Anansi Flashcards
(94 cards)
1
Q
What historical event does the play Anansi depict?
A
The play vividly portrays the Atlantic slave trade in 1791, when thousands of Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and transported to the West Indies to be sold to plantation owners.
2
Q
Who are the central characters of the play?
A
: The two central characters are Girl and Woman, enslaved females who endure the harrowing journey to Jamaica aboard a slave ship.
3
Q
: What conditions do the enslaved people face on the journey?
A
The enslaved endure inhumane treatment, harsh conditions, and constant threats of violence aboard the ship.
4
Q
Evidence of the inhumane treated received by the slaves
A
Boy’s first diary entry confirms it. He says that he saw people herded together like cattle being whipped and beaten. They were fed porridge once a day
5
Q
How are cultural traditions incorporated into the play?
A
Despite oppressive conditions, the enslaved people bring cultural traditions from West Africa, including Anansi folk tales, which serve as a source of comfort and inspiration.
6
Q
What does the play reveal through Anansi’s tales?
A
: Anansi’s stories of bravery and wit highlight the resilience and strength of African people in the face of tremendous adversity.
7
Q
What parallel does the play draw between Anansi’s fictional world and the reality of the slave ship?
A
The Anansi tales provide a sharp contrast to the harsh realities of the slave ship, advancing the plot and offering commentary on the human cost of the slave trade
8
Q
When and where is the play Anansi set?
A
: The play is set in 1791 during the height of the Atlantic slave trade, focusing on the journey of enslaved people from Africa to the West Indies.
9
Q
: How are the enslaved individuals represented in the play?
A
Girl and Woman represent the countless victims of the slave trade, forced to endure unimaginable hardships.
10
Q
What does the play highlight about the Atlantic slave trade?
A
It emphasizes the brutal realities, including inhumane treatment, harsh ship conditions, and the constant threat of violence.
11
Q
How are the Captain and Sailor characterized?
A
In Anansi by Alistair Campbell, Captain and Sailor are characterized as symbols of colonial authority and exploitation, serving as foils to the other characters:
Captain
• Arrogant and authoritative: The Captain commands the ship with a sense of superiority and entitlement. He shows little regard for the well-being of others, particularly the enslaved Africans. • Exploitative: His primary focus is on profit and maintaining power, representing colonial greed and the inhumane treatment of others. • Unempathetic: He views people as commodities, particularly in how he treats Tiger and the other enslaved individuals, reflecting the dehumanization central to the slave trade.
Sailor
• Obedient and complicit: The Sailor follows the Captain’s orders without question, illustrating how individuals can contribute to systemic oppression through passive compliance. • Rough and unrefined: He lacks the refinement of the Captain but shares the same exploitative tendencies. His interactions often highlight his lower status while still maintaining power over the enslaved. • Symbol of the working class in colonial systems: He serves as a cog in the machinery of exploitation, showing how even those without authority can perpetuate injustice.
Together, the Captain and Sailor embody the oppressive forces of colonialism and the hierarchical structures that sustain it, highlighting the systemic nature of exploitation in the play.
12
Q
Q: How are the female slaves portrayed in contrast to the Captain and Sailor?
A
The female slaves are shown as courageous and resourceful, finding ways to survive the treacherous voyage.
13
Q
What role do Anansi’s folk tales play in the narrative?
A
: These tales provide a glimpse into the cultural resilience of the enslaved people, advancing the plot and giving the audience a sense of hope.
14
Q
: What is the play’s overall message?
A
A: Anansi is a powerful story of struggle, courage, and hope, shedding light on the history of the Atlantic slave trade and the resilience of the enslaved.
15
Q
Q: Why are Anansi stories important in West Indian oral literature
A
Anansi stories, brought to the Caribbean by enslaved West Africans, symbolize wit, resilience, and triumph over adversity. They highlight how intelligence can defeat strength and oppression.
16
Q
Q: What qualities make Anansi a champion for the unprivileged?
A
Anansi, though small, uses superior wit, intelligence, and cunning to outsmart powerful adversaries like Brother Tiger and kings, making him a symbol of resistance and hope for enslaved people, hoping they can one day overpower their slave masters
17
Q
What is the central plot of Anansi?
A
The play follows a young girl on a slave ship bound for Jamaica in 1791. She is mentored by an older woman who tells her Anansi stories, giving her strength to endure the harsh journey.
18
Q
: How does the Woman inspire the Girl?
A
The Woman acts as a maternal figure, using Anansi tales to teach the Girl resilience and strength. Her spiritual guidance helps the Girl survive the brutal voyage.
19
Q
What role does the spider play in the Girl’s journey?
A
A: The spider, representing Anansi, inspires the Girl as it weaves its web in the darkness. It symbolizes perseverance and becomes a metaphor for the Girl’s own strength and survival.
20
Q
: How does Campbell depict the Captain?
A
: The Captain is a ruthless, profit-driven trader who views slaves as cargo. He shows no compassion and throws sick slaves overboard to protect his profits.
21
Q
How does the Captain’s son differ from his father?
A
Initially compassionate, the son sees slaves as humans and is uncomfortable with their treatment. However, by the end of the voyage, he adopts his father’s dehumanizing views.
22
Q
Evidence that shows that the son adopts his father’s views at the end of the play
A
Boy walks upright and stern, as if walking in authority
Sailor asks boy if he found out the colour of god yet, and he said yes
he says to sailor “thank you for teaching me how to tie things (could be slaves) with those fancy knots
23
Q
What role does the sailor play?
A
The sailor befriends the Captain’s son but reinforces the Captain’s beliefs, viewing the enslaved as commodities rather than humans.
24
Q
How is the Captain’s illness ironic?
A
Despite his authority, the Captain falls ill by the end of the voyage, leaving his duties to his son. He claims that diseased slaves will lower the average cost. So its ironic because he is sick. (Is his value lowered then?)
Proof: during dictation, Captain coughs violently, indicating that , like the slaves, he is also ‘diseased’ ’ Diseases and sickness doesnt care abt how powerful you are
25
What is ironic about the ship’s name?
The ship is named The Good Ship Hope, which contradicts its purpose of transporting enslaved people under inhumane conditions.
26
How is the Captain’s religious hypocrisy ironic?
Captain is a “Christian” who praises God thus: “Thanks to the grace of God we have lost only 150 slaves and 12 crew on our seven-week passage”. But he is more concerned about the threat of “maimed, defective or diseased slaves lowering the average price” than he is for the loss of life, and for the fact that he cast sick but living slaves overboard. Nonetheless, his greed shows that he is satisfied that insurance will be paid.
27
What are the two main settings in Anansi?
The Slave Ship: The main plot, depicting the grim reality of the Middle Passage.
The Forest of Stories: An imaginative escape where Anansi tales unfold, offering humor and hope.
28
: How do the settings contrast?
A: The ship is somber, oppressive, and tragic, highlighting the inhumane treatment of slaves. The forest is vibrant and comic, symbolizing resilience and cultural traditions.
29
Q: How are the two settings connected?
: The Girl uses her imagination to embrace Anansi’s antics as a way to cope with the harsh realities of the slave ship.
30
How does Campbell entwine drama and storytelling in the play?
By blending the Girl’s real-life struggles with the moral lessons of Anansi’s tales, the play creates a narrative that combines history, political satire, and hope.
31
How does the Boy feel about the treatment of slaves on the ship?
The Boy is sensitive and inquisitive. He questions his father and the sailor about the inhumane treatment of the slaves and is deeply disturbed by their suffering>
Proof: "But father, i still dont see how all those people on the ship can be a cargo"
32
Q: How do the Captain and Sailor react to the Boy’s concerns?
The Captain: Distracts the Boy by emphasizing his education and scolds him for asking too many questions.
The Sailor: Reinforces the belief that slaves are “beasts” rather than humans, dismissing the Boy’s empathy.
33
What does the Girl describe about her conditions in the ship’s hold?
: The Girl describes the hold as a “dark hole” where slaves are “crushed together” in hostile and oppressive conditions. She wonders, “Why has the world come to an end?”
34
Q: How does the Woman offer hope to the Girl?
The Woman encourages the Girl to use her imagination and introduces her to Anansi, whose tales reflect resilience and the refusal to give up despite challenges.
35
How is Anansi depicted in the forest scenes?
A: Anansi is portrayed as a charismatic and cunning spider who uses his wit to outsmart others, including:
Brother Tiger: A powerful but gullible adversary.
The King and Brother Snake: Both are manipulated by Anansi’s schemes.
Brother Ratbat: Anansi frames him for mischief.
Brother Crab and the Cruel Lady: Both fall victim to Anansi’s cleverness.
36
How does Anansi explore the theme of disguise?
: The theme of disguise is portrayed by blurring the line between reality and fantasy, especially through the Girl's use of imagination to mentally escape the cruelty of her slave owners.
37
How does the setting emphasize the theme of disguise?
The ship’s setting is described as “through the trees we can dimly make out beams and ropes… or are they branches and creepers,” creating a distorted perception that blends the Girl’s harsh reality with her imaginative escape.
38
Q: What does the "web" symbolize in the play?
: The web symbolizes power and resilience, much like Anansi’s ability to catch prey. It also represents the reversal of power dynamics, as the Woman advises the Girl to “weave her little web like a dream in the dark and wait…”
39
: How does disguise empower the enslaved characters?
Through imaginative freedom fueled by Anansi’s stories, the enslaved characters find empowerment and mental strength, challenging the psychological impact of their oppression.
40
: Why are similes and metaphors important in Anansi?
They highlight the playwright’s perspective on characters, emphasize key issues, and help the audience visualize the themes and struggles in the play.
41
How is Rat Bat manipulated using a similie?
: Anansi calls Rat Bat “as cool as an ice-cube” to boost his self-esteem and manipulate him into participating in the Best Song Competition.
42
What metaphor does Mancrow use to describe Soliday’s challenge?
Mancrow says, “Trying to kill me… It’s like tying up the night with a noose of string,” highlighting the futility of challenging him.
43
: How does the Her's metaphor emphasize her cruelty?
The Ladysays, “My bottomless calabash awaits your bitter tears,” showing her insatiable desire to exploit the suffering of others.
44
How is the treatment of the slaves described through animal similes?
: Girl describes the slaves as being “tied together like goats waiting for the knife,” emphasizing their dehumanization and suffering.
45
What is the significance of the Spider as a symbol in the play?
The Spider, represented by Anansi, symbolizes the African spirit. His cunning, persistence, and resilience highlight the resourcefulness of the oppressed and their ability to overcome adversity.
46
What does the Tiger symbolize in the Forest Stories?
the Tiger represents strength and boldness, akin to the white slave masters of the era, reflecting brute force and oppression.
47
How do the Spider and Tiger reflect power dynamics in the play?
: The Spider’s wit and resourcefulness contrast with the Tiger’s physical strength, emphasizing that true power lies in resilience and intelligence, not brute force.
48
Q: What broader message do these symbols convey?
: The symbols remind the audience of the importance of strength and resilience in the face of adversity, illustrating the oppressed people’s ability to endure and resist.
49
Themes
Human Cruelty
Ignorance
Traditions
Women in Society
Slavery
Colonialism
Hope
Fantasy vs Reality
The Value of Oral Traditions and Culture
Human Resilience
Attitude to Power and Authority
50
: How do the themes reflect the slave trade experience?
: The themes illustrate the harsh realities of slavery, the resilience of the enslaved, and the cultural traditions that offered hope and survival strategies.
51
: What conflicts drive the narrative in Anansi?
Power and Prejudice: The Captain’s tyrannical rule and disregard for human life.
Alienation: The Boy’s growing emotional and moral separation from his father.
Greed and Violence: Slaves treated as commodities, with sick ones thrown overboard.
52
How does the Captain view the enslaved people?
the Captain sees the slaves as monetary assets, comparing them to livestock and prioritizing their economic value over their humanity.
53
Q: How does the Boy experience alienation?
A: The Boy is disturbed by the cruelty around him, especially when he sees the Girl crying or a slave thrown overboard. This creates a divide between him and his father’s worldview.
The father son duo are so close yet far apart
54
What role does imagination play in the Girl’s survival?
: Imagination allows the Girl to mentally escape the oppressive conditions of the ship. She finds strength in Anansi’s tales, learning resilience and courage.
55
Q: What empowers the Girl at the auction?
A: Inspired by Anansi’s resourcefulness, the Girl declares, “If he was hungry, he got what he wanted and so will I,” showing her determination to persevere.
56
How are women portrayed in the play?
The Woman on the Ship: Acts as a maternal figure, helping the Girl overcome fear with Anansi’s stories. She teaches resilience and hope.
Gran: A strong figure in the Forest of Stories, empowering Soliday to defeat Mancrow.
57
What advice does the Woman give to the Girl?
A: “Don’t tie yourself up with words like impossible.”
58
How do the Boy and the Girl lose their innocence?
The Boy becomes disillusioned with his father’s cruelty and questions the treatment of slaves.
The Girl, faced with enslavement and separation, learns to find strength through storytelling and wisdom from the Woman.
59
How do the Boy and Girl’s perspectives change?
The Boy becomes captain and loses his humanity, adapting his father's cruel ways. (Is destiny really inevitabele?)
The Girl gains resilience and declares her will to survive even in the face of being auctioned.
60
: How does the Girl find strength in the Kingston Harbour scene?
Though she says, “I want to die,” she follows with, “but I won’t,” showing her resolve inspired by the Forest of Stories and her imagined hero, Anansi.
61
Why are the chatacrers nameless
Dehumanization: The namelessness of the enslaved characters mirrors the way they were stripped of identity and individuality by the slave trade, treated as property rather than as people.
62
Theme: Power and Powerless
Throughout the play, we see a distinct power imbalance between the Africans and the white people. The Africans are overpowered, controlled, captured, and treated like animals. They are powerless against their captors and completely at their mercy. The Africans are powerless not only in the immediate sense of being tied up on a ship but in the sense that their entire future, their destiny, and even the destinies of their descendants are in the hands of the white people. However, there is more nuance to how this theme is explored. Looking beneath the surface, we see where woman teaches girl how to regain a sense of power—not necessarily over the white people but over her own state of mind, her own spirit. Girl is empowered through the Anansi stories, through the understanding of her identity and what she is capable of.
There are also hints that indicate that the white people in the play are not quite as powerful as they appear. For example, in the first act, Captain talks to boy about the masters they must eventually report to. Boy is initially confused, but then Captain asks, “Do you think there’s a man alive who has no master of one kind or another?” implying that no one truly has the power to just do as they please. Over in the forest of stories, we see the mighty monster Mangrove and the terrible woman Heron exert power over others; however, we also see that they are eventually defeated by the likes of Solidae and Anansi, indicating that even when one feels or appears to be powerless, there is always a way to achieve importance.
63
Theme: Fantasy vs Reality
Fantasy versus reality is explored through the unique structure of the play, with the consistent parallelism between the harsh reality of the slave ship and the vibrant, imaginative world of the forest stories. While girl and woman must endure the dark, grim reality of being captives on their way to the plantations, they find relief and strength in the fantastical world of Anansi. The forest stories also serve to break up the tension and allow the reader to experience a variety of moods throughout the play. As the play progresses, the worlds of reality and fantasy converge until they are almost inseparable, showing the extent to which girl internalizes the forest stories.
64
Theme: Appearance vs Reality
Anansi’s Strength: Despite his small and seemingly weak appearance, Anansi consistently demonstrates great power by outsmarting larger and stronger opponents.
Girl’s Perception of Anansi: Initially, Girl views Anansi as insignificant, but she eventually recognizes his true strength and cleverness.
Captain vs. Boy: On the surface, the Captain appears to be wiser and stronger due to his authority and experience. However, the Boy proves to be wiser, as he dares to think critically, seek knowledge, and question accepted truths.
65
Theme: Desire vs. Destiny
Boy’s Conflict:
Desire: Boy wishes to learn, reflect, and understand the world through journaling and exploration.
Destiny: The Captain enforces the Boy’s future role as a thoughtless, emotionless leader like himself, focused solely on duty.
Girl’s Conflict:
Desire: Girl longs for freedom, her home, and her past happiness.
Destiny: She must accept a life of slavery imposed by her captors and find strength to survive.
66
Theme: Light vs. Darkness (Good vs. Evil)
The literal darkness of the ship’s hold reflects the oppression and despair of slavery.
A crack of light filtering through symbolizes hope, wisdom, and resilience.
Woman’s Insight: She teaches Girl that “no amount of fear and darkness can change the truth,” linking darkness to ignorance and light to knowledge and enlightenment.
Anansi’s Stories: The light metaphorically represents the new understanding and strength Girl gains from the tales.
Darkness in the Forest of Stories:
In The World Blotted Out, darkness symbolizes fear, dread, and the evil of Mancrow. The rolling thunder and darkening sky foreshadow hopelessness, while the light contrasts as a source of resistance and wisdom.Light Restored:
Solidair defeats Mancrow, symbolizing courage and hope. The King declares, "the Sun is bright," and weakness triumphs over might. Light represents both Solidair’s bravery and the hope restored by his victor
67
Theme: Alienation
The African slaves, of course, including Girl and Woman, are pulled away from their homeland. They become alienated from their people, physically separated from their culture and heritage, and dragged onto the ship where they are not treated as humans. Also, note that the slaves are even further isolated in how they are separated from one another on the ship, unable to communicate with each other except in very limited and constrained ways, as we see with Girl and Woman. Boy is also alienated, as he seems to be the only non-slave on the ship who wonders why the Africans are treated so terribly. He’s curious, thoughtful, and open-minded, and we see that the Captain and Sailor cannot understand or relate to him. He is alienated from them, finding refuge and companionship only in his diary, which he is forced to abandon.
68
Theme: Bondage versus freedom
One of the clearest differences between the Africans and the white people is that the Africans are captives while white people are free. Girl and Woman counteract their physical bondage with their mental and spiritual freedom, which they find in the forest stories. Interestingly, the Captain suggests that even people like him, even a white man who exercises power not only over slaves but also over his crewmen, even people like him aren’t free. He says, "Do you think there’s someone alive who has no master of one kind or another?" suggesting that while relative freedom exists, there is no such thing as absolute freedom, as we all have masters we must serve.
69
Theme: Hopes, dreams, and desires:
Girl:
In the beginning, Girl wants to escape the nightmare of being on the slave ship, longing for her mother and her home.
She feels hopeless, even expressing a desire to die.
Over time, she seeks comfort and companionship, seeing Woman as a new mother.
As the play progresses, she begins to ask questions, showing her desire to understand her situation and her fate.
By the end, she finds hope and strength in the Forest Stories and desires to inspire others as a storyteller, taking over Woman’s role.
Woman:
Woman’s primary desire is to pass on wisdom and strength to Girl.
She wants Girl to survive slavery with hope and resilience, using folklore to maintain her African identity and create her own sense of freedom.
Boy:
From the start, Boy desires to make sense of the world and asks many questions while recording his thoughts in a diary.
He becomes appalled by the treatment of the Africans and recognizes a connection between himself and Girl.
He seems to want to save the Africans, but by the end, it is unclear whether he fully acts on this desire or succumbs to his father’s expectations by taking on the role of Captain.
Captain:
The Captain desires to run his ship efficiently and make a fortune from selling enslaved Africans.
He also wants to instill his own values and "Captain-like" qualities in his son, Boy.
Anansi:
Anansi’s desires change across stories but generally include tricking others to gain rewards or prizes.
He also desires fame and recognition, as seen in the first forest story, where he tricks Dagger into naming the tales after him instead of Tiger.
70
Theme:Childhood and growth:
Girl:
Begins as afraid and confused, struggling to understand her reality.
Over time, she finds strength, courage, and wisdom, maturing far beyond her years.
By the end, she becomes a symbol of resilience, taking on Woman’s role as a storyteller and source of inspiration.
Boy:
Starts as curious, empathetic, and thoughtful.
Is forced to abandon these virtues to fulfill his father’s expectations as a future captain.
By the play’s conclusion, he suppresses his emotional and intellectual depth, mirroring his father’s detachment and ruthlessness.
71
Theme: Faith in God
Captain’s View:
Sees God as supporting slavery and aligns his actions with divine will, declaring, “May God be thanked” when only three slaves die on a passage.
Rationalizes slavery as not being evil and views God as a tool to justify exploitation.
Boy’s View:
Questions the contradictions in the white men’s perception of God.
Observes that all men are supposedly made in God’s image, yet black people are treated as less than human.
By the end, Boy declares that he has learned “the color of God,” suggesting a profound realization about morality and the nature of divinit
72
Theme: Gender Expectations
Boy’s Expectations:
Captain enforces the idea that boys and men should focus on action, work, and making money, dismissing writing, reflecting, and emotional displays as feminine behaviors.
When Boy is caught keeping a diary, the Captain scolds him, saying it’s “for lasses.”
Vulnerability and crying are seen as inappropriate for boys, as highlighted by Sila’s reprimand: “Simp a lad, a boy.”
Women’s Expectations:
Woman (Sila): Represents a strong African matriarch. She mothers Girl by offering wisdom, comfort, and resilience while preserving African folklore.
Gran: Plays a similar role in the Forest Stories, encouraging and supporting Soliday as he battles Mancrow.
Women are expected to nurture, guide, and uphold cultural traditions while demonstrating strength and wisdom in adversity.
73
Literary Devices seen in the play
Irony (Dramatic, Situational)
Symbolism
Imagery
Comedy
Repetition
Contrast
Similie
Metaphor
Personification
Sarcasm
Parallel Narratives
74
Sit Irony
where reality is the opposite of what you would expect it to be or where things are the opposite of what they seem to be. The very first words in the play present an irony. Looking at the title of the first act, we see "The Good Ship Hoop," which likely references the name of the slave ship. Of course, the irony is that nothing good happens on this ship, at least not for the Africans. Instead of hope, this ship gives the Africans hopelessness. Since Captain and his crew see the Africans as nothing more than cargo, they cannot recognize or refuse to recognize the evil in what they're doing. The irony shows the contrasting positions and viewpoints of the white men and the Africans.
75
Sit Irony p2
You see another irony when Boy sees Girl as being very similar to him. He feels connected to her somehow, even though she's a stranger.This happens while Boy feels very disconnected from his own father and also from the crew on the ship. Another irony is seen near the end of Act 3, where a woman mentions that she pities the same white men who have captured her and who will shortly throw her overboard. One would expect that the woman today would feel bitterness and hatred toward them, but instead, she pities how depraved and broken they are.
76
Dramatic Irony
Let us look at dramatic irony. This kind of irony happens when things are obvious to the reader or viewer but are not noticed or understood by the characters. For example, going back to when Girl is introduced to Anansi, the audience sees how oblivious Girl is to just how powerful and important this particular spider is. She thinks that Anansi is weak and insignificant, but we, the audience, already know that Anansi is quite the opposite. Of course, Girl eventually becomes familiar with just who Anansi is.
Speaking of Anansi, we see dramatic irony in pretty much all of his stories in that while we know he is in the process of outsmarting and embarrassing the likes of Tiger and Snake, they are always clueless as to what is going on until it is too late. Because the creatures of the forest typically underestimate Anansi, that makes his victories over them even sweeter. Dramatic irony adds to the comedy and satisfaction readers feel in the forest stories.
Another dramatic irony is in the fact that while we can see how confident and wise Woman is and how strong and mature Girl becomes, neither Boy nor Captain, nor anyone else on the ship, shares this understanding. Just as the forest creatures take Anansi for granted until he ends up tricking everyone out of everything they have, Girl is seen by Captain and Sailor as just another stupid slave and is seen by Boy, perhaps, as someone to be pitted.
77
Symbolism (Lit Device)
We have already talked about how Darkness and Light are used, not just literally in the play but also symbolically. Another clear instance of symbolism happens when Grand helps Solidate prepare to face Mangrove. She gives him six arrows and Grand directly states what each arrow symbolizes. Also, we can see Anansi as a symbol for persistence, resilience, and cunning. He is an embodiment of the African spirit—the spirit that Girl needs to embrace should she survive. Meanwhile, creatures like Minecraft and her, even enemies like Tiger and Snake, might in this play symbolize the slave masters.
78
Imagery
This play does an excellent job of creating vivid scenes in the reader's mind. We're made to clearly see and feel the environments of both the slave ship and the forest. In the first act, when we're first taken to the hold where the Muslims are kept, we are painted a picture of a grim, dark cage where slaves are packed together, stifling in filth and fear. This use of imagery forces the reader to share in the desperate situation that the slaves have suddenly been plunged into. There is also the focus on the light in the roof, which creates a visual contrast with the darkness. We won’t get further into that since we have discussed it in previous sections of the course. Near the beginning of Act 5, we get some incredible imagery from the stage directions that describe the smell and sound of the sea, as well as the movement and freshness of the wind. This is contrasted with the putrid stench that oozes up from the hold, as well as the agonizing groans of the slaves.
79
Comedy and Humor
The play deals with the serious, heavy, and controversial topic of slavery, but the feelings of sorrow and anger evoked by the play are counterbalanced by the comedy it provides, particularly in the forest stories. We have and will continue to look at the purpose of having two narratives run side by side, those being the onboard stories and the forest stories. One of the reasons is that the forest stories often provide comic relief. There's much comedy in how Anansi outsmarts everyone around him and makes fools of them. Anansi, of course, creates comedy through his actions, but just as much through his words. For example, in the first forest story, he insults Tiger several times, who is too stupid to even realize. Anansi isn’t the only character who provides humor in the forest story. he Proclamation: There's a very comedic scene with the servant and the King where the servant annoys the King by talking too much and getting in the way of the big announcement. Boy also adds a bit of tense humor with his smart mouth, which on multiple occasions gets him into trouble with Captain.
80
Contrast
Among other things, contrast is used to highlight ironies as well as differences amongst the characters. We have already discussed how some pairs of characters create distinct contrasts. We also see a contrast between the situations of the white people and the black people, with the white people being in control and the black people being at their mercy. However, we also see a contrast when you look at how terrible Captain and Sailor treat the slaves compared to how sympathetic, composed, and level-headed Woman is. One of the most consistent displays of contrast in the text is in the presentations of the onboard stories alongside the forest stories. While on the ship, we have a dark, grim, jury setting and situation, while the forest stories are full of color, life, and spirit.
81
Parallel Narratives
I wanted to use the term parallelism, but that could easily be confused with another device of the same name with a totally different meaning, so we'll call this parallel narratives. What we are referring to is the telling of two stories at the same time. We jump back and forth between the slave ship and the forest stories. The stories are parallel because they share thematic connections, and each narrative serves to add deeper context and significance to the other. We already spoke a lot about how this device is used when we looked at the form of the play earlier.
82
Sarcasm
: Sarcasm is a kind of verbal irony that is used to mock or insult someone. Usually, this involves saying the opposite of what you mean, but more generally, it can be seen as using wit or humor to ridicule someone. We see some sarcasm from Boy in the first scene, which is rewarded with a slap from Captain. He displays his knack for sarcasm again in Act 3, picking up more schooling from his father. Also, there are several examples of Anansi being sarcastic as he insults several of the forest dwellers and creates comedy. We see this in his first interaction with Tyga and again when he talks with Snake.
83
Repetition
Well, it's not an essential device, but repetition comes up quite frequently in the play. We see a lot of repetition in Act 1, which highlights the confusion and hopelessness of Girl in her very first lines. In particular, the words "blue" and "water" are repeated. This repetition in Girl's lines continues two scenes later as she talks with Woman. "Together" is repeated to highlight just how inhumanely the slaves are crammed together, tied up like bundles of corn. We also see some repetition from Woman, but she uses the device to encourage Girl and give her hope. In particular, we see a heavy repetition of the word "true" as Girl and Woman continue to converse. The word "think" becomes repeated as Girl tries to, no avail, to wrap her mind around her new reality.
84
Similie
Similes are used to support imagery and provide the reader with deeper insight and clarity into what the characters think, feel, and experience. In Act 1, while Girl describes how dark the hole is, she employs a simile saying that it is as dark as the big hut with no windows where the tribe stores greens. This makes it easier for us to imagine the darkness of the world, but it also sheds a bit of light on Girl's previous experiences and things she can relate to, such as the hut she describes. Girl also mentions that they were tied together like boards waiting for the knife. This shows how the Africans were treated no better than animals. Throughout the play, the white people continue to treat them like animals, even worse than animals. Later, when Boy describes the singing of the slaves, he says it is as deep as the sea. This similarly shows that Boy can somehow sense immense depth, feeling, and spirit in the Africans' singing. He also senses their humanity, as their song is said to be warm. Later still, Sailor comments that the hold stinks like death's own backyard, showing us the inhumane conditions that the slaves must survive in. Of course, the reinforced "death" here also points to the fact that many slaves would die in the hole due to poor living conditions. He uses another simile as he says that Boy is as white as a little ghost, referring not to his race but to how pale and sick he looks.
85
Metaphor
Metaphors play a similar role to similes in the play but tend to provide even deeper insights. In some stage narration for Act 1, it is said that the spider's web links the Africans together through metaphor. This means that the stories and spirit of Anansi keep the Africans connected not only to one another but to their roots and to their identities. This web gives them the hope and resilience to survive. Near the end of Act 3, when Girl asks Woman if the white people are going to eat them, Woman answers by saying, "They eat your soul and leave your body empty." This is a metaphor. Obviously, it means that the white people intend to drain every drop of hope and all sense of identity from the slaves, wiping them clean of all ability to dream, hope, and even think. So dreary is the experience of being a slave that we can imagine it leaving many Africans soulless after some time.
86
Personification
: Lumped in with simile and metaphor is personification. In Girl's first lines, she says that she remembers the river carrying her further and further from her mother on its great prone back. Here, the river is given human-like characteristics. We can see how helpless Girl felt. It seemed as if even nature was fighting against her, doing its best to separate her from her mother. We see more personification in Act 5 when the clean, fresh sea is said to be singing in the ropes. The sea might be singing with the slaves. The slave singing was previously said by Boy to be warm. Perhaps the slaves see the sea as a refuge, as being cast overboard might be considered freedom in comparison to being kept on the ship. Otherwise, the singing of the fresh sea might serve to create a contrast that highlights the deplorable condition of the slaves. Where they are is definitely not as fresh and vibrant as the sea seems to be. Instead, we see the putrid stench oozing up from the morning grates. Also, we see a contrast with the singing of the sea and the mourning of the grates, reinforcing the dismal atmosphere that the slaves are forced to endure. Since we are on the topic of personifying the sea, still in Act 5, Boy says that the sea looked angry as the African man was thrown overboard. Again, we see the personification of the sea as being connected to the treatment of the Africans. Here, it seems that nature, or perhaps even God, is displeased with the man being treated this way. Back in Act 3, we see Africa being personified into being Girl's mother. Here, Woman refers to the fact that Africa is their homeland and that allegiance to the homeland, allegiance to heritage, is crucial to one's identity and also to building the strength needed to survive this difficult time.
87
Rhyme
A part of Anansi's charm and character is his ability to wield words wonderfully. When needed, he can be very poetic and musical in his speech. He is often seen speaking in rhyming couplets. He tells of how crafty he is while being crafty with the words themselves. Rhyme is also used by other characters. For example, in Act 4, rhyme is used to showcase the vibrant spirit of the animals, their gleefulness and merriness. Then, rhymes are used to introduce the dread and terror that the man crew brings. The use of rhymes here makes the play feel like a musical and adds to the surrealism of the forest stories.
88
Captain vs Boy
Captain and boy, the father and son, appear for most of the play. Boy is portrayed as innocent, naive, and compassionate, while Captain is ruthless and stern, seeing the slaves as cargo, similar to cattle. Boy sees them as people and struggles to understand why they are treated like this. Also, while we see that Captain's way of thinking is quite linear in that he adheres unquestioningly to the way things are, boy is seen asking questions, reflecting in his diary, and restlessly seeking to address his sense of confusion and ignorance.
Captain's job is not just one of manning the ship and managing the crew and cargo but also of training boy to one day replace him. Due to this, he becomes increasingly frustrated at his son's compassion for the slaves and insatiable curiosity, which makes the two even more estranged with each interaction due to their stark difference in views and personality. We can consider boy and Captain to be contrasting characters, as if they are each other's opposite in many ways.
Even though boy and Captain are contrasting characters, they can also be seen as a single character on two opposite ends of a chronological continuum. What I mean is boy may just be Captain's past self, while Captain might be boy's future self, in that every Captain was once a boy, perhaps just like this one: kind and curious. And every kind and curious boy eventually grows up and loses their innocence, adhering to the constructs of this cruel world. This makes sense when you look at how boy eventually becomes much more like Captain by the end of the play, even taking on Captain's duties.
89
Woman vs Girl
Girl is, in many ways, a character parallel to boy in that they’re both children whose destinies seem set before them. In that way, they are both slaves. They both start the story in a state of confusion and ask many questions in an effort to understand the world around them and their position within it. Girl is at first terrified, frightened of the white men, the dark ship, and the thought of never seeing her family and home again. Anyone would be frightened in this situation, especially a child. However, girl shows a spirit of determination and cleverness and proves to be a fast learner as she gleans from woman, taking interest in the Anansi stories.
Woman, on the other hand, from the play’s beginning, plays the role of a kind of mother, a sage, a guru. She is calm, collected, and very wise. Even in this situation, she does not portray or encourage a spirit of anger and vengeance but rather one of compassion and understanding. As woman grows physically weaker due to sickness, she pours her strength into girl, allowing girl to grow strong. Woman's strength is transferred to girl through the stories she passes on and the lessons girl learns from her. As you look at woman, you can see what girl may become if she lives long enough. By the end of the play, we see that girl indeed becomes much like woman in terms of resilience, wisdom, and the ability to tell a good Anansi story.
90
Sailor
acts as a mentor and companion for boy. He gives boy a bit more room to talk and ask questions than Captain does, but in the end, sailor does nothing more than reinforce Captain’s ideals. Sailor, like Captain, sees the slaves as beasts, as cargo, not as people. Then we have Auctioneer, who appears at Kingston Harbor. His only role is to moderate the selling of the slaves.
91
Anansi
Anansi represents the idea that the small and underestimated—the underdog—can somehow defeat those who are bigger and mightier. Anansi uses trickery and wit not only to overcome but also to totally embarrass the other forest creatures. He even defeats a human in the final story, quenching her thirst. Anansi himself embodies the fighting spirit of the slaves—the hope that they can use their wits to somehow defeat or at least escape their slave masters.
92
Solidai
esides Anansi, Solidae is the only character who is seen as a conqueror in the forest of stories. In fact, he is more virtuous and more heroic than Anansi. He courageously takes on and vanquishes the dreadful Mangrove. While Anansi may represent our ability to rise above insurmountable obstacles through cunning, wit, trickery, and deception, Solidae represents our ability to overcome evil with good, through righteousness, virtue, and determination. It can be argued, though, that one needs to balance courage with wit and principle with artfulness. Even though Solidae defeats Mangrove, he is himself tricked by Anansi.
93
Gran (Solidai gma)
We can’t speak of Solidae without mentioning Grand, who serves a similar purpose to woman. Just as woman teaches girl, Grand teaches Solidae, giving him the tools he needs to slay Mangrove. Grand and woman together show us the role of the matriarch. They are both elders who are strong and brave, fulfilling their responsibility of passing their wisdom on to the next generation.
94
