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Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
8-2001
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Isabel B. Stanley
Committee Members
Sonya H. Cashdan, Thomas A. Holmes
Abstract
Although Jamaica Kincaid’s Annie John can be described as a bildungsroman or coming of age story, the novel raises complex and compelling issues. Both Annie John’s mother and the colonial school undermine her transition into adulthood by teaching Annie to devalue her individual identity and culture. When Annie questions this perception, both lash out against her. Through a close and sensitive examination of the text, the ethnocentric bias and hidden agendas of those closest to Annie is uncovered and analyzed. As West Indian writers, particularly women writers, gain more recognition, it is crucial to acknowledge and understand the effects that growing up on a colonized island has upon West Indians. A deeper reading of Annie John exposes the prejudices and power relationships that continue to haunt formerly colonized islands.
Document Type
Thesis - restricted
Recommended Citation
Gillespie, Sandra Walton, "Maternal Shadows and Colonial Ghosts in Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John." (2001). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 104. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/104
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.