Abstract:
This study is an exploration of the representation of bodies scripted with violence focusing
on the notions of resistance, resilience and coping strategies in Kasanda’s Dante
International (2012), Schoeman’s This is not a flowerpot (2007) and Blood Rose by Orford
(2007). The purpose of the study was to explore literary representations of violence that is
inflicted on the bodies of the victims who are usually women and children. The study also
demonstrated bodies that are written with violence are vested with elements of resistance,
resilience and coping strategies to fight against violence. In order to analyse the exploration
of violence in the three novels, the researcher engaged content analysis method. The study
used the corporeal feminist theory which addresses the issue of bodies that have been
violated in public and private spaces and how they are vested with agency to fight back. The
literary depiction of the bodies that are written with violence using Namibian literary corpus
written by women or books set in Namibia is an area which has not been comprehensively
explored by scholars. The three novels were chosen using purposive sampling. These novels
have been chosen due to fact that they portray characters and themes which fell into the
interest area of the researcher as they cover central concerns of gendered violence.
Moreso, the study used a qualitative research design to analyse the literary representation
of the bodies written with violence in Orford’s Blood Rose, Kasanda’s Dante International
and Schoeman’s This is not a flowerpot. The study revealed the following themes that relate
to the bodies in Blood Rose, Dante International and This not a flowerpot: violence,
resistance, resilience and survival or coping tactics. The study concluded that the chosen
novels, Blood Rose, Dante International and This not a flowerpot proffered a valuable
insights into the violence that is inflicted on the bodies of the victims. In the process the
objectives of the study were attained. Added to that the study concluded that bodies that
bear signs of violence shows signs of resistance, resilience as much as they cope with
violence they encounter in private and private spaces. This study is a contribution to
knowledge of violated gendered bodies within the African literary archive written by
women, but more specifically the Namibian literary corpus. Additionally, the study
recommends further researches on the study of the bodies that are written with violence
that ensue out of the violence inflicted by violators who are no longer only men.
