The Illegal Literary Analysis
Throughout my reading of Lawrence Hills “The Illegal” a convergent began to form. An unabating theological presence of hope continued throughout his work. “The Illegal” as well as “The Book of Negroes” coincides with the Christian definition of hope. The novel allowed me to become exclusive with the main character, Keita Ali, and his situation, as well as with my own beliefs towards Christianity. I was forced to question and compare many theological topics of hope due to this novel. In this paper, I will make comparisons of specific quotes from the novel to compare and contrast them against the theological definition of hope. Therefore, through the thorough analyzation of “The Illegal” and the theological definition of hope, I can establish
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how Lawrence Hill’s issues of race, ethnicity, and class complicate Ali’s narrative, and the narratives of those who surround him. Firstly, the issue of class can really affect a person and their state of mind. If a person, such as Keita Ali, has a pattern to their life and one day it is tragically taken away, it can affect a person – causing them to be abhorrent or object. Lawrence Hill describes Keita Ali’s life as the class – government officials – suspect him of being Illegal; “He is in so much trouble he does not have time to reflect on the pain of his loss of leaving his home country. He is in such desperate straights hiding. He’s really on the run. This novel follows two or three months arriving in Freedom State in his very tumultuous life. He doesn’t have time for pain because he’s got to survive (CBC, 2015). The Bible contains a passage from Psalm which begs God to save him from his surroundings. He is scorned and mocked by people and this is displeasing to God so in time, he saves the man from suffering; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest” (Psalm 22:13). Now Anton Hamm is not so receiving of God’s word. Ali is suffering and constantly running but he keeps running and keeping faith to stay alive for himself and his sister. Anton Hamm is a character who has given into greed and pride. This is shown when Anton Hamm announced his departure for a business trip, but took Ali’s ID’s with him; “Anton Hamm announced that he’d be leaving for a business trip out of town but would be back in time to watch”. He took Keita’s passport, Visa and ID with him. Ali Keita had his clothes, the snacks that he had been hoarding from the dining room, the money that he had been saving” (Hill, The Illegal, 57). This is just one example of how someone with “class” treats someone “Illegal”. The sins of greed and pride can be displayed with Anton Hamm’s character. In the passage from Psalm, God is begged to help and cure suffering from others from another “class”. Although it took God some time to help, he eventually did but the Bible displays caution of the treatment of others due to ethnicity. This is associated with point two in the books of Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Revelation – and how ethnocentrism is sin; “All men and women are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-277, 9:6), although that image is corrupted by sin.
It is because we are created in His image that God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17). Jesus did not lay down His life for a particular race of people, but by His death He “purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Jesus destroyed all barriers of ethnicity with His death; “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus’ belief in treating everyone equally makes me realize that Ali is suffering. He was gifted with running as fast as an Olympic runner – helping his family and people close to him. Now he is alone, suffering trying to help his sister Charity while being Illegal and on the run. “Keita Ali was anonymous, alone and about to go underground in Clarkson, population 4.5 million – the capital and the biggest city of Freedom State. Nobody knew him here. If something happened to him, nobody would think to notify his sister. Nobody would even know where to find her. Keita Ali could not afford to get caught. If he were deported, he would likely be executed, and then Charity would be all alone. If any immigration official or police officer approached him, Keita would run for his life” (Hill, The Illegal). In this quote, it is obvious how Keita Ali was afraid and extremely alone. He was in Freedom State knowing that if he was taken by officials there, he would no longer be
alive. To conclude, I will connect the points brought up to answer the question as to whether Ali’s narrative or the narratives of those who surround him are complicated by the issues of race, ethnicity and class. The issue of class can really affect a person and their state of mind. Keita Ali’s life was troubled, he suffered tremendously; “he had to force back his tears. He had no family with him. No friends. Not a soul who cared the least for him…It was an odd feeling to walk the streets of a country knowing that not a single person knew your name or a thing about you – or would notice if you lived or died” (Hill, The Illegal). In the Bible, God was called to end the suffering by different classes but he did not until He decided when was right. This ties with how ethnocentrism is sin. Ali’s suffering showed and answered the question that yes, Ali’s narrative is complicated by the issues of race, ethnicity and class.
how Lawrence Hill’s issues of race, ethnicity, and class complicate Ali’s narrative, and the narratives of those who surround him. Firstly, the issue of class can really affect a person and their state of mind. If a person, such as Keita Ali, has a pattern to their life and one day it is tragically taken away, it can affect a person – causing them to be abhorrent or object. Lawrence Hill describes Keita Ali’s life as the class – government officials – suspect him of being Illegal; “He is in so much trouble he does not have time to reflect on the pain of his loss of leaving his home country. He is in such desperate straights hiding. He’s really on the run. This novel follows two or three months arriving in Freedom State in his very tumultuous life. He doesn’t have time for pain because he’s got to survive (CBC, 2015). The Bible contains a passage from Psalm which begs God to save him from his surroundings. He is scorned and mocked by people and this is displeasing to God so in time, he saves the man from suffering; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest” (Psalm 22:13). Now Anton Hamm is not so receiving of God’s word. Ali is suffering and constantly running but he keeps running and keeping faith to stay alive for himself and his sister. Anton Hamm is a character who has given into greed and pride. This is shown when Anton Hamm announced his departure for a business trip, but took Ali’s ID’s with him; “Anton Hamm announced that he’d be leaving for a business trip out of town but would be back in time to watch”. He took Keita’s passport, Visa and ID with him. Ali Keita had his clothes, the snacks that he had been hoarding from the dining room, the money that he had been saving” (Hill, The Illegal, 57). This is just one example of how someone with “class” treats someone “Illegal”. The sins of greed and pride can be displayed with Anton Hamm’s character. In the passage from Psalm, God is begged to help and cure suffering from others from another “class”. Although it took God some time to help, he eventually did but the Bible displays caution of the treatment of others due to ethnicity. This is associated with point two in the books of Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Revelation – and how ethnocentrism is sin; “All men and women are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-277, 9:6), although that image is corrupted by sin.
It is because we are created in His image that God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17). Jesus did not lay down His life for a particular race of people, but by His death He “purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Jesus destroyed all barriers of ethnicity with His death; “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus’ belief in treating everyone equally makes me realize that Ali is suffering. He was gifted with running as fast as an Olympic runner – helping his family and people close to him. Now he is alone, suffering trying to help his sister Charity while being Illegal and on the run. “Keita Ali was anonymous, alone and about to go underground in Clarkson, population 4.5 million – the capital and the biggest city of Freedom State. Nobody knew him here. If something happened to him, nobody would think to notify his sister. Nobody would even know where to find her. Keita Ali could not afford to get caught. If he were deported, he would likely be executed, and then Charity would be all alone. If any immigration official or police officer approached him, Keita would run for his life” (Hill, The Illegal). In this quote, it is obvious how Keita Ali was afraid and extremely alone. He was in Freedom State knowing that if he was taken by officials there, he would no longer be
alive. To conclude, I will connect the points brought up to answer the question as to whether Ali’s narrative or the narratives of those who surround him are complicated by the issues of race, ethnicity and class. The issue of class can really affect a person and their state of mind. Keita Ali’s life was troubled, he suffered tremendously; “he had to force back his tears. He had no family with him. No friends. Not a soul who cared the least for him…It was an odd feeling to walk the streets of a country knowing that not a single person knew your name or a thing about you – or would notice if you lived or died” (Hill, The Illegal). In the Bible, God was called to end the suffering by different classes but he did not until He decided when was right. This ties with how ethnocentrism is sin. Ali’s suffering showed and answered the question that yes, Ali’s narrative is complicated by the issues of race, ethnicity and class.