C.X.C Novels and Plays (Old Story Time)
12/5/2013
By Shanice Benjamin
In this play is obeah a real force or an imaginary superstition? State what dealings the characters have with obeah and the outcome of these dealings.
The play “Old Story Time” by Trevor Rhone, was set in rural Jamaica around 1979; post-colonial period. During this time, obeah was a widely held belief which was prominent in Jamaica. It was a feared weapon and was much sought after for protection as well. As a result, obeah has been mentioned several times in the play by Miss Aggy, Pa Ben and Len. The way Rhone employs obeah in this play is quite fascinating.
The first instance we heard of obeah takes us to the fact that Miss Aggy does not trust her fellow village members, as a black woman herself, she despises “black people” (internalized racism); in her eyes they were not seen as advancement. While Len was away following his studies, he hardly wrote to his mother. Since Miss Aggy did not trust “black people” she was convinced that the villagers had turned to obeah to work against her out of envy and jealousy of the success of her son Len; “dem light candle pon him head”. However, the audience is aware through Pa Ben that Len does not write to her because he secretly blames her for something; we later find out that it was what had happened to him at the hands of George and his friends because of the letter he had written to Margret in school.
The other instance occurs when Miss Aggy causes the major dramatic conflict in the sub-plot of the play which traces her attempt to set obeah at work against Lois. Miss Aggy worked very hard and made many sacrifices to ensure that Len received the best education. Miss Aggy had also wanted Len to get married to the “brown skin girl with tall hair down her back”; Miss Margret, reverend Greaves daughter. She had beaten Len when she found him playing with the black girl Pearl- because “anything black nuh good” and “dem is no advancement”. Miss Aggy’s disgust increased when Len chose to
By Shanice Benjamin
In this play is obeah a real force or an imaginary superstition? State what dealings the characters have with obeah and the outcome of these dealings.
The play “Old Story Time” by Trevor Rhone, was set in rural Jamaica around 1979; post-colonial period. During this time, obeah was a widely held belief which was prominent in Jamaica. It was a feared weapon and was much sought after for protection as well. As a result, obeah has been mentioned several times in the play by Miss Aggy, Pa Ben and Len. The way Rhone employs obeah in this play is quite fascinating.
The first instance we heard of obeah takes us to the fact that Miss Aggy does not trust her fellow village members, as a black woman herself, she despises “black people” (internalized racism); in her eyes they were not seen as advancement. While Len was away following his studies, he hardly wrote to his mother. Since Miss Aggy did not trust “black people” she was convinced that the villagers had turned to obeah to work against her out of envy and jealousy of the success of her son Len; “dem light candle pon him head”. However, the audience is aware through Pa Ben that Len does not write to her because he secretly blames her for something; we later find out that it was what had happened to him at the hands of George and his friends because of the letter he had written to Margret in school.
The other instance occurs when Miss Aggy causes the major dramatic conflict in the sub-plot of the play which traces her attempt to set obeah at work against Lois. Miss Aggy worked very hard and made many sacrifices to ensure that Len received the best education. Miss Aggy had also wanted Len to get married to the “brown skin girl with tall hair down her back”; Miss Margret, reverend Greaves daughter. She had beaten Len when she found him playing with the black girl Pearl- because “anything black nuh good” and “dem is no advancement”. Miss Aggy’s disgust increased when Len chose to