Summary Of On Seeing England For The First Time
In the time of imperialism, powerful nations conquered those that were weaker, seeking benefits for their motherland, including workforces, resources, and glory. In doing so, these sovereign nations brought harm to the inhabitants of the land they controlled by destroying their traditions, cultures, and sense of self. As a former subject of imperial England, Kincaid critiques this parasitic relationship that dominated her childhood memories in “On Seeing England for the First Time.” Kincaid employs diction, imagery, and repetition to portray her shifting attitude from conformity and slight doubt as a young girl to resentment towards England’s fabricated appearance as a grown adult. In her childhood, Kincaid is shown a map of England by her
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She acknowledges England’s successful imperialism and nationalism in the Caribbean Island of Antigua. England managed to mold the people of Antigua into proud English subjects, including Kincaid at the time, who had “long ago been conquered” (107). Upon recognizing these realizations, Kincaid considers it a “blessing” (115) that she couldn’t reproduce a map of England correctly, for bearing this ability symbolized submission to England’s reign and assent to its importance and “greatness” (32). This “greatness” (32) is undermined as Kincaid weaves in subtle sprinkles of sarcasm and rebellion to portray her growing resentment towards England as she matured. The imagery of Kincaid eating with her “bare hands” (97) against the “English way” (91) when her mother “wasn’t looking” (98) emphasizes her resentment towards English rule. Although eating with her hands was discouraged by the English lifestyle, it’s a small act that was not tainted by imperial England—a gesture of rebellion and independence. Furthermore, the repetition of “Made In England” (74-75) eventually becomes sarcastic as implied by Kincaid’s concluding assertion that the only exceptions to this label were “the sea, the sky, and the air” (76). Similarly to the satisfaction of eating with her hands, Kincaid realized these 3 elements of life were untainted by imperialism, unlike the remainder of her
She acknowledges England’s successful imperialism and nationalism in the Caribbean Island of Antigua. England managed to mold the people of Antigua into proud English subjects, including Kincaid at the time, who had “long ago been conquered” (107). Upon recognizing these realizations, Kincaid considers it a “blessing” (115) that she couldn’t reproduce a map of England correctly, for bearing this ability symbolized submission to England’s reign and assent to its importance and “greatness” (32). This “greatness” (32) is undermined as Kincaid weaves in subtle sprinkles of sarcasm and rebellion to portray her growing resentment towards England as she matured. The imagery of Kincaid eating with her “bare hands” (97) against the “English way” (91) when her mother “wasn’t looking” (98) emphasizes her resentment towards English rule. Although eating with her hands was discouraged by the English lifestyle, it’s a small act that was not tainted by imperial England—a gesture of rebellion and independence. Furthermore, the repetition of “Made In England” (74-75) eventually becomes sarcastic as implied by Kincaid’s concluding assertion that the only exceptions to this label were “the sea, the sky, and the air” (76). Similarly to the satisfaction of eating with her hands, Kincaid realized these 3 elements of life were untainted by imperialism, unlike the remainder of her