Rabbi's Cat

The Rabbi's Cat was an interesting and attention grabing graphic novel that brought a new and funny light to the issues of colonialism. Firstly as a graphic novel the author Joann Sfar is able illustrate his thoughts literally ands abstractly which gives the reader a more precises interpritation of the story . Kitty, the cat of Rabbi Abraham, wants to become Jewish cat for his mistress Zlabaya, the rabbi's daughter. Kitty's cynical and question attitude upsets rabbi Abraham for he does not have answers for kitty. kitty's questioning of the Jewish faith under colonial control leads Rabbi Abraham into a religious crisis. This crisis of rabbi shows the true conflicts with colonialism. the rabbi is subjected to a "qualification" test by the French in French. Sfar is pointing out the major flaws in the institution of colonialism. How can someone in France determine the qualification of a someone in Algeria? How does speaking French in Algeria, where the native tongue is Arabic qualify as a useful skill? Sfar shows the enormous power that colonialism has over their lives and their way of thinking. Zlabaya, the rabbi's daughter, is a very traditional girl and Kitty loves her dearly. When she wed to a reviving Jew she does so without complaint. her father and kitty are hurt by her departure because of their strong bonds. Sfar also comments on the silliness of the feuding between Jews and Muslims during the rabbi's and his Muslim friends Sfar's walk to the grave. Sfar's donkey and kitty argue over the origination of Sfar's name both in defense of their releigion. even though the name Sfar his derives from both religions. when i was a Freshman in high school i was very involved with my church and therefore very connected to and defensive of my religion. in having a conversation with a girl from a different church we began to argue over whose church was better. We both curses screamed and even threated each other over whose church was better not realizing that there was really no point to the argument. We both belong to Christian church, and worshiped the same God. Are feuding caused to do and say unchristian like things to each and defeated to purpose of many Sunday school lessons teaching us to be king to one another. The only thing that came out of the matter was 2 weeks of detention and a phone call home. Sfar is pointing out he same point that the feuding is leading to nothing but more feuding so what is the point?    The Rabbi's Cat really showed some of the difficulties of living in Algeria under French control while also being a funny lighthearted read.

Neverous conditions 1-9

Tsistsi Dangarembga, author of Nervous Conditions, tells the story of an impoverished young African girls, who pulled out of poverty into a better society. This novel through its extraordinary cast of characters brings out many different struggles and consequences of everyday life in a colonized world. The narrator Tambu, though impoverished, is strong willed and determined to get her education. Tambu moves in with her uncle's family with the honor of furthering her education. Nyasha, Tambu's rebellious cousin fights against the restraints placed upon from the patriarchal colonized society. Maiguru, a highly educated woman, struggles with her "duty" to womanly family operations and to have self actualization.  Ma' Shangaiyi, Tambu's mother, has lived in poverty all her life and is trapped in a never ending circle of low value and poor living. Lucia, Tambu's proud aunt, is unmarred and pregnant wanting to find a way out of her oppressive lifestyle.
All of these women battle with the limitations that colonialism and a patriarchal society place on them, as many real women in Africa do.
Dangarembga stresses the use of education through Tambu, Nyasha, and Maiguru, to break through the chains of oppression. Yet, while breaking though their barriers, the women loose pieces of themselves, further plummeting into appeasement, denial, and rebellion.   Dangarembga also places emphasizes around the usage of language and how using or not using your native tongue can destroy your mindset. Nyasha battles with this parallel, causing outer turmoil with her father. With the loss of language comes the loss of tradition. When Nyasha returned from her stay in England, she had forgotten she native language and culture, creating a gap between her, Tambu and the rest of the family. Nyasha is submerged in a world that pulls apart all her ideologies and morals and chooses to fight for the morals that she hold dear.
I too have fought a similar battle in my teenage years.  When I was 16 my mother was remarried to a man I knew very little about. I packed up my things and moved across town with her to a world very separate form my own. I constantly fought with my mother, about my stepfather. I felt I must battle with him for her love. In being an only child this feeling completely ripped my world apart. I began to rebel. I stayed out with my boyfriend all the time, cuss out and physically fight with my mother and disassociated myself from reality. I valued my mother’s love and wanted it without compromise, just as Nyasha wants her womanly worth.

Dangarembga points out not just the out struggles of the colonized world, but the inner and more tainted side of colonization. The women of this story note only physically suffer in some way; they also fight inner pressure of human nature.