Shabine

Question 1

What does this story suggest about race and class relations in the society in which it is set?

Answer 1

The story shows racism and classism against Justene (Shabine), her children and her mother. This racism and classism is caused due to Justene’s mother being a black, lower-class working maid who had a bastard child (Justene) with her “employer”. Justene is seen as a sloozy (a promiscuous lady) due to her promiscuous behaviour and her children. Many hurtful, terrible words are thrown at her because of this, and due to her father denouncing her as his child, she gets no respect. Justene’s life is truly awful because of all these factors in this time period.

Question 2

What impressions do you form of the man from whose perspective the story is told?

Answer 2

I suspect the narrator is in love with Shabine. He is enthralled and in total awe by her pale, reddish skin colour topped by her mass of coarsish red hair, her chocolate freckles and her grey eyes. He’s also a very sad man, always thinking about what could have been but never became. The paradise plum candy that the narrator used to leave out for Shabine indicate a deeper meaning, showing a different life that could have come true, an innocent, pleasant life, with joy and happiness for all parties.

Question 3

The physical attributes to signify Justine’s temper

Answer 3

fiery, red hair

Question 4

Song to describe Shabine

Answer 4

Gold and silver that I have,
Copper and Diamonds I don’t have
You see me, you see me,
Come kiss me, come kiss me 
Darling whore.

Question 5

physical descriptions of Gold and Silver

Answer 5

Gold: red, thick, wooly curls with red bushy eyebrows and freckled face. Grey eyes and a vulnerable mouth that trembled too.

Silver: straight, blonde, whitish hair that stood like spines from his head and a tooth gap that caused him to lisp.

Question 6

Justine’s mother

Answer 6

Maid for Mr. Cazaubon

Question 7

Justine’s father

Answer 7

Mr. Cazaubon

Question 8

The grief that sent Justene’s mother to her grave

Answer 8

Mr. Cazaubon hadn’t kept his promise to acknowledge Justine as his daughter and send her to Convent School.

Question 9

Shabine

Answer 9

a mixed race woman who is constantly mocked for being poor, of mixed heritage

Question 10

Jammette

Answer 10

sexually promiscuous woman