Sentry Page Protection
GIRL.
The major characteristic that defines the girl is innocence. Her innocence is seen through the fact that she is ignorant about what is happening to her, as well as what is to come. She reacts by panicking and the woman soothes and distracts her with Anansi stories. It is these seemingly useless 'distraction' stories that ironically strengthen her, mentally, and give her the (www.bulbsoup.com) courage to survive the crossing and the auction block. The theme of loss of innocence is highlighted by this character trait because her interaction with the woman prepares her for losing her innocence. The reader knows the horrific life that awaits the girl and gives the only weapon that she can, courage in the form of her cultural inheritance.
The major characteristic that defines the girl is innocence. Her innocence is seen through the fact that she is ignorant about what is happening to her, as well as what is to come. She reacts by panicking and the woman soothes and distracts her with Anansi stories. It is these seemingly useless 'distraction' stories that ironically strengthen her, mentally, and give her the (www.bulbsoup.com) courage to survive the crossing and the auction block. The theme of loss of innocence is highlighted by this character trait because her interaction with the woman prepares her for losing her innocence. The reader knows the horrific life that awaits the girl and gives the only weapon that she can, courage in the form of her cultural inheritance.
WOMAN.
The woman can be described as maternal. To be maternal is to display the characteristics of a mother, the most relevant being a nurturer. This woman nurtures a child that she just met, and has never seen, because her birth mother is absent. She does so by imbuing her with the gift of the knowledge of the crafty and witty Anansi, and in so doing, communicates to her that she can display Anansi's (www.bulbsoup.com) characteristics in any situation, even one as daunting as the journey through the middle passage. The theme of love and family relationships is highlighted because the relationship between the woman and the girl proves that you do not have to be related by blood to become a family. The two females forge a strong bond in the hold, based on their shared experience of the trauma of the middle passage, they truly become mother and daughter.
The woman can be described as maternal. To be maternal is to display the characteristics of a mother, the most relevant being a nurturer. This woman nurtures a child that she just met, and has never seen, because her birth mother is absent. She does so by imbuing her with the gift of the knowledge of the crafty and witty Anansi, and in so doing, communicates to her that she can display Anansi's (www.bulbsoup.com) characteristics in any situation, even one as daunting as the journey through the middle passage. The theme of love and family relationships is highlighted because the relationship between the woman and the girl proves that you do not have to be related by blood to become a family. The two females forge a strong bond in the hold, based on their shared experience of the trauma of the middle passage, they truly become mother and daughter.
BOY.
Like the girl, the major characteristic that defines the boy, initially, is innocence. The boy is literally confused about why people, human beings like himself, are viewed as cargo. The reader sees his innate goodness coming out when he distracts the sailor, in the hold, from closely examining the slave, who happens to remind him of his grandmother. We see him grappling with the concept of God and why the slaves are treated differently from him. Just like the girl, his defining trait also highlights the theme of loss of innocence. This is highlighted through the journey across the middle passage. The reader identifies the boy as confused at the beginning of the journey, questioning and confronting his confusion, by (www.bulbsoup.com) asking questions, and finally simply doing what is expected of him. This is a journey of loss of innocence because the audience/ reader sees how the hardened ship captain or slave master is formed. The boy's father does not answer his question, but instead, brushes him off in a brusque fashion, thereby communicating that his issue is unimportant. It is a sailor who answers his queries and re-enforces the prejudices that absolve the boy of any guilt regarding treating human beings like property.
Like the girl, the major characteristic that defines the boy, initially, is innocence. The boy is literally confused about why people, human beings like himself, are viewed as cargo. The reader sees his innate goodness coming out when he distracts the sailor, in the hold, from closely examining the slave, who happens to remind him of his grandmother. We see him grappling with the concept of God and why the slaves are treated differently from him. Just like the girl, his defining trait also highlights the theme of loss of innocence. This is highlighted through the journey across the middle passage. The reader identifies the boy as confused at the beginning of the journey, questioning and confronting his confusion, by (www.bulbsoup.com) asking questions, and finally simply doing what is expected of him. This is a journey of loss of innocence because the audience/ reader sees how the hardened ship captain or slave master is formed. The boy's father does not answer his question, but instead, brushes him off in a brusque fashion, thereby communicating that his issue is unimportant. It is a sailor who answers his queries and re-enforces the prejudices that absolve the boy of any guilt regarding treating human beings like property.
CAPTAIN.
The captain is a stock character that exists in the play to represent the views of the majority of Caucasians at that time. They do not question the status quo, but seek only to survive, as is seen in his preoccupation with (www.bulbsoup.com) ensuring that the cargo reaches its destination and that his bosses are satisfied. The captain literally goes with whatever is profitable for him.
The captain is a stock character that exists in the play to represent the views of the majority of Caucasians at that time. They do not question the status quo, but seek only to survive, as is seen in his preoccupation with (www.bulbsoup.com) ensuring that the cargo reaches its destination and that his bosses are satisfied. The captain literally goes with whatever is profitable for him.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas