The writer suitably chooses Eva as the narrator in the story because she is the point of centrality who can recall all the events that occur in the village. First of all she is the husband to the church leader and one of the main characters; Bee. She shares his moments of happiness and moments of sorrow with him and can effectively relay these moments to us and make us feel what Bee was feeling. She is the one who also understand Bee the most and explains his behavior to the audience and even to his children.
Neither Bolo nor Bee can effectively fill the role as the narrator because they do not have the wealth of information that Eva has at her disposal. Eva, as the church leader’s wife is kind of a mother to the community. The centrality of her position is underscored by the way others respond to her. Primus for example relates his situation to her in Chapter 9. Buntin, Clem and Charleau all pick her out as a confidante and advisor, someone they entrust with their stories and confidences. Other stories are told to her by fellow villagers, such that she is always aware of what is going on the community of Bonasse. She relies on Buntin to tell her the events that happen in his shop, Bee must tell her about his meeting with Ivan Morton and the final confrontation with Bolo, and Clem’s brother tells her about what happens to Clem in Port of Spain. Bee doesn’t have as much time for listening to others for he is at one time, pre-occupied with elections, another time with the legal battle of the church and at other times, too exhausted and emotionally worn out. Bolo meanwhile is in jail for a lengthy period of time and after that his “badjohn” behavior makes him unapproachable to talk to. Eva has also seen all the trials and tribulations of Bonasse just as Bee, when Bolo was too young to care and even when he wasn’t even born yet.
Discuss how the use of a first person narrator in this novel helps to make the story highly emotional and real to us the readers (for example; in bringing out the struggles of the people in the community as well as the struggles within Bee’s home).
The use of a first person narrator creates a sense of intimacy and vividness that might otherwise be lacking. Lovelace chooses not to deploy an objective 3rd person narrator who dispassionately records events and comments on situations. The first person narrator not only allows us to see what happens but to feel what happens. The trials and tribulations faced by the people of Bonasse severely affect Bee, and considering the strong bond that exists between Eva and her husband, the sorrow the he feels is filtered down to her. We wouldn’t be able to sympathize with Eva and Bee if the events were portrayed via 3rd person as these events would not have such an effect on the narrator. Bee’s sorrows are almost like Eva’s sorrows. This is because their bond is so strong that Eva feels what bee feels just as strongly, and in turn we feel it too such as Bee’s greatest moment of despair before he breaks the law. We also feel the moments of happiness through Eva since she is actually in the scene, such as when they have been granted the right to vote, when the church broke the law to worship in their original way and when the ban against the Shouter Baptiste was repealed.
Consider the use of symbols in this novel:
Bee’s Cow. What does it mean to him? Near the end of Chapter Five he sells it, why? What does selling that cow reveal about the circumstances under which he made that decision, and about Bee himself?
Bee’s cow represents a sacrificial lamb. A sacrificial lamb is a metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed for the common good. This is especially seen in the bible, such as when God stops Abraham from killing his son and provides with a lamb. Jesus himself was a sacrificial lamb. He died for our sins, the common, for our forgiveness from God. Selling the cow allows Bee to avert 21 days in jail, 21 days when the people would especially need him. The selling of the cow allowed the spiritual leader of the Baptiste to stay in active in the community. The people of the village needed him especially after the incident where Prince raided the church. Bolo was in Church and Bee was the only leader they had left at the time.
Bee himself. The story represents him as more than just a man. He represents something bigger. What does he represent? What does he symbolize to the community and to us in our interpretation of the story and its themes?
Bee is the leader of the people and he represents Jesus Christ’s carrying of the cross. Just as Jesus was burdened with the weight of the cross on his back, Bee was burdened with the misfortunes of the Shouter Baptiste and the people of Bonasse. Bee is described in Chapter One “with his two hands stretch out across the door like how Jesus Christ had his hands when they crucify him on the cross.” This image is repeated on several other occasions in association with Bee, becoming a symbol of Bee’s sacrifice, made on behalf of his community. As the Church leader we see bee impacted upon by the many disappointments they experience, first the ban on their religion and then the incident with Corporal Prince. His wise and rationale way of thinking is also reminiscent to Jesus who was an advisor of the people and always sought pragmatic approaches to problems. Bee was calm and collective just as Jesus was.
Bee also helps us to appreciate the theme Manhood and Integrity. His approach to manhood was a wise one. One characterized by rationality and calmness. Bee’s manhood is different to that of Bolo. Bee looks at the ramifications of a particular and cares about the long term survival of the people, but Bolo is more aggressive and fails to look beyond the present.
Eva, what does she represent to the community and to us in our interpretation of the story and its themes?
As Bee’s wife Eva fulfills the role of Mother within the community. She is confided in by many residents such as Charleau, Buntin and Clem. She shares Bee’s suffering and is concerned about the community just as much as Bee is. She knows the community inside out just like a mother knows her child. She cares for the community and for the Shouter Baptiste which is shown by her ecstatic response to lifting of the ban of the Shouter Baptiste Church. Eva helps us to appreciate the theme of motherhood in the novel.
Bolo, what does he represent to the community at the start, at the end? And to us in our interpretation of the story and its themes?
Bolo’s status in the community in the beginning of the novel contrasts with his status in the end. In the beginning of the novel Bolo is the champion stick-fighter and village hero. He enjoys a prestige in the village that is demonstrated by his popularity amongst the women. Bolo also represents the spirit of ‘lend-hand’ which characterizes the community. “If you have a house to build or a dead to bury you could call him to lend a hand,” Eva says. However, Bolo undergoes a tragic metamorphosis into a village bully and badjohn, drinking without paying, bullying his way into a watchman’s job and seizing all the money on the card table; just to name a few of Bolo’s wild acts.
Bolo’s newfound venom towards the village is motivated in part by a sense of contempt for what he considers their weakness, their lack of ‘mannness’. He wants the village stickmen and the ordinary villager too, to “face up to that man challenge that they inherit” (page 105). It arises as well from his contempt for the way the village has changed, replacing its authentic spirit and heroes with artificial values and mock heroes. Mitchell and his new snackette becomes Bolo’s favourite target, symbolizing the new way of life and he smashes the snackette to pieces in a vain attempt to halt ‘progress’. Charleau who stands up to Bolo despite being hit, earns Bolo’s respect precisely because he resists in the face of certain defeat. Bolo is also critical of the weakness of the people, their failure to resist and their lack of direction. “A people be going somewhere,” he tells Bee. “Where you going to that I could, if I want, go with you?” (page 124) They have succumbed to the rampant individualism and “kissing the big shot backside to survive.” (page 124). He is contemptuous of weak people like Primus, eager to please.
Bolo’s death symbolizes Jesus death on the cross for us. His body at the foot of the steps, conjures up again the crucifixion image, “his two feet close together and his arms stretch out” (page 133). A thunderstorm suddenly breaks out as it did as Jesus’ death in Calvary. Eva makes the comparison even more explicitly. His death she says:
“….just give him the chance… blame it all on Bolo, make him the victim and the sacrifice, make him the Christ who they let the soldiers crucify on the cross because they didn’t care enough.”
Bolo uses his death as a sacrifice for the people. He urges them that just as they killed him and stood up for themselves to get Primus’ daughter, they must stand up to the authorities to sustain their African integrity and to uphold the Shouter Baptiste Church.
Bolo helps us to understand the themes of bravery and manhood. For example, both qualities are shown when he faces the policemen in order to stand up for the church and the people of the Shouter Baptiste. He also helps us to understand the theme of leadership although he represents only one kind of leadership; warrior leadership where Ivan Morton represemts political leadership and Bee, spirititual leadership.
by
ronsterboyable (student)
