Exploration Of Indigenous Insight And Reverberation Of The Voice Of The Voiceless: A Reading Of Patricia Grace’s Potiki

Abstract

Literature acts as a perfect medium in showcasing the sufferings of subjugated people to the public. Postcolonial literature perfectly portrays the mental status of the othered or sidelined community. Patricia Grace is one of the well- acclaimed Maori writers. Her first published work, Waiarikii(1975) was the first collection of short stories by a Maori woman writer. She is undoubtedly one of the key figures in contemporary world literature. She was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2008. One of her most prominent novels, Potiki, originally published in 1986, narrates the story of a Maori community in New Zealand and their efforts for survival against the cruel deeds of land developers. In New Zealand literature, Maori literature is commonly considered as a parallel genre which describes a distinctive Maori world view and literary style. The Maori- Pakeha dynamics is clearly explored through the novel. The repression of indigenous population and their struggle for survival is the dominant theme of the novel. The role of mythical stories is vividly made understood. It is remarkable that stories are central to Maori history and its preservation. The novel is noted for its polyphonic mode of narration. The chief intention of this study is to project the impact of European domination. The chief objectives of this article are; to understand the major impacts of Imperialism on indigenous people, to analyse the role mythological stories in preserving the sacredness of Maori culture and to find out if the author emerges successful in echoing the voice of the voiceless.