The Decolonizing Western Epic: 'The Odyssey', 'The Divine Comedy' and 'Paradise Lost' as Postcolonial Works

摘要

This thesis examines how Western epics lend themselves to readings of decolonization and postcolonial ideas. Despite being written before the mass colonization of the last few centuries, elements of the postcolonial and decolonial impulse already exist within the texts. While the words and themes of the texts contribute greatly to this discussion, the ever changing form of the epic also influences the colonial and decolonial tendencies that occur regardless of the authorial intention. Focusing on three of the best known Western epics from different time periods and cultures, the Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost, this thesis will explore the revolutionary qualities that exist in within them and epics more generally.