Synopsis

Created: 2013-06-11 16:27 Updated: 2013-06-14 06:03 Notebook: Notebook Stack/The Postcolonial Anatomy Class
[Major theme is that discovering oneself is like learning anatomy.  What you see is what you get.  The heart is a pump, because of it's unique muscle type and chambers that expand and contract.  The lungs carry an essence that is somehow connected to the heart.  The brain was once thought to serve no purpose, but how can this be when we look at the amount of human architecture devoted to it.  The stomach and intestines is where food is digested.  Unnatural food can also sit there for many years and cause damage if left unattended.] 

A short story about a biologist who returns to her country in an attempt rediscover her roots.  She stays with her mother's brother who hosts a huge reunion in her honor.  She is the star of the party and is entertained by the stories of her mother's old friends and family whom she has never met.  Sadly, one family member never shows up.  Her curiosity over his whereabouts drives her mad.  She decides to retrace his footsteps in attempts to locate him.  He was a teacher, so her first stop is the school where he taught.  When she arrives at the school, she finds it in disarray.  The students aren't learning because the teachers are all gone.  "Where have they gone?"  She asks.  One of the students, who was actually listening to her tells her that they have gone.  They have found jobs as tutors to wealthy children.  They only come to the school when there is no tutoring work.  She rushes home to her uncle and complains about the injustice of the lack of teachers for the children.  He is apathetic and tries to explain to her that this is just the way things are.  The colonialists never established good schools here.  They were only interested in railroads, telegraph lines and canals.  These were necessary parts of their infrastructure (the anatomy) that helped them sell off the wealth of this country.  There was a tiny economic boom when the colonials left after the revolution, but this eventually died out due to urbanization and overpopulation.

So, she decided to return to the school and teach the children herself.  She taught them reading, writing and arithmetic; the necessary parts of a sound education.  One day, she found the students teasing a wounded cat.  Before she could stop them, the cat died from too much stress caused by the children.  She was very upset and scolded the children for teasing a helpless animal.  She made them give the animal a proper burial, but by the look on their faces, it was clear to her that they did not see the cat as a living creature at all.  "Very well then, if you don't know what a living being is, you'll just have to see for yourself."  She said as she left that day.

She went back to her uncle and asked where the butcher shop was located.  He told her, but he said it was no place for a woman.  "If it's good meat you want, I can take you to the best butcher in town."  When they arrived at the shop, her uncle proudly introduced her as his niece who has returned home and is teaching the local children.  The butcher gave a customary smile and offered his finest goat for slaughter.  She then told him that she wasn't interested in the meat, she was only interested in the organs.  He laughed and told her that only the poor eat the organs.  What she wanted was the finest part of the back and the ribs.  
     "That won't be necessary," she said.  "I'll give you three cows if you come to the school tomorrow and slaughter a goat."  
     "Why, I'll just slaughter one now for you and you can have it for dinner."
     "No,"  she said politely.  "I plan on teaching them, while you dissect the goat according to my instructions."
     "Very well."

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