Politics and the disease metaphor in Shimmer Chinodya’s Harvest of Thorns (1989) and Valerie Tagwira’s The Uncertainty of Hope (2006)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64754/thedyke.v19i2.712Keywords:
Zimbabwean literature, postcolonial theory, disease metaphor, political intolerance, public health, community wellnessAbstract
This study examines the intersection of politics and the disease metaphor in Shimmer Chinodya’s Harvest of Thorns (1989) and Valerie Tagwira’s The Uncertainty of Hope (2006). By juxtaposing two novels situated within distinct yet interconnected socio-political contexts, the liberation struggle and the post-independence era, the study explores how Zimbabwean writers conceptualise and critique political realities through the metaphorical language of disease. Guided by postcolonial theory, the analysis investigates the ways in which the selected texts employ metaphor, symbolism, and narrative strategies to illuminate the relationship between political intolerance and various forms of social suffering. Through close textual analysis, the study demonstrates that literary narratives function not only as reflections of systemic injustices but also as critical interventions that expose the broader human consequences of political dysfunction. The findings reveal that both novels metaphorically construct political intolerance as a form of social and psychological dis-ease that undermines individual well-being, erodes communal cohesion, and perpetuates cycles of marginalisation. In this regard, disease operates as a powerful symbolic framework through which the authors interrogate the effects of authoritarianism, exclusion, and socio-economic deprivation. By framing political intolerance within the discourse of disease, the study highlights the intricate relationship between governance, social wellness, and public health outcomes. It further demonstrates the capacity of literary texts to generate interdisciplinary insights into the challenges confronting postcolonial societies. Ultimately, the study contributes to scholarship on Zimbabwean literature by illustrating how the disease metaphor serves as a critical lens for understanding the enduring consequences of political instability while simultaneously advocating social justice, democratic accountability, and collective resilience.
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