Rigdon Hermann
Mr. Simpson
March 23, 2021
WRTG 111
A Small Place
The author goes into great detail about the daily life and behavior of people living in or visiting Antigua. The first part of the story describes the scenery and general everyday life of Antigua with an omniscient lens. It primarily comes from the perspective of a tourist going there for the first time, and being amazed by how wonderful everything seems there. However, each example gives an insight into the bitter reality that these people live in. She mentions the new Japanese cars that are very expensive, then switches to the other view where she mentions how to banks easily give out car loans, but is extremely stringent on house loans.
The second half of the first part goes into more detail about the cruel reality of the situation in Antigua. Bringing up the point of the beautiful beaches and the pristine water that the sun reflects off of. Just to turn and remind the reader that the country has no septic system, meaning all the biological waste and contaminants poured down the shower, toilet, or sink drains go directly into the water surrounding the island. Mentioning powerful families and individuals whom the general public despises. The negative outlook and treatment of tourists behind their backs. She emphasizes with them by describing at their roots, how they are jealous of being able to leave where they live, and go where they want, and live how they please. Not to be forever stuck in poverty due to economic collapse and corruption.
In Part two of "A Small Place," the author depicts the world in which the citizens of Antigua live. Finding pride in their independence from the United Kingdom, and their emancipation from slavery. However, she focuses on what some may call an obsession over their break from slavery, yet celebrate on radio and television channels the graduation of people from Hotel Training School. Those who enroll will be trained to be good servants, and "good nobodies." Jamaica Kincaid discusses how the Antiguans cannot see the connection between their obsession over their slavery and their emancipation, and how they are being governed by corrupt foreign powers. Mentioning how the government has stuck its corrupt hands into the pockets of many "hard-working businesses" when in fact, sons of government ministers created the company, and receive full government funding and financial support. The financial backing and support are given to the government of Antigua by Syria and Lebanon. Describing the gross corruption of a nation on a global scale, and the impact it has on its own citizens.
Rigdon, Excellent work here. The details about the Japanese cars and lack of septic system that impacts everyday life and the environment in part one is then placed into a historical context in part two. Kincaid makes an incredible "structural or "formal" connection--builds a bridge--between today's corporate state-sponsored exploitation of Antigua through the tourism industry, and yesterday's forces of colonial enslavement of the people and landscape. Her focus is on her hometown--but the analysis is one that is also global and historic. The Hotel graduation ceremony becomes a concrete space/event that links these two moments and provides an incredible argument about everyday life in Antigua. This is a great example of creative non-fiction we are practicing for Essay #3.
ReplyDeleteAnd so what kind of regionalist argument is Kincaid providing here--Berry, Mumford, or Allen?