Here Comes the Sun: Deconstructed Student EssaysMain MenuAFR 283: Islands, Archipelagoes and Black Women's Literature“The islands provide me, from a technical point of view, a microcosm in which can be seen in sharp relief many of the basic problems and conflicts which beset oppressed peoples everywhere.” -Paule Marshall, “Shaping the World of My Art”Critical VocabularyLanding page for Critical Vocab TermsUnessaysThis is the launchpad for deconstructed essaysRandi Gill-Sadler4a914792fbfb2078ef84e08319c412098bd9b469
Countering the Colonial Narrative
12024-04-24T12:47:37+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb2419plain2024-05-01T14:29:07+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb24Now understanding the colonial renderings of island geographies, the ways in which Nicole Dennis-Benn counters them in Here Comes the Sun can be explored. Being that Dennis-Benn is Jamaican-born, she has first-hand experience and understanding not only of the island geographies of Jamaica but also the geography of the Caribbean as a whole. She uses this understanding to counter the colonial and neocolonial viewpoints of the Caribbean islands through various themes in the novel. The first way she accomplishes this is by addressing the dependency of those native to the Caribbean islands on the tourism industry. The neocolonialist perspective paints tourism in the Caribbean as an economic lifeline for the Caribbean people, making it appear to be a wholly welcomed industry by those involved. What the neocolonialist rendering fails to disclose is the dependency of the locals on the industry and the difficulties they face as a result. Humility and community are also explored in the novel. There are instances where characters emphasize the values of others and the community instead of solely acting upon their interests throughout the novel. The culture in River Bend, and more broadly the island of Jamaica as a whole contest the key principles of greed and selfishness that colonialism is grounded in. The third way in which a countering perspective of colonial renderings of island geographies is explored in Here Comes the Sun is through its exposure of homosexuality in Jamaica. Not until recently were the perspectives of members of the LGBTQ+ community taken into consideration in historical records because colonial renderings of island geographies neglected to tell this perspective. Further, Dennis-Benn sheds light on homophobia and its condemnation in the neocolonial systems of the Caribbean through the homosexual relationships present in the text. Further, understanding the context of Here Comes the Sun as it relates to I Tituba, Louisiana, and Mama Day is crucial. More specifically, the rebellions by the maroons in I Tituba and the independence held by those in Mama Day work in conjunction with Dennis-Benn's work to further explore the disruption of traditional narratives regarding island geographies.
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1media/Colonial Kingston.jpeg2024-04-18T18:29:47+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb24Liam's UnessayLiam Maurillo19Countering the Traditional Colonial Narratives of Islands and Archipelagosimage_header2024-05-01T14:50:53+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb24
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1media/Image 4-23-24 at 12.58 PM_thumb.jpeg2024-04-25T02:39:53+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb24Addressing the Native Dependency on Neocolonialism3The tourism industry across the Caribbean was built by the oppressors for the oppressors, and now the native populations are dependent on it. The system was created to keep the wealth in the hands of the colonial powers while preventing those of low economic status from succeeding in society. As seen in this excerpt from The Economic Impact of Tourism: Jamaican Residents' Perceptions, it is most difficult for the people to express displeasure with the system who most rely on it. Even though they are oppressed by it, it provides them with the bare necessities for survival, making it difficult for many to speak up against it. Colonial narratives fail to address this harsh reality, but it is a prominent theme exposed in Here Comes the Sun. Through the characters of Margot and Delores, it is evident that despite being oppressed by the societal standards set by the tourism industry, they accept their place and work in the tourism industry to be able to provide for themselves as well as Thandi.media/Image 4-23-24 at 12.58 PM.jpegplain2024-04-25T14:31:50+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb24
1media/Liam Dennis-Benn.mp32024-05-01T14:28:01+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb24Nicole Dennis-Benn on Sexuality4An interview with Nicole Dennis-Benn conducted by Ari Shapiro of the National Public Radioplain2024-05-01T17:19:04+00:00Liam Maurillo35d4807d872a32d0acd1978d90c786506b31bb24