Impression
This week’s reading on Black Shack Alley covers underlying themes including slavery, poverty, violence, trauma, and colonialism. Readings of some of the descriptive writings illustrating the violence and infliction of pain such as the bruising instilled disheartening images to me as I read. The themes in this book are much more serious than previous books we have read thus far, but nonetheless subjects to talk about because they are ingrained in history, in the present or through intergenerational trauma. For example, from what I sense, the treatment inflicted by M’man Tine, the grandmother, seems to be as a result of intergenerational trauma, as well as a possible vengeance from lived experiences. This is not to justify the treatment of the grandson, but rather a potential explanation for her violent actions which she projects from her lived experiences.
The relationship between M’man Tine and Jose is one that I think is notably unique in a sense that there are moments where Jose is mistreated, but also moments where she provides him with love and fills the caregiving role. M’man Tine is the primary caregiver, as his father is not part of his life, and his mother, Delia, sees him only once in a while. When M’man Tine passes away, Jose reflects back to her caregiving roles and sacrifices made for him.
Another unique relationship I wanted to highlight is Madame Leonce and Jose. On one hand, we know that they’re not of the same class, as Jose works under her as a slave. On the other hand, she would feed him lunch. Jose initially thinks of her as someone who was unfriendly, but when she feeds him, he thinks almost as if she is kind.
Overall Thoughts
The book itself was long, but the literature itself was easy to understand. I found the book a bit depressing because Jose never really lives a normal childhood as he was enslaved to the plantation as a child, and faces oppression solely because of skin color. He never really gets to understand why he is treated like this. At one point he wonders what black people have done to be disliked and oppressed both by the devil and the beke (p. 37). Although he lives a traumatic and difficult life, he still finds himself to find joy in something such as being in school. He does not really have a role model to look up to, as he grows up with the absence of his father and his mother being away in another plantation, but has his grandmother only to look after him.The book itself is depressing, but does highlight topics of oppression, colonialism, and classism, which still has its lingering effects on society today.
Question:
What kind of character development do you think Jose had?
Hi Sally, it’s interesting that you thought of José as working under Madame Leonce as a slave. I saw it more as José doing chores in return for a free lunch, although I do think Madame Leonce starts to take advantage of José as time goes on.
Hi Sally, I find your point about the infliction of violence by M’man Tine on José interesting. I have never thought about the role of intergenerational trauma in it, but now that you’ve mentioned it, perhaps it also highlights the continuity of oppression in Martincian society long after the abolition of slavery. This might also explain M’man Tine’s strict parenting to José because she genuinely wants her next generation to break the perpetual cycle of impoverishment, oppression, and illiteracy.
– Janae
Hi Janae, these are definitely notable points and perspectives we have. The strict parenting had to have been explained or derive from somewhere, and it’s likely a way to deter away from the cycle of poverty and oppression you mentioned.
“The themes in this book are much more serious than previous books we have read thus far”
Really? I’m not entirely sure about this. At the very least, what counts as “serious” has often been up for discussion. Why does this book seem more “serious” to you than others?
Hi, I thought this was an interesting narrative and thought the ideas about strict parenting you mentioned were very interesting. Do you think this is a result of circumstance or just a characteristic of José’s character?
Hi Sally! I definitely found myself agreeing with you that Madame Leonce’s treatment of Jose bugged me and I found that there were definitely moments when he was being taken advantage of. I’m not sure how I would describe Jose’s character development but I would definitely say we can see his maturity and understanding of the world develop quite clearly from start to finish throughout this book.
Hi Sally,
I agreed with your ideas about generational trauma and the way that changes your behaviour and the way you treat others, and how that is represented in the book. Like you highlighted, I believe the many relationships in this book are what make it very compelling, and I hope you enjoyed reading the characters’ realistic and unique dynamics as much as I did.
Hi Sally,
I agree that there was definitely generational trauma in the mix of why his grandmother treated him so poorly. Its really enlightening to how expansive the results of passed on trauma are. I wonder if Madame Tine was conscious of the fact that this was passed on trauma she was subjugating José to or wether she was just acting on instinct.
Hey Sally,
I found the way you describe José’s relationships with different people to be very interesting, and in one way or another they all helped shape him.
To answer your question, I believe he becomes more mature and aware of his environment and the situations he finds himself in, I think he also leaves that innocence he had as a child.
Hi Sally,
interesting thoughts, in response to your question I think Jose is a dynamic character who rises through the ranks in terms of class and education and this changes his perspective on his entire life, and his relationship with those who live in Black Shack Alley. It was interesting to see his entire character development as a child to young adult.
Thanks,
Nadia 🙂