Internal Exile in Iain Crichton Smith’s Selected Poems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31973/gjzrm295Keywords:
Internal Exile, decolonization, Scottish Highlands, culture revival, eco-spiritualityAbstract
The poetry of Iain Crichton Smith reflects the experience of internal exile that the Scottish Highlanders experienced in the aftermath of the British colonization. This study analyzes Iain Crichton Smith’s poetry from a postcolonial frame of mind to shed light on the subjugation and relocation of Highlanders in the northern Isles of Scotland by the British empire. This study utilizes the post-colonial theory by applying Homi K. Bhabha's notions of exile, hybridity and diaspora which constitute a framework for scrutinizing the interconnected power-dynamics and cross-cultural shifts to approach exile at homeland. The study sheds light on the revival of the Scottish culture using eco-spirituality as a decolonizing tool and as means of healing from the effects of colonization. The study reflects the sudden shift and the sharp contrast between the industrialized city life and the idealized nature of the Highlands. It argues that an effective root towards decolonization and healing is possible by reestablishing a connection with nature and specifically the land as a source of cultural identity and heritage.
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