A Critical Perspective

Nelson Mandela completed and published this autobiography at the age of 73 when he became President of South Africa. He selected to narrate his own story which is defined as the ‘stand point’ in the autobiographical discourse. This ‘stand point’ which Nelson Mandela chose was very crucial and vital because he wanted to personify his journey from ‘rags to riches’, from ‘literally nothing to becoming everything’. He wanted to write his autobiography when he fulfilled the aim of his life. He could see the life backward from the highest point of his life. As an autobiographer, Nelson Mandela became iconic figure in public life. He felt to share his life story because there was tremendous curiosity amongst all the readers around the world about his experiences and sacrifices. The very act of writing a life down constitutes an attempt on the part of the writer to justify one’s life. The every act of autobiography is the judgment of the writer to feel that “life is worth being written down.” (Onley 1972: 57). According to Marcus, the critic on this genre adds, “autobiography thus should rather belong to the people of ‘lofty’ reputation or people who have something of historical importance to say’ ( Marcus 1984: 31-32). Nelson Mandela in his acknowledgement clearly says that “I began writing it (autobiography) clandestinely in 1974 during my imprisonment on Robben Island.” Apparently Mahatma Gandhi finished his autobiography in his imprisonment time. Solitude seems a necessary requirement for political personalities to write as writing needs time and concentration. ‘Want of time’ is the main constraint in the life of political figures. Another similar example is the case of Martin Luther King Jr. He attempted to write his autobiography ‘Stride towards freedom’ but could not complete it in his short span of life simply because of “want of time’. Martin Luther King Jr’s wife completed the dream of her husband by compiling his autobiography. Nelson Mandela admits “since my release, my schedule has been crowded with numerous duties and responsibilities which have left me little free time for writing.” (acknowledgement)