An Analysis Of Hugh Maclennan's Mosaic Culture

The Scottish identity of Canada’s mosaic culture.

Its representation in Hugh MacLennan’s works

Canada is a multicultural society. Its mosaics are built up by different nations who arrived from Europe in subsequent waves of immigration. The two most important nationalities of course are the French and the English. However, although in number not equal with them the Scotch played a dominant role in the history of the country. The paper is written to demonstrate how these people arrived and adapted to the challenges of Canada. Furthermore, it shows that the Scotch played much bigger role in the history of the country than their number would indicate. Hugh MacLennan’s life and works will provide autobiographical and literary examples for

The Scottish immigrants’ identity was determined by their homeland experiences and influenced their behaviour after these people emigrated to Canada. The first part of the paper tries to reveal the circumstances that may contributed to this thesis. Among others, the influence of history for their lives. The consequences of living under foreign control in their homeland and the necessity of preserving their culture against an influential neighbour. For example, holding their language as a pivotal point of identity. The political influence of France and England the two nations with whom they have to share their lives in Canada as well. Next the introduction of their social establishment, especially the clan system that was the determining social and political relationship among Scottish people follows. Also important to mention the family connections that influenced business. There will be an introduction of the features of their mother country that determined their lives and the resemblances the immigrants had to face in the other side of the ocean. The reasons of their immigrations will be investigated for example, the highland clearances. The consequences of economic hardships and their influence to their social establishment. In addition to this, there will be a general

In an article in 1946 he refers to Canada as an almost impossible alliance among three nations the Scotch the French and the English. “As different from one another as these groups may be by nature, they share a common psychological inheritance.” In the second part of the paper first his biography will be introduced to provide the necessary background. This section will be a more or less chronological order of his life. In addition to this his relationship with his father and other social circumstances that formed his identity will be introduced. As a background for his upbringing the Haligonians’ lives their Calvinist ideological background will be shown. This is followed by the basics of his literary carrier and its development especially towards the national themes. Then on, throughout his works examples will be given how the characters of the author represent Scottish values and