In this passage, Jamaica Kincaid discusses how the lives of Antiguans were greatly changed by foreign power. She asserts that they were forcefully separated from their families and homeland. Kincaid expresses her frustration towards the Antiguans who cheer for someone simply passing by in a carriage, despite their difficult circumstances. By comparing the Antiguans to orphans, Kincaid further emphasizes her feelings about the people of Antigua.
In order to create a tone of harshness, tragedy, and misery, Kincaid employs heavy words, juxtaposition, and syntax. By carefully selecting her words and utilizing literary devices, Kincaid provides readers with insight into her feelings towards Antiguan society. Kincaid is frustrated by the fact that despite the reprehensible actions of British colonialists, Antiguans still celebrate British holidays. Through her word choice, Kincaid expresses her emotions of hatred and sorrow. For instance, she uses the term “Worse and most painful of all, no tongue.” Here, Kincaid uses the word “tongue,” which typically refers to the moveable part inside one’s mouth or language. However, she intends for it to convey the linguistic power that Antiguans have lost in defining themselves. Kincaid emphasizes the importance of culture and education in life and employs the phrase “no tongue” to convey her distress to readers, prompting them to view Antiguans as pitiable individuals who have had their language and culture stolen from them.
Through the use of paradox, Kincaid prompts the reader to pause and contemplate the limited awareness of the Antiguans regarding their own existence. The phrase “no excess of love which might lead to things that an excess of love sometimes brings” highlights the delusion in which the people of Antigua reside, consistently subjected to lies. Nevertheless, Kincaid’s perspective transcends this illusion as she recognizes the vital role language and culture play in attaining true freedom. Kincaid skillfully employs syntax to evoke a mood permeated with sadness and sorrow.
By utilizing lengthy sentence structures and employing word repetition, specifically the word ‘no,’ the author instills a sense of anxiety within the readers. This effectively communicates the immense pain endured by Kincaid and nurtures a feeling of abhorrence towards the colonialists who ruthlessly deprived Antiguans of everything. Kincaid skillfully conveys her deep-seated animosity towards the colonialists by employing literary techniques like syntax and paradox. As a result, readers are compelled to contemplate the importance of language and reflect upon the hardships faced by the people of Antigua.
Kincaid, Jamaica. A Small Place. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1988. Print.
