Prison Literature

PRISON LITERATURE: 

PRISON LITERATURE

Slide2: 

The emergence of prison writing relied on convicts with the necessary writing skills to tell the story from the inside. Early writings came from prisoners who had already begun to publish before being arrested. Among these early twentieth century writers is Jack London, who in 1894 spent a month in New York State’s Erie County Penitentiary. This transformative experience informed much of his writing.

Prison writing has often been an act of political resistance. In the first two decades of the 20th century, the prisoners who were published were primarily social activists. Socialist writer Kate Richards O’Hare, spent a year in prison (1919-1920) causing her to dedicate her life to exposing the horrors of prison conditions and the economic structure by which they were supported. Anarchist activists Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman also wrote while imprisoned, deepening their philosophical convictions and influencing people worldwide.: 

Prison writing has often been an act of political resistance. In the first two decades of the 20th century, the prisoners who were published were primarily social activists. Socialist writer Kate Richards O’Hare, spent a year in prison (1919-1920) causing her to dedicate her life to exposing the horrors of prison conditions and the economic structure by which they were supported. Anarchist activists Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman also wrote while imprisoned, deepening their philosophical convictions and influencing people worldwide.

Throughout the centuries authors and writers are exposed to many bad attitudes; whenever they criticize the things what they see around them, because they have to be different from the ordinary people . Unfortunately, they pay this with their freedom; moreover, some of them have to pay this with their life . Nothing can refrain them from writing and they go on their works under every kind of circumstances, namely they are prisoned just bodily not mentally. Their pens go on doing their sacred works. : 

Throughout the centuries authors and writers are exposed to many bad attitudes; whenever they criticize the things what they see around them, because they have to be different from the ordinary people . Unfortunately, they pay this with their freedom; moreover, some of them have to pay this with their life . Nothing can refrain them from writing and they go on their works under every kind of circumstances, namely they are prisoned just bodily not mentally. Their pens go on doing their sacred works.

Prison writing is literature written by people who are incarcerated. It is a distinct literary phenomenon which is increasingly studied as such by scholars of literature. : 

Prison writing is literature written by people who are incarcerated. It is a distinct literary phenomenon which is increasingly studied as such by scholars of literature.

My Life in Prison David Lowrie : 

My Life in Prison David Lowrie One of the most widely-read early accounts of prison life in the twentieth century was My Life in Prison (1912), by David Lowrie. The book inspired Thomas Mott Osborne, who later became warden at Sing Sing, to dedicate his career to prison reform. In 1924, after World War I, H.L. Mencken founded the American Mercury magazine and regularly published convict authors.

Prison has been a fertile setting for artists, musicians, and writers alike. Prisoners have produced hundreds of works that have encompassed a wide range of literature. Works by prisoners, such as Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, are counted among the great classics of literature. Books describing the prison experience, including the Autobiography of Malcolm X, inspired an audience far outside the prison walls. The importance of these works have been recognized in this country's highest courts : 

Prison has been a fertile setting for artists, musicians, and writers alike. Prisoners have produced hundreds of works that have encompassed a wide range of literature. Works by prisoners, such as Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, are counted among the great classics of literature. Books describing the prison experience, including the Autobiography of Malcolm X, inspired an audience far outside the prison walls. The importance of these works have been recognized in this country's highest courts

Some masterpieces from prisoner writers: 

Some masterpieces from prisoner writers John Bunyan, Pilgirim’s Progress Arnold Erikson, The Other Side Of The Wall H. Bruce Franklin's Anthology, Prison Writing in 20th Century America Oscar Wilde’s A Set of Man and Prison Writings Nelson Algren El Presidente de Mejico The Autobiography of Malcolm X Alex Haley The Big Girls, Susan Moore

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Another important work of American literature is ‘’The Big Girls’’by Susan Moore, deals with the problems of women in prison the attitudes towards them. She uses the first person narration in her work.

To What Red Hell: 

To What Red Hell In 1934, Chester Himes published stories in Esquire while still a prisoner in Ohio State Penitentiary. His first story, "To What Red Hell," described a fire that swept through the prison, written from the viewpoint of a white prisoner named "Blackie."

Malcolm X: 

Malcolm X A different type of prison writing began to emerge. The Autobiography of Malcom X described the transformation of a common criminal into a Muslim who was destined to become one of the most significant leaders in modern American history. George Jackson's Soledad Brother provided a witness that made the prison movement a part of the radical left.

Different movements occur in prison literature: 

Different movements occur in prison literature A new era in prison writing began to emerge as prisoners found a voice that at least some in the outside world were willing to hear. Malcom Braly's On the Yard was labeled by Kurt Vonnegut as the "great American prison novel." Etheridge Knight achieved wide recognition for his poetry, beginning with his first volume, Poems from Prison published in 1968.

A Poem from Prison: 

A Poem from Prison The warden said to me the other day why come the black boys don't run off like the white boys do?" I lowered my jaw and scratched my head and said (innocently, I think), "Well, suh, I ain't for sure, but I reckon it's cause we ain't got nowhere to run to."

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"Death as Life": Political Metaphor in the Testimonial Prison Literature of Kanno Suga This essay argues that what most clearly reveals Kanno Suga's last texts to be "resistance literature" was her use of figurative language to express the idea that death is life. In the prison diary and letters she wrote in the week before her execution for treason, Kanno repeatedly used metaphors of regeneration in connection with her faith in the revolutionary

Prison Literature through the World: 

Prison Literature through the World There are also prison literature in other countries except America And England, for instance, in Iran, Turkey and in the countries where conservative governments govern the country. They cannot bear being criticized by the authors or who don’t want her folk to be awaken by the literaryman. Majid Naficy in Iran has problems with Shah’s regime and is exposed to exile and if he hadn’t escaped he woul be dead .

In our literature: 

In our literature Unfortunately our country is also famous for her prrisoned writer or the writers who deal with the problems of prisoners and exiled man. Lots of governments couldn’t bear the criticism against theirselves and sentence the authors. Nevertheless, the authors go on producing and doing their jobs but they try to be more carefull while writing. Some contemporary examples from this movement Erdal Öz, Nazim Hikmet, Aziz Nesin Sabahattin Ali, Necip Fazıl, Faruk Nafiz and so many important authors are either exposed to or choose this as topic….

The Place of Letters: 

The Place of Letters As we know the letters are bridges between two distant friends lovers parents and children etc. In this movement it has indispensable place, as it enables author to contact with outside world. They go on imposing their views even if there are walls between them and thier adressees.

Features Of these letters: 

Features Of these letters Conciseness Symbolism The Emancipating Role of Nature Strengthening of the Sixth Sense An archaeologist’s gaze Power of Love

A letterThe Third LetterFebruary 6, 1987Dear_______, my dearest, Hello! The night before last I got your fourth letter which you wrote a few days after your birthday, and I was still in the mood of that day [i.e., of your birthday], which revives sweet memories and wishes in me. These days, I have become more submerged in myself than ever. I have been thinking about you, your birth, and the passion that you showed while talking about birth and emergence; and I remember the birth of infants which we witnessed a while ago before our arrest, and how much I wanted to be able to provide you with conditions in which you could try to raise and educate them with your entire passion, and I know what a good mother you could become, were, and are. And I try to imagine and figure out how much those infants must have grown. Most likely, after three or four years they will have been walking, talking, laughing, crying, taking steps, and running in the heart of society. How are your illnesses? I think due to recent hardships, they must have grown worse. I am very worried about that. If only I had all of your pains, how comfortable I would be, and you would be relieved for a moment. Give a warm hello to Mother _____ and Dad, and kiss the moon-like face of ____. My hellos to all friends and relatives.Your Husband: 

A letter The Third Letter February 6, 1987 Dear_______, my dearest, Hello! The night before last I got your fourth letter which you wrote a few days after your birthday, and I was still in the mood of that day [i.e., of your birthday], which revives sweet memories and wishes in me. These days, I have become more submerged in myself than ever. I have been thinking about you, your birth, and the passion that you showed while talking about birth and emergence; and I remember the birth of infants which we witnessed a while ago before our arrest, and how much I wanted to be able to provide you with conditions in which you could try to raise and educate them with your entire passion, and I know what a good mother you could become, were, and are. And I try to imagine and figure out how much those infants must have grown. Most likely, after three or four years they will have been walking, talking, laughing, crying, taking steps, and running in the heart of society. How are your illnesses? I think due to recent hardships, they must have grown worse. I am very worried about that. If only I had all of your pains, how comfortable I would be, and you would be relieved for a moment. Give a warm hello to Mother _____ and Dad, and kiss the moon-like face of ____. My hellos to all friends and relatives. Your Husband

In addition to the these literary works prisons render inspiration to popular means such as films and songs tv series etc.: 

In addition to the these literary works prisons render inspiration to popular means such as films and songs tv series etc. The Breakout Escaping from Alcastra In our country some series and films take their topics from the prisons Pardon Hatırla Sevgili