Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner: A Pioneer of Feminism and Social Justice
Full Name and Common Aliases
Olive Emile Mabel Schreiner was born on March 24, 1855, in the Cradock district of the Cape Colony (now South Africa). She is commonly known as Olive Schreiner.
Birth and Death Dates
March 24, 1855 – December 11, 1920
Nationality and Profession(s)
South African writer, feminist, and social activist. Schreiner's work spanned multiple genres, including novels, essays, poetry, and letters.
Early Life and Background
Olive Schreiner was born to Gottlob Christian Schreiner, a Lutheran pastor of German descent, and Naanda (or Noodna) Maria Snyman, a Xhosa woman from the Eastern Cape. This unique cultural background had a profound impact on her worldview and writing. Schreiner's early life was marked by poverty and isolation, but it also instilled in her a deep appreciation for nature and a strong sense of social justice.
Schreiner received little formal education due to family circumstances, but she devoured books from the local library and began writing her own stories at an early age. Her writing often explored themes of love, morality, and human relationships, reflecting her keen observations of the world around her.
Major Accomplishments
Olive Schreiner's contributions to literature and social justice are undeniable. Some of her notable accomplishments include:
Writing the first English novel published by a South African author: _The Story of an African Farm_ (1883)
Advocating for women's suffrage, labor rights, and land reform in South Africa
Publishing influential essays on feminism, social justice, and the role of women in society
Schreiner's writing was not limited to literary works; she also wrote extensively on social issues. Her essays, such as "Women's Suffrage" (1909) and "The Political Situation in South Africa" (1914), showcased her sharp intellect and conviction.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Olive Schreiner's most notable works include:
_The Story of an African Farm_ (1883): A coming-of-age novel that explores themes of love, morality, and the human condition.
_Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland_ (1897): A novella that critiques colonialism and imperialism in Southern Africa.
_From Man to Man: Remarks on Some Polite Aspects of Masculinity_ (1922): A collection of essays that examines the social construction of masculinity.
Schreiner's activism extended beyond her writing. She was a vocal advocate for women's rights, labor reform, and land redistribution in South Africa. Her involvement with organizations such as the Women's Enfranchisement League and the South African Native Congress helped shape public opinion and policy on these issues.
Impact and Legacy
Olive Schreiner's impact on literature, feminism, and social justice is immense. Her writing has inspired generations of writers, activists, and thinkers. Some notable legacies include:
Feminist icon: Schreiner's advocacy for women's suffrage and equality paved the way for future feminist movements.
Social justice pioneer: Her work on labor rights, land reform, and anti-colonialism helped shape public discourse on these issues in South Africa.
Literary influence: Schreiner's unique writing style and thematic focus have influenced writers such as Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, and Nadine Gordimer.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Olive Schreiner is widely quoted and remembered for her:
Insightful commentary on human nature: Her writing offers nuanced explorations of love, morality, and the human condition.
Fierce advocacy for social justice: Schreiner's activism and writings continue to inspire movements for equality, labor rights, and land reform.
Influence on literature and thought: Her innovative style and thematic focus have had a lasting impact on writers and thinkers across generations.
In conclusion, Olive Schreiner was a trailblazing writer, feminist, and social activist who left an indelible mark on South African history.
Quotes by Olive Schreiner
A child sees everything, looks straight at it, examines it, without any preconceived idea...
When Love and Life first meet, a radiant thing is born, without a shade. When the roads begin to roughen, when the shades begin to darken, when the days are hard, and the nights cold and long – then it begins to change.
For a little sould that cries oout aloud for continued personal existence for itseld and its beloved, there is no help. For the sould which know itself no more as a unit, but as part of the Universal Unit of which the Beloved also is part; which feels within itself the throb of the Universal Life; for that soul there is not death.
Power! Did you ever hear of men being asked whether other souls should have power or not? It is born in them.
The bees are very attentive to the flowers until their honey is done, and then they fly over them. I don’t know if the flowers feel grateful to the bees, they are great fools if they do.
One has no right to form ideals of people, and then, because they don’t justify them, become bitter.
The meanest girl who dances and dresses becomes something higher when her children look up into her face and ask her questions. It is the only education we have and which they cannot take from us.
I am always thirsting for beautiful, beautiful, beautiful music. I wish I could make it. Perhaps there isn’t any music on earth like what I picture to myself.
I am not in so great a hurry to put my neck beneath any man’s foot; and I do not so greatly admire the crying of babies.
