Small Island: Hortense Flashcards
How does Hortense view skin colour?
She views lighter skin as superior, to the point where it affects how she views others, making assumptions and prejudices based on it. Especially initially, she tries to attribute how people act, based on their skin colour.
Quotes on skin colour?
=> “Her skin was so dark. But mine was not of that hue- it was the colour of warm honey. No one would think to enchain someone such as I.”
=> “This light skinned, green-eyed boy had looked the most trustworthy pupil.”
=> “With such a countenance there was a chance of a golden life for I.”
=> “My mouth could do nothing but gape. I had never seen an Englishwoman so dark before.”
Context on skin colour?
=> David Glen on skin colour: “Colonialists might say things like, “they are black people, and we are white people. They are savages, and we are civilised. They are bad and we are good.” (Colour theory, and on historical extent of colour association.)
=> “Whites recognised the free coloured as superior to both to slaves and free blacks, and gave them privileges according to their shade.” - David Lowenthal, History of colour in the West Indies
Effect of race and colour on Hortense?
Both are heavily intertwined with how Hortense is treated in England. She is denied equal opportunity (especially when she tries to become a teacher), and mocked/ treated poorly because of her skin and race, rather than her manners. Prejudice, even with kinder characters such as Queenie are evident.
Quotes on race?
=> “It doesn’t matter that you were a teacher in Jamaica.”
=> “This is bread.” “These are shops.”
=> “I said five times, and still he looked on me bewildered.”
Context on race?
=> Immigration Act of 1948. Britain’s need for workers post-war. Despite this, they were often denied jobs that needed skilled work.
=> “Racism as a belief system had become truly endemic in Britain at this time” - Andrea Levy
Gender and marriage for Hortense?
She enters a marriage of convenience, rather than one for love. Shows her priority of ambition and determination over relationships.
Quotes on gender and marriage?
=> “A single woman cannot travel on her own.”
=> “Like a business deal had been struck between us.”
Context on gender and marriage?
=> See Sonya Andermahr on the multidimensional memory: Hortense is a character that is ‘competitive’ - “privileges (her) suffering over others.”
=> Literary Link: Marriages of Conveniences - Joyce’s ‘Eveline’ or Otuska’’s ‘The Buddha in the Attic.’ Still existing traditional gender roles.
Hortense’s Hope?
Hortense has high expectations from England even before arrival. Indoctrinated by her education, and furthered by descriptions from others (Cecilia and Gilbert), she expects nothing but the best from England. To her, it should fulfil all her wishes, and is symbolic of her dreams, which she wishes to achieve her. English equivalent of the American dream?
Quotes on her hope?
=> (Use of repetition, Cecilia:) - “When I am older…”
=> (Semantic field of gold) - “The pavements with a blanket of gold.” “Looks to all the world like a fairytale castle.”
Context on hope?
=> Education emphasised the history, language, culture and values of England, aiming to instil sense of loyalty to British Empire, and promote English interests.
