Post-Colonial Theory
Post-colonial theory examines the problems which were posed by Europe’s
colonialization of various regions of the world throughout the 19th and early 20th
centuries and the cultural, political, and social effects of such. Post-colonial theory
examines the origins, effects, and both immediate and long-term political, cultural, and
social results of Europe (as well as America’s) colonialization of different cultures and
regions of the world through the study of various literary texts which depict, sometimes
celebrate, and critique and disparage the act of colonialization. Post-colonial theory
questions and examines the expansionist imperialism of colonializing nations and
cultures and the set of political, social, and cultural values (some of which are still in
place) which support imperialism, with special attention given to the complicated
relations that occur between the party who colonialized and the party which
colonialized. While post-colonial theory does not adhere to a particular methodology or
theory per se, post-colonial theory does work within a basic set of critical assumptions,
including an opening questioning of the benefits of empire, the effects of racism toward
and the exploitation of those who were colonialized, and the political and social
positions of both those who colonialized and those who were colonialized. Postcolonial
theory attempts, furthermore, to recoup the lost histories of the colonialized subjects
and reveal the ways in which colonialization empires have shifted and erased the
identities of the colonialized subjects.
Application in Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Post-colonial theorists tend to focus their theoretical examination on texts from the 19th,
20th, and 21st centuries, hence post-colonial theory can be more readily attached to a
text such as Conrad’s Heart of Darkness than Hamlet. However, while Shakespeare’s
play might not directly confront post-colonial issues and concerns, some later
productions and reworkings of the play have certainly done so. Postcolonial theorists
might take a particular interest in productions of Hamlet which have been staged in
areas of the world which have been subjected to colonialization, such as Africa and the
Middle East. Theorists with a post-colonial focus might examine how the play’s political
dimensions—which focus on abuses of political power, injustice, and conspiracy—might
resonate within parts of the world which have been colonialized by European empires.
A post-colonial theorist might take note of the ways in which colonialized cultures take
an interest in the play and view the story of Hamlet as being applicable to the
experience of colonialization, with Hamlet being figured as a subject who is violated and
abused by an imperial power, which robs him of his rightful place within his culture
(Hamlet, after all, is denied his seeming rightful position as king of Denmark by
The Saylor Foundation 1
Claudius) and attempts to silence his protests and rebellion through political
manipulation.
Study Questions:
1. What is post-colonial theory?
2. What is the difference between the colonizing and colonized subjects?
The Saylor Foundation 2