Sugar Cane Alley Essay Example
Sugar Cane Alley
Jose is a type of person that anyone could look up to. He’s strong, smart and doesn’t let people walk all over him. Throughout the movie he becomes a stronger and stronger person. He goes through two deaths of two people who are very influential in his life, let alone the death of his mother. His grandmother, Ma Tine, raises him. She is a very influential person as well, because she has only the best in mind for her grandson. Although Sugar Cane Alley takes place in Martinique, well after slavery was abolished, the way Jose and Ma Tine live reflect many of the same ideologies of slavery from many years before. In Martinique almost everyone works, they cut sugar cane which is barely enough money to live off of. The only way to advance and make something of your self is to do well in school. This is exactly what Jose does; he studies hard and takes an exam granting him permission to attend a school in Fort-de-France. Unfortunately, Jose is only accepted a partial scholarship, forcing Ma Tine to be a laundress so Jose can go to school. I was very surprised as to what a hard worker Jose was. He’s a brilliant kid and many people around him know it. The effort he put in to his schoolwork says a lot about who he is and how he was raised. He sets a great example for his plantation.
Although Jose is a talented student, he often gets caught in mischievous activities. He drinks a little too much one-day, and burns a shack down, as well as throwing a rock at his teacher. I believe that Jose was just being a typical kid in these instances but something that is very striking is the close family ties. The relationship between Jose’s grandmother and Jose plays a huge part in Jose’s education. It is obvious that being close with your family is very common to African culture. A general theme that I saw in this movie stresses respect for elders.
Jose has learned a lot of different things from his grandmother, but the most significant thing he learned from
Jose is a type of person that anyone could look up to. He’s strong, smart and doesn’t let people walk all over him. Throughout the movie he becomes a stronger and stronger person. He goes through two deaths of two people who are very influential in his life, let alone the death of his mother. His grandmother, Ma Tine, raises him. She is a very influential person as well, because she has only the best in mind for her grandson. Although Sugar Cane Alley takes place in Martinique, well after slavery was abolished, the way Jose and Ma Tine live reflect many of the same ideologies of slavery from many years before. In Martinique almost everyone works, they cut sugar cane which is barely enough money to live off of. The only way to advance and make something of your self is to do well in school. This is exactly what Jose does; he studies hard and takes an exam granting him permission to attend a school in Fort-de-France. Unfortunately, Jose is only accepted a partial scholarship, forcing Ma Tine to be a laundress so Jose can go to school. I was very surprised as to what a hard worker Jose was. He’s a brilliant kid and many people around him know it. The effort he put in to his schoolwork says a lot about who he is and how he was raised. He sets a great example for his plantation.
Although Jose is a talented student, he often gets caught in mischievous activities. He drinks a little too much one-day, and burns a shack down, as well as throwing a rock at his teacher. I believe that Jose was just being a typical kid in these instances but something that is very striking is the close family ties. The relationship between Jose’s grandmother and Jose plays a huge part in Jose’s education. It is obvious that being close with your family is very common to African culture. A general theme that I saw in this movie stresses respect for elders.
Jose has learned a lot of different things from his grandmother, but the most significant thing he learned from