A CONSTANTE VIOLÊNCIA E SOFRIMENTO DOS POVOS COLONIZADOS:

UMA ANÁLISE DO ROMANCE HOMEGOING, DE YAA GYASI

Abstract

Abstract: The novel Homegoing, published in 2016 by Ghanaian author Yaa Gyasi, tells the stories of the many descendants of two Ghanaian sisters, Effia and Esi. Each chapter follows one descendant, spanning the history of nine generations over 250 years, up to the present day. Interwoven with the history of the enslavement of Ghanaian villages by the British, the narrative illustrates the enduring negative effects of post-colonialism on society, serving as an important tool for reflecting on issues such as symbolic violence, physical violence, and suffering. Using the method of character literary analysis, this study aims to analyze the main characters, Effia and Esi, in the novel, highlighting how the symbolic violence they endured during the colonization process perpetuated trauma, oppression, silencing, and deep scars not only for them but also for their descendants. Our analysis revealed that the characters and their oppressive environment play a fundamental role in constructing and remembering a powerful history that reflects many of the consequences of colonization. Through literature, we can also reflect on various historical, social, and cultural issues present in our contemporary reality.

Keywords: English literature. Postcolonial studies. Symbolic violence. Oppression.