Leaving This Island Place

by Austin Clarke

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Historical Context

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Barbados

This narrative unfolds in Barbados, an island country in the Caribbean. Clarke, originally from Barbados, often sets his stories there or focuses on Barbadian immigrants to the U.S. and Canada. About ninety percent of Barbados's population is of African descent. English is the official language, but the local dialect, Bajan, is also widely spoken. Bridgetown is the capital city of Barbados. The British colonized Barbados from 1627, when they first established a settlement, until 1966, when the island gained national independence. In the 17th century, sugar plantations became the economic backbone of Barbados. Africans were forcibly brought to the island as slaves to labor on these plantations. A slave uprising occurred in 1816, but slavery was not abolished until 1834. Despite abolition, Barbadians of African descent continued to work mainly on sugar plantations and remained in the lowest socioeconomic classes. Labor unrest in the 1930s led to several reforms in the 1940s, allowing black political leaders in the area to gain power and influence. Barbados achieved full internal self-governance in 1961 and national independence in 1966, while remaining part of the British Commonwealth. During the 1980s, Barbados's political system was regarded as one of the most stable in the English-speaking Caribbean.

West Indies

Barbados is part of the West Indies, a group of twenty-three island nations in the Caribbean Sea, located between Florida and South America. The history of the West Indies is marked by colonization by the British, Dutch, Spanish, French, and Danish, who vied for control of territories in the 17th and 18th centuries. Consequently, the culture and language of modern West Indian nations generally reflect the influence of their colonizers. The history of enslaving Africans to work on sugar plantations is a common thread throughout the region. Many modern West Indian nations have united around shared economic interests through the Caribbean Community and Common Market, which was established in 1973.

Cricket

Cricket plays a significant role in the narrator's main concerns throughout the story. The narrator's father once led the village cricket team as captain, and the narrator himself has risen to become a notable cricket player. For him, cricket symbolizes his ascent in social status, as it has become a core part of his identity within his circle of affluent and educated friends. A cricket match involves two teams of eleven players each, played with a bat and ball. Teams alternate between "batting" and "bowling" during innings. The origins of cricket trace back to the 1840s in New Zealand, evolving from a game played by rural boys as early as the thirteenth century. The sport's organization was further established with the creation of the New Zealand Cricket Council in 1894. In the West Indies, cricket was introduced in the early 1800s. Barbados was the first West Indian nation to engage in an inter-colonial match in 1891, competing against what is now Guyana. A governing body to manage cricket matches among the Caribbean islands and international teams was formed in 1927. The West Indies became a member of the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1926, which later became the International Cricket Conference in 1965 and the International Cricket Council in 1989. The inaugural World Cup cricket tournament took place in 1975. The West Indies emerged as a dominant force in international cricket during the 1980s. Although women began playing cricket in the 1700s, the International Women's Cricket Council was not established until 1958.

Style and Technique

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"Leaving This Island Place" is a compelling narrative intricately woven with themes of identity, cultural displacement, and familial duty. The story is set in Barbados, reflecting author Austin Clarke’s own experiences of leaving his native island for broader prospects in Canada. Through first-person narration, distinctive dialogue, and thematic...

(This entire section contains 718 words.)

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repetition, Clarke crafts a story that is both personal and universal, exploring the complexities of leaving home in pursuit of a new life.

Setting and Cultural Roots

The backdrop of the story is Barbados, referred to as the "island place" in the title. This setting is more than a geographical location; it represents the narrator’s deep-seated connection to his cultural and familial roots. For the narrator, leaving this "island place" signifies not just a physical departure but a symbolic severance from his ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic origins. Clarke, much like his protagonist, left Barbados to embrace the opportunities offered in Canada, a journey that resonates with the narrative’s exploration of cultural abandonment for socioeconomic advancement.

Perspective and Internal Conflict

The story unfolds through the first-person perspective, allowing readers intimate access to the narrator's internal conflicts and emotional landscape. This narrative choice is crucial as it delves into the protagonist’s mixed feelings of guilt, anxiety, and hope as he prepares to leave Barbados for Canada. The unnamed narrator grapples with his decision, reflecting on his family and their socioeconomic standing while visiting his dying father. Here, the descriptions of people and objects around him are tinged with death, underscoring his inner turmoil and the gravity of leaving behind his past.

Dialogue and Characterization

Austin Clarke’s storytelling is enriched by his masterful use of dialogue, capturing the vibrant rhythms and speech patterns of his Barbadian characters. Critics, like Anthony Boxill in the Dictionary of Literary Biography, have praised this aspect of Clarke’s work, highlighting how it contributes to the richness of his character portrayals. A poignant example is the speech of Miss Brewster, whose words to the narrator are imbued with both reproach and cultural authenticity, adding depth and dimension to the narrative:

That man having fits and convulsions by the hour! Every day he asking for you. All the time, day in and day out. And you is such a poor-great, high-school educated bastard that you now acting too proud to come in here, because it is a almshouse and not a private ward, to see your own father! And you didn't even have the presence o' mind to bring along a orange, not even one, or a banana for that man, your father!

Thematic Repetition

Repetition is a central narrative device in "Leaving This Island Place," with the titular phrase echoing throughout the story. The narrator’s frequent reiteration of phrases like "I am leaving" underscores the theme of departure, while simultaneously reflecting his internal struggle with the weight of leaving. These repeated assertions serve various functions: they justify his abandonment of familial duties, express a desire to escape his current social constraints, and convey his anxiety about leaving his home, family, and romantic ties behind.

Literary Heritage

Clarke’s work can be examined through the lens of two distinct literary heritages: Caribbean and Canadian. As a Barbados native, Clarke is part of the Caribbean literary tradition, a region whose literature reflects its complex colonial history and diverse linguistic roots. The Caribbean was colonized by multiple European powers, and the resulting literature has been shaped by these influences. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that English-speaking Caribbean writers, like Clarke, began to forge a literary identity distinct from European traditions. Early figures in this movement include George Lamming, V. S. Naipaul, and Louise Bennett.

Conversely, Clarke’s experiences in Canada place him within its anglophone literary tradition. Canadian literature has evolved along two primary trajectories: English and French. Clarke’s story is notable enough to have been included in the anthology of Canadian literature, Ink Lake, edited by Michael Ondaatje, demonstrating his significance in both Canadian and Caribbean literary canons.

Through "Leaving This Island Place," Austin Clarke deftly navigates the intricacies of identity, belonging, and the bittersweet nature of leaving home. His narrative skillfully combines personal reflection with broader cultural themes, offering readers a poignant exploration of what it means to seek new beginnings while grappling with the pull of one's origins.

Bibliography

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Sources

Boxill, Anthony, "Austin C. Clarke," in Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 53: Canadian Writers since 1960, Bruccoli Clark, Gale, 1986, pp. 124-29.

Further Reading

Clark, Austin C., Amongst Thistles and Thorns, Heinemann, 1965; McClelland & Stewart, 1965. This novel narrates the experiences of a young boy growing up in Barbados.

----, The Bigger Light, Little, Brown, 1975. The Bigger Light concludes Clark's "trilogy," following the lives of characters first introduced in The Survivors of the Crossing and Storm of Fortune.

----, The Meeting Point, Heinemann, 1967; McClelland & Stewart, 1967. The Survivors of the Crossing begins Clark's "trilogy" that examines the distinct challenges faced by West Indian immigrants.

----, Storm of Fortune, Little, Brown, 1973. Storm of Fortune is the second book in Clark's "trilogy," continuing the stories of characters introduced in The Meeting Point.

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