Mala

Cereus Blooms at Night, by Shani Mootoo, skews the standard perception of heteronormativity. Through the characterization of Mala, Mootoo creates a world in which boxes are broken down. Mala views the world differently in her old age. She does not verbally attribute characteristics to others, but rather she accepts the world through feelings and emotions. In doing this, there are no standards that characters are held to. There are no societal implications places on others. Therefore, Mala, through her pain and past experience, creates safety and comfort later in life for herself and those around her.

 

With the concept of binaries, implications, standards, and others removed from Mala’s understanding of the world around her, she becomes a more welcoming and understanding character. She views people as who they are and how they present themselves, not “who they should be.”

2 thoughts on “Mala”

  1. I really enjoyed reading your post, I thought it really related well with the overall concept in this course with the idea of your post being heteronormativity and the concept of binaries. This made me think more in depth about my post. I discussed how Tyler felt when trying on the dress and how he thought society would perceive him. I talked about the concept of internalized homophobia but after reading you post I thought about my post using binaries. The binaries that society has created make him feel wrong for what he feels when in the dress and that it’s not right because of what society says.

  2. I really agree with the statement you made that Mala defines all stereotypes of what is socially acceptable in Cereus Blooms at Night. To me, Mala represents a part of nature that can neither accept or deny a human truth. She has been so far removed from heteronormative expectations that she exists in a dimension that cannot verbalize or comprehend such synthetic labels and lifestyles. I also agree with you that Mala is shaped through her pain and past experience, and I believe that pain gives her the power to shape those around her.

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