENTHEAUTHORSTAYEDINAFRICAISTHETRANSITIONPERIODFORTHEEUROPEANSFROMTHEWESTERNFREECAPITALISMDEVELOPMENTTOTHEPERIODOFIMPERIALISMFROMTHEENDOFTHE19THCENTURYTOTHEFIRST20THCENTURYAFEWCAPITALISTSDOMINATEDNATIONALECONOMYBYDEALINGWITHDOMESTICANDOVERSEASEXPLOITATION,ATARESULTOFCOLONIALPRACTICEINFARAWAYREGIONWHATSWORSE,VARIOUSCONFLICTSLEDTOTHEWW1WHENKENYAWASONEOFTHEENGLISHCOLONIESDINESENCAMETOAFRICAASACOLONISTUNDERSUCHBACKGROUNDWHILEINFACT,SHEWASANANTICOLONISTANDAHUMANISTWECANSTILLCATCHHERDEEPLYTHOUGHTSONLIFEANDHERNOBLEINDEPENDENTCHARACTERGLAMOURINTHECONTEXTOFTHECOMBINATIONOFAFRICANANDEUROPEANCULTURELIKELAWRENCEOFARABIA,OUTOFAFRICAISASTORYOFTIMEANDPLACEJUSTASTELAWRENCESTALECOULDONLYHAVEHAPPENEDINTHEMIDDLEEASTERNDESERTSOFTHEGREATWAR,ITWASIMPOSSIBLEFORISAKDINESENTOLIVEIRRELEVANTOFHEREXPERIENCEWITHOUTTHEGORGEOUSVISTASOFEASTAFRICAOFALMOSTEXACTLYTHESAMETIMEDIRECTORSYDNEYPOLLACKHASCRAFTEDAFILM,BASEDONTHELIFEANDWRITINGSOFBARONESSKARENBLIXENTHEPSEUDONYMOUSDINESEN,THATISBOTHALOVELETTERTOALOSTAFRICAANDAPAEANTOONEWOMANSLUXURIOUSINDULGENCEOFHERQUESTFORINDEPENDENCEANDADVENTUREKARENMERYLSTREEPARRIVESINKENYAIN1913TOMARRYBARONBRORBLIXENKLAUSMARIABRANDAUERTHOUGHTHEYHADBEENGOODFRIENDSBACKHOMEINDENMARK,ITISAMARRIAGEOFCONVENIENCEFORBOTHHEHASTHETITLE,ANDSHEHASTHEMONEYTHEYNEEDTOSTARTACOFFEEPLANTATIONEASTAFRICAISAFRONTIERWORLDTOTHEMOTLEYEUROPEANSSETTLINGTHERETHEYALLAREEAGERFORTHEEXCITEMENTOFTHEEXOTIC,ALIENCOUNTRYANDYETALLPARADOXICALLYARELONELYFORHOMEANENGLISHMANKARENWHOMEETSHERONHERARRIVALWONDERSIFSHETRAVELSTHROUGHLONDON,ANDMIGHTSHEHAVEANEWSPAPERKARENHERSELFBRINGSALLHEROWNTREASURESWITHHERCHINA,ACUCKOOCLOCK,BOOKSBUTITSALSOAWORLDFARENOUGHREMOTEFROMTHEPROPERSOCIETYTHATAWOMANCANBREAKFREEFROMTHECONSTRAINTSPLACEDONHERBYTHEINSTINCTOFHERGENDER,TOSUCHANEXTENTTHATEVENTODAYKARENSEEMSMODERNWHENTHEGREATWARBREAKSOUTANDTHEGERMANSBEGINRATTLINGTHEIRSABERSNEARBY,BRORRIDESOFFWITHAPROVISIONALARMYTOHOLDTHEMATABAY,LEAVINGKARENALONETORUNTHEPLANTATIONANDRUNITWELLONHEROWNWHENBRORSENDSAREQUESTFORSUPPLIES,SHESETSOFFONAHARROWINGJOURNEYTOBRINGTHEMTOTHEMENBYHERSELF,SAYINGINTHEENDTHAT“ITWASFUN“SHEFIGHTSALIONWITHABULLWHIPANDSHOOTSANOTHERDEADWITHONESHOTSHEHASAA96A96A96A97A98A99A99A100A101A102A103A104A105A106A1075REFRESHINGLYGROWNUP,REALISTICATTITUDEABOUTMENHERHUSBANDMAYBEAPHILANDERER,ANDSHEMAYNOTBEINLOVEWITHHIM,BUTSHECERTAINLYLIKESTOHAVESEXWITHHIMHERYOUNGFRIENDFELICITYECHOESKARENSSENSIBILITYWHENSHESAYS,“IWANTMENTOLIKEMEBUTIALSOWANTTOBELETALONE“ANDKARENHASNOQUALMSABOUTKICKINGBROROUTWHENHEOVERSTEPSEVENKARENSLOOSEBOUNDS,ORHAVINGANAFFAIRWITHTHEFREESPIRITEDBIGGAMEHUNTERDENYSFINCHHATTONROBERTREDFORDDURINGANDAFTERTHEWAR,THOUGH,THEOUTSIDEWORLDBEGINSTOENCROACHTHELIFEINKENYAINEVITABLYTELEPHONEWIRESANDAUTOMOBILESMAKETHEIRFIRSTAPPEARANCES,ANDTOURISTSBEGINTOFLOODINTOSUCHANEXTENTTHATDENYSFINDSHIMSELFINAHURRYTOSEEUNTAMEDAFRICAANDTOSHOWITTOKARENBEFOREITDISAPPEARS“ITRIEDTOREMEMBERTHECOLOURSOFAFRICA“THATSHOWKARENSURVIVEDANEXTENDEDTRIPHOMETODENMARKDURINGTHEWAROUTOFAFRICACAPTURES,BEAUTIFULLYANDBITTERSWEETLY,THELASTEXCITINGTIMEINTHELASTWILDAPPLAUSEONEARTH,MAKINGMEFEELASIFIREALLYMISSEDOUTONSOMETHINGWONDERFULBYBEINGBORNTOOLATE”323THEAUTHORANDTHEABORIGINES3231DINESENANDKAMANTEANATIVECHILD“THEMUTUALUNDERSTANDINGANDSYMPATHYBETWEENUSISBASEDONHUMANISM”ITWASNOTAPLEASANTMEETINGBETWEENTHEMATFIRSTSHEFELTTHAT“HEHADBEENLEADINGASECLUDEDEXISTENCE,LIKEASICKANIMAL”WHILEKAMANTESHOWEDNOFONDNESSOFHER“HEHARDLYAPPEAREDTOSEEME”AFTERWARDS,SHETRIEDHERBESTTOCHANGEHIMFROMARESERVEANDSILENTPERSONINTOAOPENMINDEDONE,ATTHESAMEMOMENT,HEREALIZEDTOBE“THANKFULTOOTHERS”UNLIKEOTHERCOLOUREDPEOPLE“IAMLIKEYOU”,HESAIDAFTERDINESENSAVEDHISHEALTHKAMANTEHADBEENDINESENSCOOKFOR12YEARSHEEVENKEPTTHEHABITOFWRITINGTOTHEAUTHOR,“IWASNOTFORGETYOUMEMSAHIBNOWALLYOURSERVANTSTHEYNEVERGLADBECAUSEYOUWASFROMTHECOUNTRYIFWEWASBIRDWEFLYANDSEEYOU”THOUGHFROMTHELETTERTHATKAMANTEHADSENTTOHERMASTERWASFULLOFGRAMMARMISTAKESINATENDERWAY,ITCONDENSEDTHEMOSTNAVEANDPROFOUNDAFFECTIONDINESENCONCLUDEDTHATTHOSEWHOINSISTEDTHATTHELOCALINHABITANTSWEREBORNWITHNARROWMINDSCOULDNOTGETTOOMUCHACQUAINTEDWITHTHEM3232FARAHASERVANTOFDINESENANDTHEAUTHORFARAHWASATRUEFRIENDOFDINESENINAFRICATHEIRFRIENDSHIPWASBASEDONTHECOMMUNICATIONANDCOMPREHENSIONOFMINDS,THECONTRACTSOFTHEIRDESTINIESANDLIVESCONFRONTEDWITHTHEBANKRUPTCYOFTHEFARM,ASTHEAUTHORSAID,“FARAHACCOMPANIEDMEALWAYSTOTIDEOVERDIFFICULTY”“FARAHUNDERSTOODMEVERYWELL”NOTTOOMUCHDESCRIPTIONCANBECAUGHTINTHEBOOK,THOUGH,WECANSTILLSEETHATHEWASFOLLOWINGDINESENWHEREVERSHEWENTASAGUARDIANTHEIRAFFECTION,SUPPORTANDTRUST,BEYONDCLASSANDETHNICGAP,WEREEXTREMELYPRECIOUSATTHATTIMEWHENTHEFRIENDSHIPBETWEENINHABITANTSANDWHITEWOMENMIGHTSUFFERDISCRIMINATIONDINESENNEVEREXPLOITEDAFRICANPEOPLEINSANELYLIKEOTHERCOLONISTSONTHECONTRARY,SHETREATEDHERBUSINESSOFPLANTATIONRUNNINGASKINDOFSOCIALPUBLICWELFARECAUSEGREATEXAMPLESA108A108A108A109A110A111A111A112A113A114A115A116A117A118A1196HADBEENSETBYTHEESTABLISHMENTOFSCHOOLSTOPROVIDEEDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIESFORTHELOCALPEOPLE,THESERVICESOFMEDICATION,THECALLINGFORHOUSEHOLDFORTHENATIVESAMONGOFFICIALSANDGOVERNMENTSINNIROBYAFTERTHEBANKRUPTCYOFTHEFARMALLHERENDEAVOURWASPAIDBACKSHEWONLOVE,ESTEEM,FAITHANDGREATATTACHMENTFROMTHEAFRICANPEOPLEONLYTHOSEWHOLIKEDINESENWITHHUMANISMCOULDFINDTHERECOGNITIONOFSELFINNATUREANDCONSCIENCE,HEROWNVALUEANDAFURTHERUNDERSTANDINGOFLIFEWHENLIVI