The conflict of faith vs. culture in Ambiguous Adventure is technically correct; however, that is a very general way to describe it. One can be a bit more specific by saying the conflict is one of religion vs. greed. An even better (and more specific) description would be to say it is a conflict between Senegalese Islam vs. European (specifically French) materialism.
As the main character, Samba, learns more about his Islamic faith from his teacher Thierno, it becomes harder for Samba to reconcile his faith with the destructive forces of French colonization that have ravaged Senegal. The reader learns this mostly through dialogue between Samba and many philosophers in his native Senegal. Samba is passionate about his call to become a teacher of Islam, but he is surrounded by a throng of French schools that counteract Islamic teaching. The Most Royal Lady (who is actually Samba’s aunt) eventually insists Samba attend one of these schools. Continuing his passion for his studies, Samba excels at school and eventually studies in Paris. Unfortunately, through his success, Samba becomes more distant from Islam. The schools, of course, are designed to get the Diallobe ready for the comforts of materialism encouraged by European greed. In my opinion, the conflict can best be exemplified by a quote from Samba’s father (the Knight), who admits Samba is drifting away “because of this egoism which the West is scattering abroad.” The Knight eventually calls Samba back to Senegal only to find Samba is alienated from his original culture due to Western attempts at assimilation.
The novel is an “ambiguous adventure” because there is no resolution of the conflict. Because Samba dies (at the hand of a mentally ill man who thinks Samba has offended his former teacher by not praying at his gravesite), Samba can no longer help the Diallobe determine the importance of faith vs. culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment