The Impact Of Cultural Diversity In A Polarised Society: A Study Of Bessie Head’s Maru, Phaswane Mpe’s Welcome To Our Hilbrow And Paul Freeman’s Rumours Of Ophir

Abstract

This literary study investigates the effects and role of cultural diversity in influencing intercultural

relations and people’s individual relations in society. It uses the textual analysis

which plays a very important role in the research findings. The study analyses Phaswane

Mpe’s Welcome to Our Hilbrow (2001), Paul Freeman’s Rumours Of Ophir(1998) and

Bessie Head’s Maru(1971).The exploration of how cultural diversity influences inter-cultural

relations in society is substantiated through Hofetsd’s (1984) cultural dimensions theory and

Kallen’s(1910) cultural pluralism theory. The study established that ethnic and racial

stereotypes are instilled at a tender age and that coexistence is necessary if cultural diversity

is to have a more positive impact in a polarised society. This research also established that

most of the impacts associated with cultural diversity in a polarised society are rather

negative than positive.

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