Postcolonial Ambivalence and the Emergence of a New Future: Analyzing Nadine Gordimer's July's People

Abstract

The present research paper employs the theoretical frameworks of ambivalence and hybridity to analyze Nadine Gordimer's novel July's People. The paper investigates the manifestation of ambivalence in the primary characters and setting of the novel, exploring how the simultaneous existence of opposing feelings impacts their internal and external conflicts, leading to a sense of disunity. Moreover, the paper focuses on the ambivalent position of white individuals and their role in shaping the emergence of a new future in South Africa. Through a scholarly lens, this study delves into the complex interplay of ambivalence, loss of identity, and the formation of a hybrid culture, shedding light on the transformative potential of ambivalence in postcolonial contexts.