Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Reflection on A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid.

Wow, what a great read. I enjoyed very much this text. I read many influential factors in this marvelous turn of events. The story is very much a narration of personal tourist experiences from the autor Jamaica Kincaid. It is set to be in her hometown, Antigua. The plot is very convincing of the idea that only an “insider can understand certains aspects and qualities of a place. One can relate this to the difference between a traveller and a tourist, where a traveller is there for the “full experience” and the tourist is there for the “full package”. The experience is different from the package, because one focuses on the Little things that only a true observer would notice and the other one is just a brief sroll through the place’s context/history/culture.

Many factors presented in the text are the total social and econiomic margins generated in those lands. Where everyone can see the expensive old cars in very poor conditions, and the majority of things deteriorating. These are all aspects surrounding the past and actual corruption of the place, that limits the funds used to “take care” of Antigua. Jamaika Kincaid also narrates what was her past memories of Antigua and her curren tones, comparing them and wondering endlessly which one was worst. Sadly, there are many negative and true factors presented in the text. Things discussed in her late experiences are her fellow townmate experiences, the library that was never repaired thanks to corruption and the aspect of the passage of time through Antigua and what are the changes that come with time.



At the end the idea I most percieved was the beauty of the island. After all the struggling things discussed in her experience, things came to sense for a moment, with the beautiful details of Antigua. The island was so beautiful that Kincaid use dan allegation to an “unreal” place, a utopic land of beauty. Many social factors of Antigua are discussed in the story.

3 comments:

  1. Nice reflection! At first, I was a little confuse with their statements about he tourist, I didn't know why. However, right now i can understand her and also like her.

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  2. I like you comparison about the real experience and full package. We should go deeper than the superficial view when we travel.

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  3. Agree with Eva, when we travel we have to focus not into the different attractions that has the pace, we have to go more deeper in the things that are real important.

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