Behind The Caribbean Analysis
Mariela Boutte
Dr. Subramanian
HUMN 3375
July 2, 2015
Behind the Caribbean Scenery
“A People to Mold, A Nation to Build”-European Colonization in a A Small Place
“Antigua is a small place, a small island,” nine by twelve miles long, discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 (Kincaid, 80). Europeans later settled on the island along with the slaves they imported. In A Small Place, Kincaid described the Europeans as “Human rubbish,” who took “noble and exalted human beings from Africa” to enslave them (80). She made no effort to conceal her thoughts about the little island consumed by the after effects of colonialism. Driven by anger and resentment toward Antiqua’s British implemented culture, Kincaid explored the intricacy of the after …show more content…
Kincaid asked the tourists a hypothetical question, “What if you heartbeat should miss a few beats” while you are on your holiday in Antigua? Would you be comforted to know that the hospital is staffed with doctors that no actual Antiguan trust”(8)? She goes on to tell the readers that no one trusts the doctors in Antigua, not even the Minister of Health. In fact when he become sick he takes the “first plane to New York to see a real doctor” (Kincaid, 80). If any one of the ministers were to get sick, they did the same. The Island’s lack of proper sanitation and healthcare is disheartening to Kincaid. There is clearly a lack of bio-ethical and public policy concern for the citizen of Antigua, because there were no other hospitals. It is not as if the government does not know about the issue. They decided to sweep it under the rug because they are able to send themselves and their families to a “real” doctor when they came …show more content…
She believed that, “The people in a small place cannot give an exact account, a complete account, of themselves” ( 53). She was convinced that they were culture less, without identity, and in a state of current crisis because of the actions of colonialism and self-serving government. From Kincaid perspective Antiguans are taught to be servants in the hotel business. She believes these are good quality citizens of Antigua, however due to their lack in education and scanty economical status, they have fallen into the perils of the conglomerate of tourism; which is in some sense is present day slavery. These citizens were not able to make an advancement in life because of colonialism, the unscrupulousness and dishonesty of the government; depriving them of everything such as libraries and their
Dr. Subramanian
HUMN 3375
July 2, 2015
Behind the Caribbean Scenery
“A People to Mold, A Nation to Build”-European Colonization in a A Small Place
“Antigua is a small place, a small island,” nine by twelve miles long, discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 (Kincaid, 80). Europeans later settled on the island along with the slaves they imported. In A Small Place, Kincaid described the Europeans as “Human rubbish,” who took “noble and exalted human beings from Africa” to enslave them (80). She made no effort to conceal her thoughts about the little island consumed by the after effects of colonialism. Driven by anger and resentment toward Antiqua’s British implemented culture, Kincaid explored the intricacy of the after …show more content…
Kincaid asked the tourists a hypothetical question, “What if you heartbeat should miss a few beats” while you are on your holiday in Antigua? Would you be comforted to know that the hospital is staffed with doctors that no actual Antiguan trust”(8)? She goes on to tell the readers that no one trusts the doctors in Antigua, not even the Minister of Health. In fact when he become sick he takes the “first plane to New York to see a real doctor” (Kincaid, 80). If any one of the ministers were to get sick, they did the same. The Island’s lack of proper sanitation and healthcare is disheartening to Kincaid. There is clearly a lack of bio-ethical and public policy concern for the citizen of Antigua, because there were no other hospitals. It is not as if the government does not know about the issue. They decided to sweep it under the rug because they are able to send themselves and their families to a “real” doctor when they came …show more content…
She believed that, “The people in a small place cannot give an exact account, a complete account, of themselves” ( 53). She was convinced that they were culture less, without identity, and in a state of current crisis because of the actions of colonialism and self-serving government. From Kincaid perspective Antiguans are taught to be servants in the hotel business. She believes these are good quality citizens of Antigua, however due to their lack in education and scanty economical status, they have fallen into the perils of the conglomerate of tourism; which is in some sense is present day slavery. These citizens were not able to make an advancement in life because of colonialism, the unscrupulousness and dishonesty of the government; depriving them of everything such as libraries and their