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Postcolonial Identity · English Literature

Which of these best describes the 'Ambivalence' of colonial discourse according to Homi Bhabha?

  1. The colonizer's studied indifference and total apathy toward the colonized population
  2. The self-evident and rational superiority of Western science and technological progress
  3. The tension between wanting the colonized to mimic the colonizer and insisting they remain different
  4. The colonized person's all-consuming and unconditional hatred of every aspect of Western culture
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Correct answer: The tension between wanting the colonized to mimic the colonizer and insisting they remain different

Ambivalence suggests that colonial authority is never as stable as it seems. Because the colonizer requires the colonized to be similar enough to be useful (mimicry) but different enough to justify subordination, the discourse creates a tension that can be exploited by the colonized.

Difficulty: Medium Question 10 of 20

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