England, to Kincaid was a land that inspired awe, mystery, and had a sense of wonder surrounding it. The map of England, the products from England and the way she ate her food in the morning all contribute to her feelings about England. Kincaid begins by describing England in ways the British “favour” to flatter themselves. It is a “special jewel,” “beautiful” and “delicate.” As she is a child, England is presented to her as a mysterious far off land that has an almost magical appeal. It was a “source of myth” and the source “from which [they] (Antiguan) got [their] sense of reality.” It ‘could not really look like anything familiar,” because it was not really a tangible thing, at least not her her. Kincaid uses this descriptive language initially
…show more content…
WIth dripping irony, Kincaid litens England to a “very special jewel” that only special people got to “wear.” The prevailing attitude in her experience is that English people are good, because they are from England, and have obviously been rewarded by being from such a noble, fine place. To Kincaid, England seems like a “Jerusalem,” a holy land for those unfortunates who must achieve such a privilege. Naturally, Kincaid develops a resentment because of this preconception, and believes that she has already been “conquered” by the English, she has already been made to feel inferior. The repetition and analogy shows her resentment toward the overpowering English influence and pride in her country. Antiguans have been taught to admire the very people who once enslaved them. Kincaid is horrified by the genuine excitement the Antiguans have regarding royal visits to the island: the living embodiment of British imperialism is joyously greeted by the former victims of that imperialism.
When she says, “It could not really look like anything so familiar…” this makes the reader question as to why she would compare England to something as brute and ungraceful as an animal leg and then retract it saying that mutton is too familiar. This produces a confusing image of a country that
WIth dripping irony, Kincaid litens England to a “very special jewel” that only special people got to “wear.” The prevailing attitude in her experience is that English people are good, because they are from England, and have obviously been rewarded by being from such a noble, fine place. To Kincaid, England seems like a “Jerusalem,” a holy land for those unfortunates who must achieve such a privilege. Naturally, Kincaid develops a resentment because of this preconception, and believes that she has already been “conquered” by the English, she has already been made to feel inferior. The repetition and analogy shows her resentment toward the overpowering English influence and pride in her country. Antiguans have been taught to admire the very people who once enslaved them. Kincaid is horrified by the genuine excitement the Antiguans have regarding royal visits to the island: the living embodiment of British imperialism is joyously greeted by the former victims of that imperialism.
When she says, “It could not really look like anything so familiar…” this makes the reader question as to why she would compare England to something as brute and ungraceful as an animal leg and then retract it saying that mutton is too familiar. This produces a confusing image of a country that