As a result of the analysis of two articles written by different writers, Jamaica Kincaid and Eden Robinson, it was concluded that both works touch on the theme of culture. The main question which is discussed in the articles is the attitude of natives and local people to English culture. What the writers focus on is the influence of English values and mentality on the life of people who are not citizens of England.
Thus, in “The Sasquatch at home,” “Traditional protocols and modern storytelling” writer tells how foreign culture dominates a person’s life as if becoming the main one and shaping the hobbies and interests of the characters. However, it must be noted that the father of the family in the story does not want to take part in the heroes’ trip and treats it rather sceptic. This is an important detail, which suggests that ordinary people are far from happy with cultural pressures and the denial of identity, and that is reviewed in another article.
Jamaica Kincaid, in “On Seeing England for the First Time,” writes about the black population’s study of the history and culture of England and also touches on the theme of cultural influence. However, a heroine becomes disillusioned with English culture, confronts the negative facts and realizes that everything is not as wonderful as it seems at first glance. This again reflects the hero’s dissatisfaction and rejection of the destruction of identity in the name of something grander. It is this idea that links the two works in question, both of which have a spirit of rebellion and disagreement with the general trend. What topics/issues do they share, and how do they address them?
To conclude all that was analyzed before, it is possible to identify two key themes that each of the works deals with. The first is the influence of foreign culture on the colonized society, and the second is the animosity and conflicts between the mentalities and worldviews ofwhites and natives. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize that each theme is revealed in a different way, touching certain lives of certain people but from different angles. It is necessary to analyze each theme in more detail to see how the writers are trying to reveal them and what meaning they are trying to convey to the reader.
The question of the influence of foreign culture on society and the worldview of the protagonists is examined through the thoughts and dialogues of the characters. For example, in the Robinsons’ work, the mother, in a conversation with her daughter, says that she really wants to attend a Presley concert, knowing the names of his tours and albums. Later, the main character, having already been to the concert, speaks of the performance and the atmosphere in Graceland as a kind of magic, comparing it to Christmas. The maiden emphasizes that everything associated with this action is steeped in history and special emotions for her mother, who wanted to share them with her daughterand keep them in their memory.
Another theme connected with inner struggle is addressed by Eden Robinson through the character of the father of the family, who chooses to leave for the Indian gold mines, refusing to attend a music festival with his family. In this way, the writer shows the father’s priorities, focusing on the fact that the Aborigines are closer to him and more valuable than a visit to an Elvis Presley concert, which in this case acts as a kind of representation of foreign culture in the inner conflict of the character. This theme aims to discuss the question of whether it is really necessary to build a cult of English culture or whether one should remain a distinctive person.
In the work “On Seeing England for the First Time,” the picture of the world is shown no longer through conversations but through the main character’s thoughts about England. The dark-skinned girl studied school subjects related to Britain since childhood and dreamed of travelling there. This is well illustrated by the heroine’s reasoning about the map of England that she was shown in class and how she admired it. Later, according to the narrative, she manages to get to England and comes face to face with the culture and life of the English. The girl observes the monuments standing in the streets, the English themselves, their appearance and character traits, also trying to analyze everything that is happening and giving her own meaning to everything she sees. Thus, there is also a correlation between her experiences with the spiritual and valuable, but in a slightly different way, namely through the negative prism of disappointment. Realizing that the beautiful picture of Britain was an illusion, the heroine begins to experience rejection and even dislike of the culture of the English.