Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis analyses Zakes Mda’s The Madonna of Excelsior from three different points of view, namely post-colonial, feminist and satirical. The latter constitutes the main interpretation of the novel and serves as a link with the other two discourses – the key argument being that satire is not a solipsistic form of art, and thus a satirical text should not be considered on its own, but should rather be interpreted in conjunction with other cultural discourses. This thesis is of the opinion that one needs all three of the named viewpoints in order to fully comprehend and appreciate the depth of Mda’s satire and his comments on South African society. His novel contains several candid comments on the political situation of South Africa in both the apartheid and the democratic eras, and his tongue-in-cheek observations force the reader to consider his novel from a political and a satirical angle. As apartheid is a form of colonialism and South Africa carries several scars from colonial times (such as diasporic conditions and multi-cultural identity crises, to name a few of those discussed), this thesis analyses Mda’s political commentary in terms of post-colonial discourse. Due to Mda’s use of female protagonists, this thesis also considers a feminist interpretation as necessary for a better understanding of the novel: through the use of feminist discourse, the violence that is committed against some of the female characters in the novel is interpreted as a way of enforcing colonial power relations. Chapters two, three and four respectively each discuss one of these interpretations: post-colonial, feminist and satirical, whilst chapter one is devoted to defining the art of satire. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis analiseer Zakes Mda se The Madonna of Excelsior vanuit drie verskillende oogpunte, naamlik die postkoloniale, feministiese and satiriese. Laasgenoemde konstitueer die hoofinterpretasie van die teks, en vorm ook ‘n skakel met die ander twee diskoerse. Die hoofargument van die tesis is dat satire nie ‘n kunsvorm is wat alleen bestaan nie, en dus behoort ‘n mens nie ‘n satiriese teks in isolasie te oordink nie, maar so ‘n teks moet geïnterpreteer word in verbinding met ander diskoerse. Hierdie tesis glo dat al drie van die genoemde oogpunte noodsaaklik is om Mda se satiriese kommentaar en aanmerkings oor die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap werklik te verstaan en waardeer. Daar is etlike openhartige aanmerkings in die teks wat die politiese situasie van Suid-Afrika in beide die apartheid en die demokratiese eras aanspreek, en Mda se skertsende kommentaar dwing die leser om die teks te oordink van ‘n politiese, asook ‘n satiriese, gesigspunt. Aangesien apartheid ‘n vorm van kolonialisme is, en Suid-Afrika verskeie littekens van koloniale tye dra (soos disporas en multi-kulturele krisisse, om maar ‘n paar te noem), analiseer hierdie tesis Mda se politiese aanmerkings in terme van ‘n postkoloniale interpretasie. Mda se gebruik van vroulike hoofkarakters veroorsaak dat hierdie tesis ook a feministiese interpretasie benuttig vir ‘n betere begrip van die teks: deur die gebruik van ‘n feministiese diskoers kan ‘n mens die geweld wat teen sommige van die vroulike karakters gepleeg word sien as ‘n manier om koloniale magsverhoudinge af te dwing. Hoofstukke twee, drie en vier bespreek elk een van hierdie oogpunte: postkoloniaal, feminisme en satiere, terwyl hoofstuk een die satiriese kuns probeer definieer.