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Identify and discuss various levels of conflict in Witi-Ihimaera's The whale Rider.(2016 PP3 No.3c)

      


Identify and discuss various levels of conflict in Witi-Ihimaera's The whale Rider.

  

Answers


Martin
In any society where change is inevitable, domestic , social, political, psychological and structural conflicts are common.In the same way,Witi Ihimaera, presents the Maori society which is undergoing the same conflicts.
To begin with there is a lot of domestic wrangles between Koro-Apirana and the wife Nani flowers. Their perspective of viewing issues is quite different when Kahutia Te Rangi is born, Nani flowers is appreciative and actually recommends,the name of the child to the father Pourangi which is male name .Koro Apiarna is disgusted with the birth of the girl,since he says she has broken the male line of descent in their tribe.He sulks and decides to show his dingy but incidentally Nani Flowers has siphoned fuel to control Koro Apirana from rowing further into sea.The narrator recalls the wrangling between Koro Apirana and Nani-Flowers vividly.
There i s a social conflict especially in Maori community which is dominated by male chauvinism.The women are not required to undertake fishing which is considered a sacred task. Koro Apirana offers education to the men about Traditions of Maori society but prohibits women from doing so.Nani flower is critical of the husbands stand and Koro Apirana adamant. Kahu only eavesdrops to get some knowledge about the community. Koro Apirana loathes the idea of having Kahutia take up the leadership but Nani-flowers prtepares girls for the leadership which she later assumes.

There is also psychological conflict. Kahutia loves Koro Apirana with passion and she gets depressed when the great grandfather ignores her.Koro Apirana suffers psychologically when a girl is born for he feels that leadership may be broken.He also has to reckon with as strong willed woman Nani flowers whom he dreads.
Political conflict seems to reign in the society of the Maori people.Women are disregarded and it is assumed they can not lead.However,Kahutia displays unique leadership when she retrieves a stone from deep sea which Koro Apiarana has thrown.He also rides on a whale and leads the herd back to the sea.It is quite clear to all and sundry that women have unique qualities.
In a nutshell,psychological,political ,domestic and social conflict are common among Maori community as depicted in the novel,"The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera.
marto answered the question on June 23, 2017 at 13:30


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