A Small Place

A Small Place

The novel, A Small Place is about a woman named Kincaid who talks about her life growing up in Antigua and her feelings towards society both in times of the “old” Antigua and Antigua in the present time of the novel. Kincaid also talks about her feelings towards tourism, the exploitation and colonization of her country, and global stratification. In my opinion, this novel can relate to class discussions such as the discussion on racism and gender wars. Again, in my opinion I did not really like this book. Kincaid seems too stereotypical of tourists that come to her country. She also states that tourists never get to see the real Antigua, the Antigua beyond the hotels, beaches, beautiful scenery, and attractions. On the brighter side, a reason I believe this novel can be appreciated and enjoyed is because Kincaid makes Antigua seem personal. She makes it seem personal because she shares her personal experiences and things that happened in Antigua while she’s been alive. For example, Kincaid mentions the library that’s been awaiting repairs for the past ten years. She shares her experience in the library as a place to escape into reading when she was younger. Presently, the library resides above a dry goods store awaiting its repair. To begin, Kincaid’s feelings towards society in the time of the “old” Antigua are that she enjoyed spending time at the library as a child and escaping the real world through her books. Kincaid misses the colonial regime of the library in the time of the “old” Antigua and anxiously awaits and hopes for its renovations. Since the library no longer stands how it did in the “old” Antigua, Kincaid mentions how young Antiguans have suffered from a lack of education. Many of the younger Antiguans have very poor speaking habits due to the lack of the old library. In summation, Kincaid feels nostalgic towards the library because she misses the way it used to be when it was a colonial building of books and a place to escape. Kincaid’s feelings towards Antigua in its present state is that she believes tourists only see the “good” parts of the country when they come to visit. Kincaid states that tourists never see the real part of Antigua – the part where people live, the place of corruption due to things like bad funding, drugs, and violence. Kincaid also believes that there is racism in Antigua because of the assimilation to England and the English culture. Nowadays in Antigua there are elite all-white men enclaves that are built and owned by foreigners. Kincaid sees this as racist because these elitists that are taking over Antigua are not natives to the country. Next, the novel A Small Place relates to class discussions such as racism and gender wars. Kincaid can relate to gender wars because as a woman, she understands what it’s like to be oppressed. For example, Kincaid mentions in the novel that since Antigua was taken over and colonized by Great Britain, it is sadly a form of oppression to the native Antiguans because they can only speak in a language taught and spoken by those who oppressed and enslaved them. Also, Kincaid explains how Antigua’s colonization by Great Britain has led them to corruption. This is a form of racism because the English took over Antigua and forced their culture along with their policies on to the Antiguans. To add, the English also are buying out most of Antigua, which leaves those parts of Antigua to be the property of elite white men. Through all of this racism and oppression that has clearly affected Kincaid in such a negative way, she remains a strong woman. Kincaid’s strength and bravery is admirable because she didn’t let those negative things get to her. Lastly, regarding global stratification, Kincaid did not feel like an equal in society. Kincaid is sarcastic in parts of the novel, which expresses that she is not pleased by the way she believes she is viewed and treated in society. The fact that Kincaid felt as if people of different race and gender (such as herself) did not deserve to be treated the way they were treated in society due to their race makes me feel like she is feeling bad for herself and wants readers to pity her. I understand where Kincaid is coming from with this feeling but I believe that rather than dwelling on the past and being pessimistic about it, Kincaid should appreciate her life for where it got her presently, and not be so bitter towards different groups of people. In conclusion, I respect Kincaid from growing up in the impoverished and corrupt country of Antigua and doing the best she could do for herself independently. I also respect Kincaid for bringing issues to my attention about Antigua that I never knew about. I respect Kincaid as a person but do not agree with all of the ways she expresses herself throughout the novel – such as when she complains about the way she was treated in society and blames people of different races and gender.