Loverman highlights issues with masculinity and homophobia in Antigua and England, it is important to note the different experience Barry has in both places. Evaristo creates parallel scenes, which allow the audience to juxtapose these concepts in both places. Morris and Barry are caught by Barry’s brother. His brother does not approve, but he “accepted it because I was his little brother,” because he “was a good man” (cite). Meanwhile, when Barry is caught in England, he was jumped. This exchange was so violent that Barry “expected to feel the cold blade of a knife,” and eventually blacked out (cite). England had been violent to him, creating a reversal of audience expectations. Though Antigua was harsher on punishment, Barry was treated with kindness. This seems to support Lola’s theory that “It’s homophobia, not homosexuality, that was imported” (cite). The novel seems to support that is was the British that criminalized homosexuality and strict performances of
Loverman highlights issues with masculinity and homophobia in Antigua and England, it is important to note the different experience Barry has in both places. Evaristo creates parallel scenes, which allow the audience to juxtapose these concepts in both places. Morris and Barry are caught by Barry’s brother. His brother does not approve, but he “accepted it because I was his little brother,” because he “was a good man” (cite). Meanwhile, when Barry is caught in England, he was jumped. This exchange was so violent that Barry “expected to feel the cold blade of a knife,” and eventually blacked out (cite). England had been violent to him, creating a reversal of audience expectations. Though Antigua was harsher on punishment, Barry was treated with kindness. This seems to support Lola’s theory that “It’s homophobia, not homosexuality, that was imported” (cite). The novel seems to support that is was the British that criminalized homosexuality and strict performances of