Analyzing Jamaica Kincaid's Lucy
Analyzing “Lucy” In Jamaica Kincaid’s Lucy, we enter a novel that is narrated by the protagonist Lucy Josephine Potter. In this fictional work of art I think that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ideas in “The Danger of a Single Story” comes through very clearly. I think both of these works are parallel to one another because this novel develops in the same way that Adichie tells her autobiography. Throughout this story we get supporting material of direct acknowledgement of the danger of the single story through formal structure, plot development and the narrative as well. Between these three elements there are varying levels of emphasis of the same type of danger Adichie talks about. Looking back at the general structure of Lucy we can see a
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This goes along with the idea of the danger of a single story because we find out early on that she is from a different country where everyday things can be very different than being in a large northern American city. In the text Lucy says “The sun was shining but the air was cold.” This simple statement can be viewed as Lucy being reminded of the bright warm sunny days from her homeland and how when the sun was out it meant the day would be warm. On the contrary, many American tourist’s idea of The Caribbean or “the islands” as always being a hot tropical vacation spot. However, she is not in her place of origin, the place she knows like the back of her hand. No, she was in a chipper crowded city and even though the sun was shining and the sky looked blue, it was still cold.
Next, Lucy begins her long journey to America for a “fresh start” like we discussed earlier. When she arrives she begins employment with a family that superficially has it all. They are a well privileged white family, but that does not bother her. In fact, she grows quite fond of being around them. She talks about developing a relationship with the mother Mariah and the father Lewis. Most of all she found an unconditional type of love in her heart for Miriam, the youngest daughter. Mostly because Miriam reminded her a lot of herself as a
This goes along with the idea of the danger of a single story because we find out early on that she is from a different country where everyday things can be very different than being in a large northern American city. In the text Lucy says “The sun was shining but the air was cold.” This simple statement can be viewed as Lucy being reminded of the bright warm sunny days from her homeland and how when the sun was out it meant the day would be warm. On the contrary, many American tourist’s idea of The Caribbean or “the islands” as always being a hot tropical vacation spot. However, she is not in her place of origin, the place she knows like the back of her hand. No, she was in a chipper crowded city and even though the sun was shining and the sky looked blue, it was still cold.
Next, Lucy begins her long journey to America for a “fresh start” like we discussed earlier. When she arrives she begins employment with a family that superficially has it all. They are a well privileged white family, but that does not bother her. In fact, she grows quite fond of being around them. She talks about developing a relationship with the mother Mariah and the father Lewis. Most of all she found an unconditional type of love in her heart for Miriam, the youngest daughter. Mostly because Miriam reminded her a lot of herself as a