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Anansi
ABOUT ALISTAIR CAMPBELL
- Alistair Campbell was born in Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands.
- He is a poet, playwright, and novelist.
- more ...
SUMMARY
This is the story of a little girl, who is chained in the hold of a slave ship destined for Jamaica. She shares her story with the woman that she is chained behind and the son of the captain of the slave ship. She is comforted (www.bulbsoup.com) by the voice of the woman, whom she never actually sees, who introduces her to Anansi, the trickster, who eventually becomes a source of strength when she eventually ends up on the auction block in Kingston Harbour, Jamaica.
This is the story of a little girl, who is chained in the hold of a slave ship destined for Jamaica. She shares her story with the woman that she is chained behind and the son of the captain of the slave ship. She is comforted (www.bulbsoup.com) by the voice of the woman, whom she never actually sees, who introduces her to Anansi, the trickster, who eventually becomes a source of strength when she eventually ends up on the auction block in Kingston Harbour, Jamaica.
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SETTING
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THEME
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CHARACTERS
Girl
Girl
- The protagonist of the play.
- She is a very frightened and confused little girl, who is mentored by the woman that she is chained with.
- The lady who is chained with/ to the girl.
- She mentors the girl by introducing her to the Anansi stories that eventually give her strength.
- He is the captain's son.
- He questions the morality of the slave trade and highlights the cruelty of the treatment of the slaves, during the Middle Passage, by asking uncomfortable questions.
- He represents the views of the capitalists of the day.
- He saw the slaves as valuable cargo and nothing else.
- His only concern was to ensure that the slaves were a profitable investment for his employers.
SUMMARY
The Good Ship Hope, West African Coast, 1791.
The Cabin
The boy questions his father about the people that he sees. He is confused about how the people on the shore could be labeled as cargo. The captain, his father, is very short with him and does not facilitate any discussion about the boy's query.
On Deck
A very confused 'cargo', in the form of a little black girl, asks a sailor panicked questions. The sailor does not understand her but urges her to go down the hatch because he cannot throw her down there and damage the cargo.
The Cabin
The boy reads his father's log and highlights that they had docked on the West African coast yesterday and are going to the Indies. He wonders about the people on the shore, who were herded like cattle and in distress. He noticed an old woman who stood stiff, proud, and calm. She reminded him of his grandmother. He decides to tell his diary his secrets.
The Hold
The little girl, and the other occupants of the hold, are fearful and filthy. She articulates her confusion and despair and a woman tells her to hold on.
The Cabin
The captain dictates a log for his son to transcribe. It states how he branded and documented the slaves and that they had been insured. They are exercised daily and fed porridge once a day. He is happy that only three out of forty slaves have died.
The Hold
The woman tells the girl that she should use her ears, instead of her eyes, when she laments that she cannot see the woman. The girl tells her about a spider that she sees, and then the woman tells her an Anansi story.
The Forest of Stories
1. Naming the Stories
The little girl is transported into her imagination by the woman's story. Tiger approaches Anansi and tells him that he's been thinking about stories. He wants to tell the stories of the animals' fame, power, and deeds. He wants to call the stories 'Incredibly Grand Magnificent and Wise Beyond Belief Tiger Stories'. Anansi states that it would be better for it to be called by a lesser animal, like himself, because people would be amazed when they discover that the story is about Tiger. Tiger refuses this suggestion and states that this will only happen if Anansi achieves the impossible; bring Mr. Snake to him, tied to a pole.
2. Tricking Snake
Anansi sets two obvious traps for Snake, which he easily figures out. Anansi tells Snake that he is trying to save his reputation. He informs Snake that he is trying to save his reputation. The animals think that he is short, so he has been trying to measure him, to prove them wrong. Anansi tells him that they plan to give the prize for the longest animal in the jungle. Snake proposes that he and Anansi cut down a tree and tie him to it, then take him to the Longest Creature of the Year Committee. The plan was executed and Anansi delivered Snake to Tiger, who relented and named the stories after Tiger.
On Board
The Hold
The woman speaks to the girl regarding her intention of passing on stories about Anansi to her, the same stories that her mother told her. She encourages her to be strong in the way that Anansi is strong, on the inside.
The Cabin
The boy reads his diary but his father does not want him to do so because he believes that diaries are for girls. The boy clarifies that his father keeps a diary, but his father tells him that it is a log. The boy explains that the log tells a story, but the father then clarifies that it tells the only story that counts, one that says that money makes the world go round.
The Hold
The woman and the girl talk. They discuss being sick, yet healthy, and the fact that their captors do not see them as human. They notice a sailor and a boy exploring the hold. The visitors stop to assess the woman and the sailor comments that she must be watched and if she looks any sicker, she must be thrown over the side. They destroy a spider web when they leave. The woman is pleased that the girl understands that she should weave the web and wait. The girl is on the verge of panicking because their captors are throwing away people, so the woman introduces a new story.
The Forest of Stories
1. The World Blotted Out
The animals are in a panic because Mancrow is coming to devour their eggs and wreak havoc. He brings despair and death.
2. The Proclamation
The king makes it known that Mancrow has returned. He proclaims that whoever can save them from this threat will receive untold wealth and the hand of his daughter, in marriage.
3. The Initiation
Soliday tells his gran that he is off to hunt the Mancrow. She gives him six arrows, each representing something; hope, wits, fear, anger, name, and secret.
4. The Battle
Solioday fires the arrows in the order that he was given and collects a feather, as proof of his victory. Anansi comes out of his hiding place and steals a feather.
5. The Reward
Anansi gets to the king first and the banquet begins. Anansi is fine with food as his reward, instead of one of the king's daughters. The king has trouble finding a few of his daughters because some of them were eaten by Mancrow. The true winner eventually arrives and Anansi sneaks off but is pursued by the king's servants. He tricks them and escapes, and Soliday gets his prize.
On Board
The Hold
The story ends and the girl is calm. She asks the woman why Anansi looks for trouble and her answer is to sharpen his wits. The girl asks the woman what happens to the people who are not thrown away. The answer is that they sell them. She asks because she wants to know what will happen to her and confirm that she will not be thrown away.
On Deck
The boy sits and cries on deck, and the sailor asks why. The boy asks the sailor what colour is God. The boy does not see the difference between himself and the girl. The sailor tells him that slaves are beasts and that God gave them dominion over the beasts. He proclaims that he is just doing his job when he throws away the slaves.
The Cabin
The boy reads his diary aloud and is caught by his father, who orders him to throw it away.
The Hold
The sailor and the boy visit the hold. The girl is inspected but when the sailor gets to the woman, the boy crumples in agony. He is carted off by a displeased sailor. The girl is worried that the woman is sick and questions why the slaves are hated. The woman's answer is that they see the thing they hate the most in the slaves - a soul. The woman distracts the girl with another Anansi story.
The Forest of Stories
1. Down by the Pool
Anansi tricks Tiger into shedding his coat and fat. He achieves this by telling Tiger that he can take him to a cool cool pool, but when he gets there, Anansi tells him that he cannot swim in his skin and fat. Tiger strips and swims, while Anansi cooks with Tiger's fat. Rabbit comes along, curious about the food, and, seeing an opportunity to scapegoat someone, Anansi tells him about the Best Song About Tiger Contest. He gives Rabbit a song to go and enter Song City. Anansi would have done it, but he says he cannot sing. Tiger belatedly realizes that his fat and skin are missing and Anansi says that he has a hunch where it is. Anansi told Tiger that he fell asleep in the heat.
2. Song City
Rabbit makes it to Song City. They do not know about the contest but they let him sing anyway. Tiger approaches and thinks that he has found the thief. He makes his identity known, but Anansi casts doubt on his claim to be Tiger. Anansi says that if he is Tiger, the skin would fit him. Of course, the skin does not fit, so Tiger runs after him.
On Board
The Hold
The girl loves that Anansi story. The woman gives her another riddle and the boy approaches. The girl is fearful that the sailor will take the woman away. The woman tells her not to worry and the boy tries to calm her. She sings Anansi's song to comfort herself.
The Cabin
The captain dictates to the boy. They have sighted Jamaica and he is relieved because they've only lost 150 slaves and 12 crew members on the journey. He intends to throw the stick overboard because their presence, among the healthy, will lower the value of the 'goods'.
Kingston Harbour
They arrive at Kingston Harbour and the slaves are placed on the auction block. The boy is doing the ledgers for the captain because he is sick. The girl is traumatized by the situation but finds strength in submersion in an Anansi story. It begins: There was a mean lady who quenched her thirst with people's tears. Her children, Dog, Cat and Crab ...
The Forest of Stories
1. Quenching Her Thirst
Dog, Cat, and Crab placed an ad in the Forest News for a girl to be a helper. They discussed how she would be working until she cried. The mean old lady asks the children if the helper will not want wages and they say no because the ad also stipulates that at the end of the week, if the girl manages to guess the old woman's name, the girl will get half of everything that the old lady owns. Anansi arrives, disguised as a girl, and gets the job. He cries from just hearing the amount of work that he has to do.
2. At the River
Anansi tricks Crab into giving him the old lady's name, for a kiss. Anansi then goes to the old lady and requests his reward. The old woman gets so angry that she turns over her calabash of tears when Crab admits to being the culprit. It sticks to his back. The girl then re-enters the auction.
Kingston Harbour
The girl is sold at the auction, but she implores the reader to remember her.
The Good Ship Hope, West African Coast, 1791.
The Cabin
The boy questions his father about the people that he sees. He is confused about how the people on the shore could be labeled as cargo. The captain, his father, is very short with him and does not facilitate any discussion about the boy's query.
On Deck
A very confused 'cargo', in the form of a little black girl, asks a sailor panicked questions. The sailor does not understand her but urges her to go down the hatch because he cannot throw her down there and damage the cargo.
The Cabin
The boy reads his father's log and highlights that they had docked on the West African coast yesterday and are going to the Indies. He wonders about the people on the shore, who were herded like cattle and in distress. He noticed an old woman who stood stiff, proud, and calm. She reminded him of his grandmother. He decides to tell his diary his secrets.
The Hold
The little girl, and the other occupants of the hold, are fearful and filthy. She articulates her confusion and despair and a woman tells her to hold on.
The Cabin
The captain dictates a log for his son to transcribe. It states how he branded and documented the slaves and that they had been insured. They are exercised daily and fed porridge once a day. He is happy that only three out of forty slaves have died.
The Hold
The woman tells the girl that she should use her ears, instead of her eyes, when she laments that she cannot see the woman. The girl tells her about a spider that she sees, and then the woman tells her an Anansi story.
The Forest of Stories
1. Naming the Stories
The little girl is transported into her imagination by the woman's story. Tiger approaches Anansi and tells him that he's been thinking about stories. He wants to tell the stories of the animals' fame, power, and deeds. He wants to call the stories 'Incredibly Grand Magnificent and Wise Beyond Belief Tiger Stories'. Anansi states that it would be better for it to be called by a lesser animal, like himself, because people would be amazed when they discover that the story is about Tiger. Tiger refuses this suggestion and states that this will only happen if Anansi achieves the impossible; bring Mr. Snake to him, tied to a pole.
2. Tricking Snake
Anansi sets two obvious traps for Snake, which he easily figures out. Anansi tells Snake that he is trying to save his reputation. He informs Snake that he is trying to save his reputation. The animals think that he is short, so he has been trying to measure him, to prove them wrong. Anansi tells him that they plan to give the prize for the longest animal in the jungle. Snake proposes that he and Anansi cut down a tree and tie him to it, then take him to the Longest Creature of the Year Committee. The plan was executed and Anansi delivered Snake to Tiger, who relented and named the stories after Tiger.
On Board
The Hold
The woman speaks to the girl regarding her intention of passing on stories about Anansi to her, the same stories that her mother told her. She encourages her to be strong in the way that Anansi is strong, on the inside.
The Cabin
The boy reads his diary but his father does not want him to do so because he believes that diaries are for girls. The boy clarifies that his father keeps a diary, but his father tells him that it is a log. The boy explains that the log tells a story, but the father then clarifies that it tells the only story that counts, one that says that money makes the world go round.
The Hold
The woman and the girl talk. They discuss being sick, yet healthy, and the fact that their captors do not see them as human. They notice a sailor and a boy exploring the hold. The visitors stop to assess the woman and the sailor comments that she must be watched and if she looks any sicker, she must be thrown over the side. They destroy a spider web when they leave. The woman is pleased that the girl understands that she should weave the web and wait. The girl is on the verge of panicking because their captors are throwing away people, so the woman introduces a new story.
The Forest of Stories
1. The World Blotted Out
The animals are in a panic because Mancrow is coming to devour their eggs and wreak havoc. He brings despair and death.
2. The Proclamation
The king makes it known that Mancrow has returned. He proclaims that whoever can save them from this threat will receive untold wealth and the hand of his daughter, in marriage.
3. The Initiation
Soliday tells his gran that he is off to hunt the Mancrow. She gives him six arrows, each representing something; hope, wits, fear, anger, name, and secret.
4. The Battle
Solioday fires the arrows in the order that he was given and collects a feather, as proof of his victory. Anansi comes out of his hiding place and steals a feather.
5. The Reward
Anansi gets to the king first and the banquet begins. Anansi is fine with food as his reward, instead of one of the king's daughters. The king has trouble finding a few of his daughters because some of them were eaten by Mancrow. The true winner eventually arrives and Anansi sneaks off but is pursued by the king's servants. He tricks them and escapes, and Soliday gets his prize.
On Board
The Hold
The story ends and the girl is calm. She asks the woman why Anansi looks for trouble and her answer is to sharpen his wits. The girl asks the woman what happens to the people who are not thrown away. The answer is that they sell them. She asks because she wants to know what will happen to her and confirm that she will not be thrown away.
On Deck
The boy sits and cries on deck, and the sailor asks why. The boy asks the sailor what colour is God. The boy does not see the difference between himself and the girl. The sailor tells him that slaves are beasts and that God gave them dominion over the beasts. He proclaims that he is just doing his job when he throws away the slaves.
The Cabin
The boy reads his diary aloud and is caught by his father, who orders him to throw it away.
The Hold
The sailor and the boy visit the hold. The girl is inspected but when the sailor gets to the woman, the boy crumples in agony. He is carted off by a displeased sailor. The girl is worried that the woman is sick and questions why the slaves are hated. The woman's answer is that they see the thing they hate the most in the slaves - a soul. The woman distracts the girl with another Anansi story.
The Forest of Stories
1. Down by the Pool
Anansi tricks Tiger into shedding his coat and fat. He achieves this by telling Tiger that he can take him to a cool cool pool, but when he gets there, Anansi tells him that he cannot swim in his skin and fat. Tiger strips and swims, while Anansi cooks with Tiger's fat. Rabbit comes along, curious about the food, and, seeing an opportunity to scapegoat someone, Anansi tells him about the Best Song About Tiger Contest. He gives Rabbit a song to go and enter Song City. Anansi would have done it, but he says he cannot sing. Tiger belatedly realizes that his fat and skin are missing and Anansi says that he has a hunch where it is. Anansi told Tiger that he fell asleep in the heat.
2. Song City
Rabbit makes it to Song City. They do not know about the contest but they let him sing anyway. Tiger approaches and thinks that he has found the thief. He makes his identity known, but Anansi casts doubt on his claim to be Tiger. Anansi says that if he is Tiger, the skin would fit him. Of course, the skin does not fit, so Tiger runs after him.
On Board
The Hold
The girl loves that Anansi story. The woman gives her another riddle and the boy approaches. The girl is fearful that the sailor will take the woman away. The woman tells her not to worry and the boy tries to calm her. She sings Anansi's song to comfort herself.
The Cabin
The captain dictates to the boy. They have sighted Jamaica and he is relieved because they've only lost 150 slaves and 12 crew members on the journey. He intends to throw the stick overboard because their presence, among the healthy, will lower the value of the 'goods'.
Kingston Harbour
They arrive at Kingston Harbour and the slaves are placed on the auction block. The boy is doing the ledgers for the captain because he is sick. The girl is traumatized by the situation but finds strength in submersion in an Anansi story. It begins: There was a mean lady who quenched her thirst with people's tears. Her children, Dog, Cat and Crab ...
The Forest of Stories
1. Quenching Her Thirst
Dog, Cat, and Crab placed an ad in the Forest News for a girl to be a helper. They discussed how she would be working until she cried. The mean old lady asks the children if the helper will not want wages and they say no because the ad also stipulates that at the end of the week, if the girl manages to guess the old woman's name, the girl will get half of everything that the old lady owns. Anansi arrives, disguised as a girl, and gets the job. He cries from just hearing the amount of work that he has to do.
2. At the River
Anansi tricks Crab into giving him the old lady's name, for a kiss. Anansi then goes to the old lady and requests his reward. The old woman gets so angry that she turns over her calabash of tears when Crab admits to being the culprit. It sticks to his back. The girl then re-enters the auction.
Kingston Harbour
The girl is sold at the auction, but she implores the reader to remember her.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Campbell, Alistair. Anansi. (UK) Oxford University Press, 1992.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/campbell-alistair-1925
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Middle-Passage-slave-trade
https://www.britannica.com/topic/transatlantic-slave-trade
Campbell, Alistair. Anansi. (UK) Oxford University Press, 1992.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/campbell-alistair-1925
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Middle-Passage-slave-trade
https://www.britannica.com/topic/transatlantic-slave-trade
