Sociocultural Differences In A Small Place By Jamaica Kincaid

A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid is a naturalistic fiction that recounts the impact of tourism while also describing the post-colony society of Antigua. Throughout the novel, Kincaid gives an extremely detailed tour of the small island of Antigua. Noli Me Tangere is a novel that displays the cruelty and corruption of the government in the Filipino country during the time of Spanish colonization. Throughout the novel, Ibarra recounts the unfortunate events that led to his departure from the Philippines. In A Small Place and Noli Me Tangere, both novels reveal a corrupt governing system due to colonization, creating an “us” versus “them” sentiment, but display differences in language.

Both novels demonstrate the emotional impact of colonization, which in return causes a rift between the different cultures creating a complicated interpersonal relationship.

An interpersonal relationship is a close association between two or more individuals. This association can be based solely on social interactions, love, support, and various other things. Sociocultural differences can be defined as the differences of morals, values, and beliefs between one individual’s culture and another.

Sociocultural differences can complicate interpersonal relationships in various ways. Many individuals do not take the time out to try and understand the difference between their culture and someone else’s. Instead, many try to compare and instill their values from their culture to the next, to try and make the world a uniform place. This is exemplified in both A Small Place and Noli Me Tangere due to colonization, creating the feelings of emotion frustration, anger, and helplessness.

Get quality help now

Marrie pro writer

Verified

Proficient in: Novels

5 (204)

“ She followed all my directions. It was really easy to contact her and respond very fast as well. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

In section one, two, and three of A Small Place, Kincaid recounts the trauma one may have faced during the time of colonization, displaying the emotion of frustration. She says, “You see yourself eating some delicious, locally grown food. You see yourself, you see yourself . . . You must not wonder what exactly happened to the contents of your lavatory when you flashed it. You must not wonder where your bathwater went when you pulled out the stopper. . . A good guess is that it came from Antigua first, where it was grown dirt cheap, went to Miami, and came back (Kincaid 14-15).” Kincaid’s description of her “frustration” in this passage exudes how the impact of colonization and the incompetence of the tourists has made her feel. For one to be frustrated is one hell of an emotion because one feels helpless and powerless.

She is also frustrated with the tourists because she feels as if they are incompetent, which many are, and have no sense of compassion for Antiguans. Tourists do not try to recount the era of slavery in Antigua, the trials and tribulations the Antiguans faced, or the corrupt hierarchy system; all tourists see is a beautiful vacation spot and that frustrates Kincaid. In return, this creates animosity between tourists and Antiguans, just as it did with the British colonies. Kincaid has so much frustration towards tourists because it reminiscent of the slavery era of Antigua and creating a feel of “new-age colonialism”. Although that is a considerable thought, Kincaid should also realize that tourists are not the enemies. They have come to see the beautiful features of Antigua, not change the scenery and amend their culture.

In A Small Place, the description of anger is displayed throughout the entire novel. With this emotion it shows the emotional impact that the colonies have had on her. Kincaid is engrossed in the anger that she feels towards the colonies. She expresses her anger vividly and descriptively so much that the anger begins to turn into hate. She says, “Have you ever wondered to yourself why it is that all people like me seem to have learned from you is how to imprison and murder each other, how to govern badly, and how to take the wealth of our country and place it in Swiss bank accounts? . . .

There must have been some good people among you, but they stayed home. And that is the point. That is why they are good. They stayed home” (Kincaid 34-35). Although, Kincaid displays her anger, she does at least give some of colonial’s credit for not coming and corrupting Antigua. Within this passage, she displays anger because she does not understand why they wanted to come and change the culture of Antigua, when their culture was terrible and full of nonsense. Furthermore, she is thinking is this what they believe a good country should exemplify?

In Noli Me Tangere, there are many twists and turns which expose the corruption of the government in the Philippines. In true form, they have the power to influence the government by oppressing all progress and prosecuting members who are against them. In Noli Me Tangere, the emotion of frustration is displayed from Ibarra as he converses with Elias. The conservation follows, “Ask every honest citizen if he regards this institution as a blessing, a protection of the government and not an imposition, a despotism whose abuses wound more than criminals’ violence. . . And tell me, Sir, why this institution has not been adopted by other nations which, being neighbors to Spain, should resemble her more than does the Philippines?

Is it because of this hat that they have less robberies in their trains, less mutiny, less murders, less assassinations and less stabbings in their great capitals (GC 297-298)? He feels frustrated because Elias does not understand the difficulties of the common folk. Just as an individual who was born rich and powerful would not understand the struggles of a poor person. It is fine to not be knowledgeable to one’s struggle or hardships, but do not be naïve or inconsiderate. Ibarra becomes frustrated because he feels as though Elias is being naïve and oblivious to the fact that the government is insanely corrupt. Although that is a considerable thought, Ibarra needs to realize that Elias is not familiar with a poor person’s struggle. Also, Ibarra discusses the fact that because the government is so corrupt that the peoples of the country are corrupt as well.

Although both novels express many similarities, there is a noticeable difference in the language of the texts. Kincaid has some use of provocative language. Kincaid uses this language purposely. Throughout the entire novel, she acknowledges the reader as “you”, signifying how she would like to talk to the colonizers. She uses this language because she believes that this is how the colonies spoke about the people of her native country. In a sense, Kincaid is making fun of them and/or mocking them. At the same time, she is addressing “you” towards the tourists because she believes this represents the new age colonialism. Throughout the novel, she displays the emotion of revenge and the theme of “us” versus “them”, meanwhile in Noli Me Tangere, Ibarra displays signs of wanting to resolve their issues together. Ibarra seems to be more rational and mature, than Kincaid displays the narrator to be. Ibarra wants to resolve the issue of the differences, so all parties can coexist. Both novels express the same issue with the colonization of their countries but want to resolve them differently.

Both novels signify the frustration, anger, and helpless against the colonization of their countries. They address how the colonies have treated them which in return caused a rift between the two different cultures. This is a prominent occurrence even today in America. The colonization if Donald Trump building a wall is a classic example. This is causing a them of “us” versus “them” theme. The corruption of these political people causing interpersonal relationship to become complicated because of the differences between the two cultures.