As I sit here enjoying myself to a
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+ “As I sit here enjoying myself to a degree, I never give up thinking about the way I came into the world, how my ancestors came from Africa to the West Indies as slaves. I just could never forget it. Or forgive it. It’s like a big wave that’s still pulsing. ” -Jamaica Kincaid, 1990, New York Times Postcolonial Criticism Analysis by Paris Cornett
+ What is Postcolonial Criticism? n “…refers to a field of intellectual inquiry that explores and interrogates the situation of colonized peoples both during and after colonization. Post-colonial literature and theory are often, but not always, anti-imperialist in character. ” (Bedford, 394). n Undermines the supposed “universality” that great literature of the canon boasted by liberal humanists. n Frantz Fanon n Edward Said n Covers a wide range of issues, and is interdisciplinary
+ Jamaica Kincaid (1949 -present) § § § Born Elaine Potter Richardson in St. John’s, Antigua Born to a poverty-stricken family, and was sent to New York at 17 to be a nanny Was a staff writer for The New Yorker Often criticized for being too angry Writing deals with colonialism, gender, race, loss, angst and mother/daughter relationships
+ History of Antigua Pre-colonial Colonial/Postcolonial n 2400 B. C. the Siboney inhabit Antigua n 1632 Englishmen successfully established a settlement n 35 A. D. Arawaks settle the land n n 1100 A. D. Caribs push out the Arawaks 1684 Christopher Codrington arrived to set up sugar plantations n 1834 slavery is abolished n 1981 Antigua achieves independence n n 1493 Christopher Columbus spots the island Caribs fiercely resist English settlement
+ “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=AH r 1 HYW 0 m. KE
+ Antiguan v. British Culture Benna n “cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil; ” n “when you are growing dasheen…” n “this is how to make doukona; this is how to make pepper pot; ” n “is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school? n “don’t sing benna in Sunday school; ” n “but I don’t sing benna on Sundays at all, and never in Sunday school. ” Food
+ Antiguan v. British Culture n “this is how to sweep a yard; ” n “be sure to wash every day, even if it is with your own spit; ” n “this is how to make ends meet; ” Appearances Socioeconomic Status n “on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not the slut you are so bent on becoming; ” n “this is how you smile to someone you don’t like very much; ” n “don’t squat down to play marbles— you are not a boy, you know; ”
+ Conclusion “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid is a piece of postcolonial literature that challenges the European cultural hegemony by giving a glimpse into the life of a young, colonized girl who is simultaneously being taught the lessons of her African-Caribbean culture, as well as how to behave so that she may blend in with the dominating English culture. It represents the formation of a hybrid identity that’s symptomatic of colonialism.
+ Works Cited “Antigua’s History and Culture. ” Antigua-Barbuda. inter. Knowledge Corp, n. d. Web. 19 March 2016. Barry, Peter. “Postcolonial Criticism. ” Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Ed. Peter Barry and Helen Carr. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2009. 185 -195. Print. Benson, Kristen M. , Cayce Hagseth. “Voices from the Gaps: Jamaica Kincaid. ” Driven to Discover. University of Minnesota, 23 May 2001. Web. 19 March 2016. Chicago Humanities Festival. “Jamaica Kincaid reads ‘Girl’. ” Online Video Clip. You. Tube. Youtube, 25 February 2015. Web. 23 March 2016. Kincaid, Jamaica. “Girl. ” The New Yorker, 26 June 1978. Web. 18 March 2016. “Postcolonial literature, postcolonial theory. ” The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. 3 rd ed. 2009. Print.
