Jamaica Kincaid Question

Throughout the essay, Kincaid presents concrete objects as having larger symbolic significance--her father's felt hat, to name one of many examples.  Find as many of these as you can; then, choose several that you think are particularly important to analyze in detail.  What does this technique contribute to the overall meaning of the essay.

- Father's Hat
- Map of England
- England-style breakfast
- History
- Silverware
- Weather
- Streets + People they're named after
- Monuments
- White Cliffs of Dover


I feel the England-style breakfast that the Antiguans eat every morning can be a symbol pointing towards the overtaking or invasion (not the best of words) of the country. The Antiguans are not normally used to eating such a large amount of food first thing in the morning, they prefer to eat small portions, if at all. This keeps them from getting tired, yet big breakfasts associated with England, nods towards the imperialistic nature of the world superpower. England is 'hungry' and consumes all of its territories of resources and lifestyles of the original inhabitants.   

The History of England that Jamaica is taught/forced to memorize is a symbol of the English pride. The pride they feel in their history and their way of doing things puts them on a pedestal above all others. They feel inundated with power and much like Manifest Destiny, they feel to have been 'chosen' to revitalize the places and territories they 'capture' by introducing their way of thinking, their customs, and making the local people royal subjects. Next, the children lose the history of their people are taught the English's history and their view, what Kincaid noted as "the forceful view" (6). 
     - Monuments can also have a much similar symbolism in the essay, as they are literally more symbolic in purpose. However they come to be better used as benches or places where students eat their lunches, which becomes the whole attitude of the Empire. A new civilization, a new island conquered and ready to become one with the country of England, yet shortly after the people are treated poorly and cultivated into people they were never meant to be and viewed by European English (as opposed to "Antiguan English") as nothing more than slaves/others/consumers/who cares?

The Weather is something that Kincaid explores humourously with some sarcasm. She tells that the sky is always grey and depressing, rain is always pouring down, and at night "wonderful things happen" such as people running mad desperately trying to escape the rain. It seems like she is taking the words that have been told to her by those who praise England and/or those taught to praise England and satirically repeating them with the true vision of England tacked on behind. Can come to symbolize the dark, depressed status that the Empire has in store for further colonization of these communities; a bleak outlook of the future.