Lesbianism and Cultural Erosion in Claire. G. Coleman’s Enclave

M. Nanthini
Research Scholar, Reg No. 2421315022012,
Department of English, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil-629002, Tamil Nadu, India.
(Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli-627012)
Email: nanthinimariyappan1999@gmail.com

Dr. V. S. Shiny
Associate Professor, Department of English,
S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil-629002, Tamil Nadu, India.
(Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli-627012)

Abstract
This research article aims to analyse the well-being of humanity in adhering to one’s own culture and identity. Though humans are exposed to various cultures, at times intrusion of Eurocentric culture of the Coloniser can result in the erosion of native culture and identity of the colonised Aboriginals. Similarly, due to the impact of the colonisation, Australian Aboriginals lost their own culture and ethos. Claire G. Coleman, the Australian Aboriginal writer, in her novel Enclave, brings out the perils of cultural erosion caused to the Australian Aboriginal culture and community. The paper also discusses the harsh realities of racism, homophobia, and the destruction caused to the cultural values of the Aboriginals of Western Australia. The very opening of the novel introduces the protagonist Christine who enrolls herself in university for her master’s degree in mathematics. Christine’s father gifts his daughter an apartment for her twenty first birthday. But unfortunately, Christine forms a lesbian relationship with Sienna, and her father punishes her by seizing the apartment from her. A lesbian relationship in the Australian aboriginal community is considered a taboo and the writer, through the characters Christine, Sienna and Christine’s mother, highlights the difficulties experienced by lesbian women and warns against the havoc caused to the Aboriginal societies and the threat caused to the humanity.

Keywords: Humanity, Identity, Culture, Ethos, Colonizer, Eurocentric, Intrusion.