The Hyena’s Gaze: Analyzing Animal Symbolism in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s This Mournable Body

Tsitsi Dangarembga’s This Mournable Body is a profound exploration of post-colonial Zimbabwe, focusing on the personal and societal struggles faced by the protagonist, Tambudzai Sigauke. Throughout the novel, Dangarembga employs various symbols and metaphors to illustrate the psychological and emotional turmoil experienced by her characters. One of the most striking symbols in the novel is the hyena, which plays a crucial role in understanding the protagonist’s internal conflicts, the societal decay and the overarching themes of survival and moral degradation. This paper explores the role of the hyena in This Mournable Body and how it contributes to the narrative’s exploration of identity, fear and societal collapse.