This site requires Javascript to be turned on. Please enable Javascript and reload the page.

Here Comes the Sun: Deconstructed Student Essays

Countering the Colonial Narrative

Now 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 geography of Jamaica but also the geographies 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 renderings fail to disclose is the dependency of the locals on the industry and the difficulties they face as a result. Resilience and resistance are also explored in the novel. There are instances where characters emphasize the values of the community and act against the neocolonial system that oppresses them throughout the story. The culture in River Bank, and more broadly the island of Jamaica as a whole contest the key principles of the domination of island geographies 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. 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.

This page has paths:

Contents of this path:

Contents of this path:

The 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. (Frater)
This passage from Maryse Condé's I Tituba reveals the presence of Maroons on the island of Barbados. Maroons were groups of formerly enslaved people who escaped and hid from colonial rule in remote areas of the Caribbean Islands. Being a member of these groups was very dangerous as there was the constant fear of being recaptured and punished. The formation of these Maroon groups demonstrated the power of those enslaved in the Caribbean and proved their ability to go against colonial rule. Because of their ability to hide away in remote areas of islands, Maroon camps could go years without being found. While many of the revolts by the Maroons were unsuccessful, there were a few that were successful enough to overthrow colonial rule. When Tituba returns to Barbados after spending years in the United States, she is shocked to discover how much the Maroons have grown in prevalence since she left. Although the group of Maroons in I Tituba were not successful at overthrowing colonial rule on the island of Barbados, their resilience and rebellious nature exposed the vulnerabilities in the systems put in place by colonial powers across the Caribbean. Because they showed the very flawed colonial systems, traditional narratives fail to share the stories of these groups as they harm the reputations of the seemingly indestructible forces that were the colonizers of the Caribbean. Through Black female archipelagic literature, this alternate and unheard perspective of history can be shared, and colonial renderings of island geographies can be contested. (Condé 143)