Barbara Trevino

Colonialism: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

            Throughout my adult years, I have become increasingly aware of the negative and oppressive impact the institution of colonialism has subjected throughout the world. From my earliest memories I have always considered myself to be cognizant of the myth of benign colonialism. When taught about the “birth” of the United States of America, I was quite aware of the many indigenous tribes who experienced their “death” to make way for the new nation. However, it was not until I reached young adulthood that I began to understand the lasting effects and ramifications of colonialism on all regions and many cultures of the world.           

            While traveling abroad to the small Caribbean country of Belize, formally British Honduras, I struggled with the harsh reality of colonialism. The first few times I had visited the country, I convinced myself that because Belize had gained its independence in a seemingly nonviolent manner, colonialism had not reared its ugly head. However, as I matured I realized that although bodies were not scattered on bloody battlefields and women were not raped in their home by their oppressors, the people of Belize had suffered the theft of their many native tongues, customs, religions, and autonomy. All of which were replaced by British counterparts. As I continued to visit there often, I struggled with trying to fit in and live like a “local” while in actuality I am not, nor will I ever be a “local”. I may set up a homestead, raise my children, and even become a citizen, but I will never carry the burden that comes with being colonized. 

            The readings I have done for this class, Robinson Crusoe, Lucy, and an excerpt from A Small Place, provide a compelling framework in which to discuss the dynamic effects of colonialism in the Caribbean and the literature that developed with the rise of colonialism and in response to colonialism. By identifying literature as colonial and post-colonial an intertextual, discourse can begin allowing literature to provide more than literary assets to history but also provide valuable insight into the social and political spectrum that existed during these time periods. The new dialogue that is created allows for readers to critique the literature focusing on the historicism perspective of the piece. For example, instead of reading Robinson Crusoe as a purely fictional account of one man’s journey for riches, it can be read as a tool to more fully understand the social, political, economic and cultural climate of the times. Further, Kincaid can be read as more than a novel by a woman of color, but instead a telling voice of a woman of color’s perception and discourse on the social, political, economic and cultural climate of which she writes. In order to fully utilize her perceptions, it is beneficial to understand that her experience is directly derived from being born and living in a colonized country thus labeling her work as post-colonial.,

            Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place addresses the long lasting effects of colonialism in her home country of Antigua. In the excerpt of “A Small Place” we read in class, Kincaid states:

And everywhere they went they turned it into England; and everybody they met they turned English.  But no place could ever really be England, and nobody who did not look exactly like them would ever be English, so you can imagine the destruction of people and land that came from that.

If Kincaid’s description of the English colonizer’s is accurate, this creates a continual cycle of inequality between the colonizer and the colonized.  The British colonizers were creating a world of substitute “Englands” that were inherently based on the premise of British superiority.  Kincaid prefaced this statement by telling the English that they should never have left their “…precious England”  “…a place they had to leave but could never forget.”  These statements could be directly directed at Robinson Crusoe in the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

These sentiments create a dialogue between “A Small Place” and Defoe’s novel, Robinson Crusoe.  In the novel, Crusoe decides to leave his comfortable life with his parents in England to go abroad and find his riches. However, wherever he travels, Crusoe brings his British notions of propriety, social etiquette, customs and values. The character of Crusoe seems to be colonization personified into one character possessing all the traits Kincaid ardently abhorred.

The character of Crusoe seems to be the epitome of the colonizer Kincaid is describing in “A small Place”.  While Crusoe feels he is ready to explore the world and gain riches, he is truly bringing his home with him wherever he goes. For example, throughout the novel, Crusoe makes reference to his Christianity through references about God, Jesus and church teachings.  Crusoe even relentlessly tries to convert his sidekick Friday to his way of worshipping.  After reading “A Small Place”, it is impossible to not see the intertextual connection of Kincaid’s condemnation of the British respecting only their customs, values, and rituals and constantly trying to replace those of the colonized.

The novel Lucy  by Jamaica Kincaid offers a deeper understanding of the far reaching, cyclical effects of colonialism. Lucy explores the story of the third wave of transnational migration. The main character of the novel is a young girl from the West Indies who has traveled abroad to the United States to work as a nanny for a wealthy, white family.

             Ironically, in some ways, Lucy’s voyage mirrors the voyage Crusoe set out on. They were both attempting to leave their homes that they felt were stifling their ability to be autonomous. However, their roles and experiences were very different. For example Lucy was leaving her home and tyrannical mother who offered few if any words of encouragement, as a colonized individual to work for the descendents of her colonizers in a subservient position to help her family in her native land.  On the other hand, Crusoe was leaving his comfortable home with parents who loved him to go forth and find his riches. He fully expected to retain his autonomy and freedom while pursuing his dreams of fortune. Although Crusoe had some glitches along the way such as being taken as a slave, he was mostly able to retain his freedom and even managed to “colonize” his sidekick Friday.

Kincaid eloquently addresses the double standard of the cliché of the white man who leaves his homeland in rebellion of some established order he found corrupt or as in Crusoe’s case stifling, being lauded as a hero. On page 95 she tells the story of her visit to a museum and the story Mariah told her about a French painter who had left his homeland because it did not make him happy, and went to the opposite side of the world.  She states:

He was shown to be a man rebelling against an established order he had found corrupt; and even though he was doomed to defeat-he died an early death-he had the perfume        of a hero around him. I was not a man; I was a young woman from the fringes of the world, and when I left my home I had wrapped around my shoulders the mantle of a           servant (Kincaid 95)

This statement is so powerful because throughout history this story has been told over and over again. As Kincaid aptly states on page 95“…the lives of men always are;”  While Crusoe has been told as an inspiring story to youth, where is the “classic” novel depicting the escapades of a woman setting forth on an adventure by herself to find riches. While Crusoe gets subservient Friday, the woman finds a man to continue her epic story for her completing great feats of heroicism and bravery while she stands by offering her utmost support.

While not the most prevalent theme in the literature we have discussed thus far in class the idea of the effects of colonialism on women greatly interests me. For my research project, I plan on delving deeper into the study of colonialism and gender. I am interested in the Caribbean region, so I plan to do most of my research on that region. Of particular interest is the effects of colonialism and the occurrence of domestic violence. Also, I am interested to see how if any ways has the role of women within the home, community, and spiritual realm changed due to colonialism and post colonial thought.

Overall, the readings and class discussions have really caused to me to critically analyze text in regards to when it was written, why it was written , and who or what type of person wrote it. This class has raised my awareness to the political, economic and moral insight that can be gained about the time a text was written .This course has also helped me to be more cognizant of the more insidious effects of colonialism and its key part in transnational migration.