ti-jean and his brothers
ABOUT DEREK WALCOTT
- Born January 23, 1930, on the island of St. Lucia.
- He studied at St. Mary's College and the University of the West Indies.
- Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1992.
- More ...
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DEREK WALCOTT'S PLAYS
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DEREK WALCOTT'S POEMS
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SUMMARY
The play is about the challenge that Ti-Jean and his brothers face from the Devil. If either Gros-Jean, Mi-Jean, or Ti-Jean get the Devil to show an emotion, they will receive immense wealth, but (www.bulbsoup.com) if they fail, they will be eaten by the Devil. The brothers are to face the Devil in descending order; first Gros-Jean, then Mi-Jean, and finally Ti-Jean. The two oldest brothers, Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean, fail in this endeavor, but Ti-Jean succeeds. It is implied that part of Ti-Jean's success is grounded in the fact that he listened to the wisdom of his mother, while Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean ignored the wisdom that she gave them.
The play is about the challenge that Ti-Jean and his brothers face from the Devil. If either Gros-Jean, Mi-Jean, or Ti-Jean get the Devil to show an emotion, they will receive immense wealth, but (www.bulbsoup.com) if they fail, they will be eaten by the Devil. The brothers are to face the Devil in descending order; first Gros-Jean, then Mi-Jean, and finally Ti-Jean. The two oldest brothers, Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean, fail in this endeavor, but Ti-Jean succeeds. It is implied that part of Ti-Jean's success is grounded in the fact that he listened to the wisdom of his mother, while Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean ignored the wisdom that she gave them.
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SETTING
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THEMES
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FABLE
The word fable literally means a story. It is a literary device that is defined as a concise story that has a moral lesson, at the end, given through some sort of animal story. In prose and verse, a fable is manifested through plants, animals, forces of nature, and inanimate objects. The moral lesson is facilitated by the fact that human attributes are given to the animals etc. Ti Jean and His Brothers can be defined as a fable because it provides a moral lesson at the end, it uses animals as the main characters and it personifies the animal characters.
The moral lesson in the play is that one must appreciate the knowledge that older and more experienced people have to offer. This lesson comes out because Ti-Jean is the victorious brother in this play, and he took the time to not only stop and listen to his mother's advice but to actually take her advice. He was polite to the animals, complimenting them where he saw an opportunity, and listening to the added advice that they offered, just as his mother had recommended. Gros Jean and Mi Jean, on the other hand, hardly spared the time to even listen to their mother, much less to follow the advice that she took the time to give them, and they were both eaten by the Devil.
The second criterion, the use of animals as the main characters, is clearly seen in the fact that the Cricket, Frog, and Bird played such a pivotal role in the play. They formed the characters in the prologue, who did the very important job of introducing the characters, describing the setting, and introducing the relevant themes in the play, as well as identifying the very important conflict that is at the heart of the play. These characters also helped to develop the plot of the play because the brothers' reactions to them literally propelled the plot. Gros Jean and Mi Jean disregarded their warnings and were even rude to them, and they were eaten by the Devil, while Ti-Jean listened to them, and was polite to them, as recommended by his mother, and was successful in defeating the Devil. The final criterion is the personification of the animals, which clearly occurs because the animals not only communicate with the brothers but react to them based on how the brothers treat them. They help Ti-Jean, by warning him when the Devil approaches, because he was kind to them, but simply remain silent for Gros Jean, because he disregarded them. They tried to speak to Mi-Jean but were interrupted by the Devil's approach. The fact that they had human reactions to the brothers, based on how they were treated, proves that the animals were personified.
The word fable literally means a story. It is a literary device that is defined as a concise story that has a moral lesson, at the end, given through some sort of animal story. In prose and verse, a fable is manifested through plants, animals, forces of nature, and inanimate objects. The moral lesson is facilitated by the fact that human attributes are given to the animals etc. Ti Jean and His Brothers can be defined as a fable because it provides a moral lesson at the end, it uses animals as the main characters and it personifies the animal characters.
The moral lesson in the play is that one must appreciate the knowledge that older and more experienced people have to offer. This lesson comes out because Ti-Jean is the victorious brother in this play, and he took the time to not only stop and listen to his mother's advice but to actually take her advice. He was polite to the animals, complimenting them where he saw an opportunity, and listening to the added advice that they offered, just as his mother had recommended. Gros Jean and Mi Jean, on the other hand, hardly spared the time to even listen to their mother, much less to follow the advice that she took the time to give them, and they were both eaten by the Devil.
The second criterion, the use of animals as the main characters, is clearly seen in the fact that the Cricket, Frog, and Bird played such a pivotal role in the play. They formed the characters in the prologue, who did the very important job of introducing the characters, describing the setting, and introducing the relevant themes in the play, as well as identifying the very important conflict that is at the heart of the play. These characters also helped to develop the plot of the play because the brothers' reactions to them literally propelled the plot. Gros Jean and Mi Jean disregarded their warnings and were even rude to them, and they were eaten by the Devil, while Ti-Jean listened to them, and was polite to them, as recommended by his mother, and was successful in defeating the Devil. The final criterion is the personification of the animals, which clearly occurs because the animals not only communicate with the brothers but react to them based on how the brothers treat them. They help Ti-Jean, by warning him when the Devil approaches, because he was kind to them, but simply remain silent for Gros Jean, because he disregarded them. They tried to speak to Mi-Jean but were interrupted by the Devil's approach. The fact that they had human reactions to the brothers, based on how they were treated, proves that the animals were personified.
ALLEGORY
The play, Ti-Jean and His Brothers can be seen as an allegory because abstract ideas and principles are described through the use of characters, figures, and events. Therefore, the abstract idea of post-colonialism is explored through the experiences that the brothers have with the planter in the play. An allegory can be defined as a complete story that involves characters and events that stand for an abstract idea or event. The idea being explored is post-colonialism and the event being examined is slavery. Slavery is the period in history in which Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and sent to European colonies to work, without pay. While post-colonialism is the idea of the colonized, or previously colonized peoples' struggles with forming their identities at the end of the period of being colonized, or enslaved. Therefore, the audience/ reader sees the three brothers using different approaches to deal with the Devil. These different approaches represent the struggle to form a post-colonial identity. The play asks us, the reader, to examine each approach based on the identity, or rather, how each character views themselves. Gros Jean is strong, Mi Jean is the intellectual, while Ti-Jean is in the process of figuring out his identity, but leans on his wit, and thinking outside the box, to survive in the interim. The Devil represents the colonial master whose intent is to manipulate his workers. In the context of this play, the Devil wants to eat the brothers. The concept of eating the brothers is basically to manipulate them and gain whatever he desires.
The play, Ti-Jean and His Brothers can be seen as an allegory because abstract ideas and principles are described through the use of characters, figures, and events. Therefore, the abstract idea of post-colonialism is explored through the experiences that the brothers have with the planter in the play. An allegory can be defined as a complete story that involves characters and events that stand for an abstract idea or event. The idea being explored is post-colonialism and the event being examined is slavery. Slavery is the period in history in which Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and sent to European colonies to work, without pay. While post-colonialism is the idea of the colonized, or previously colonized peoples' struggles with forming their identities at the end of the period of being colonized, or enslaved. Therefore, the audience/ reader sees the three brothers using different approaches to deal with the Devil. These different approaches represent the struggle to form a post-colonial identity. The play asks us, the reader, to examine each approach based on the identity, or rather, how each character views themselves. Gros Jean is strong, Mi Jean is the intellectual, while Ti-Jean is in the process of figuring out his identity, but leans on his wit, and thinking outside the box, to survive in the interim. The Devil represents the colonial master whose intent is to manipulate his workers. In the context of this play, the Devil wants to eat the brothers. The concept of eating the brothers is basically to manipulate them and gain whatever he desires.
CHARACTERS
Gros Jean
Gros Jean
- He is described, by Frog, as 'very stupid' (Walcott, 26)
- He is the oldest brother and he is extremely strong.
- Gros Jean ignored his mother's advice and disregarded her concern for him because he believed that his physical strength was enough.
- The Devil tricked Gros Jean and he was eaten in Act 1.
- He is described, by Frog, as the middle brother, the 'second biggest' (Walcott, 26).
- Frog thinks that he is 'half stupid' (Walcott, 26), yet he is always studying.
- He is a fisherman by profession.
- He too ignores his mother's advice and is eaten in Act 2.
- He is described, by Frog, as a hunter, and the youngest brother.
- Unlike his brothers, Ti Jean actually listens to his mother and takes her advice, which allows Ti Jean to get assistance from the animals.
- Ti-Jean is the most practical of the brothers and uses simple common sense to defeat the Devil.
- The mother of Gros Jean, Mi-Jean and Ti-Jean.
- She loves her sons and tries to guide them with wisdom gained from experience.
- She has a connection with the realm of the supernatural.
- He is an unborn baby who delivers the Devil's message to the mother and the brothers.
- Bolom is unborn because a woman did him harm, she is presumed to be his mother, by placing a cord around his throat.
- Bolom believes that he was never born.
- His master is the Devil.
- The Devil literally speaks through Bolom in order to deliver a piece of his message to Mother.
- This is the same character that takes the role of many characters.
- He is incredibly crafty, as seen when he tricks Gros Jean into getting angry so that he can eat him.
- He also enjoyed taunting Mi Jean, with the full knowledge that Mi Jean did not understand that the joke was on him.
- The only brother that managed to defeat this/ these characters is Ti Jean.
PLOT
Prologue
Frog introduces the reader to Gros Jean, the eldest brother, Mi-Jean, the middle brother, and T-Jean, the youngest brother. They live in a house made of wood and thatch, which is perched on the forehead of a mountain. The reader then gets a visual of the three brothers through their actions. Gros Jean is very strong, but also 'very stupid' (Walcott, 26), as described by Frog, because he refuses to cut wood because his axe will get wet and rusty. While Mi-Jean is 'half stupid' (Walcott, 26), also as described by Frog, because he can't catch fish because he, as a fisherman, is always forgetting his bait. Ti-Jean, the youngest brother, is then introduced as the brother who is, ironically, disliked by his brothers because he does nothing all day. The family is very poor and the brothers believe that God has forgotten them. The reader is then introduced to the brothers' mother, who hears a noise in the wind and recognizes it as evil. Bolom then identifies himself and tells the mother what the Devil wants: her sons to eat for dinner, in descending order. He therefore issues a challenge to all three sons. If any of them can make the Devil feel anger, rage, and human weakness, then he will grant them riches, but if any of the sons fail, then his flesh shall be eaten.
Act One
Gros Jean tries to sneak out of the house, but his mother discovers him. She gives him advice for his journey and he disregards them. He encounters an old man whom he asks for advice about the shortest path to success and wealth. The old man offers some wisdom, but Gros Jean rejects this. He threatens violence if he is not given a shortcut to success and wealth. The old man tells him about the estate where harvesters were being hired. He is hired, but he is (www.bulbsoup.com) also issued a challenge; the person that gets the other one vexed will be eaten. The Devil, in the form of the planter, gives Gros Jean impossible tasks and irritates him by constantly referring to him by different names. Gros Jean eventually gets angry and is eaten.
Act Two
Mi-Jean cannot believe that the cricket has the nerve to speak to him, but he speaks to him, as well as the bird and the frog, anyway. He remembers his mother's advice regarding the idea that no one can know what the Devil wears. Mi-Jean also encounters Papa Bois (the Old Man), who tries to give him advice, but he tells him that he does not need it, but he will listen. He shares how he plans to beat the Devil with the Old Man; he will beat the Devil with silence and a smile. He meets and starts working for the planter, and endeavors to be smiling and silent. The planter, however, taunts him with his superior knowledge of basic things, such as knots. The Devil then finally gets Mi-Jean upset with the argument that a goat might have more sense than him. Mi-Jean is eaten at the end of this act.
Act Three
The Devil wanders off after his meal of Mi-Jean, and Papa Bois (Old Man) tells the reader that there is one more meal left. The reader then sees Ti-Jean and his mother in their hut. She expresses concern for her youngest child, due to his lack of exposure, but advises him to trust his instincts and use his conscience. He encounters the animals in the forest and treats them gently. They help him by making him aware of Papa Bois' presence, then leave with a promise to help him if they can. Papa Bois tries to discover Ti-Jean's approach to the challenge and he calls on the animals for help. The Bird then loosens Pap Bois' sticks, causing him to become distracted. While pretending to help to take up the sticks, Ti-Jean discovers the Old Man's forked tail. He makes the Devil aware that he knows who he is and the Devil tells him about the challenge; the one who wastes his temper will be eaten. The Old Man/ Devil gives Ti-Jean two tasks. He is to catch a wayward goat and tie it good and hard, and if it gets away, he must attempt to tie it again. The Old Man enjoys watching T-Jean's attempts to capture the goat, until Ti-Jean, not seeing himself repeating the exercise of recapturing the goat all night, tied the goat and cut off its seed. The Old Man gets agitated (www.bulbsoup.com) at this news and Ti-Jean mildly taunts him.
Ti-Jean is then given a third task by the Old Man, which is to go to the cane- fields and check every blade, count each leaf on the stalk, and file them away. Ti-Jean is to complete this task before night falls, then return to the Old Man. Ti-Jean answers this challenge by telling the workmen that the Devil wants them to burn down the field. The Devil returns at dawn, dons the mask of the Old Man, and gets very upset when he is informed of his burning field. His resulting monologue informs the reader of his origin, as well as his deep desire to be loved. He then sees Ti-Jean approaching and dons the mask of the planter. Ti-Jean reports, after being asked by the planter, that he has been drinking and eating curried goat. The Devil then admits that Ti-Jean nearly had him vexed several times throughout the day. The Devil admits to having a headache and wanting some sleep. He invites Ti-Jean to his house, only to realize that it is on fire. The Devil then gets extremely upset. The Devil reveals that he does not play fairly by admitting that he cannot return Gros Jean and Mi-Jean to life. Ti-Jean then begs the Devil to pay his mother what is owed to him, because he made the Devil feel emotion. The Devil's response is that he does not play fairly, but he gives him the gold, and then shows Ti-Jean his mother, dying in the hut. Ti-Jean, prompted by the Frog, sings a song of thanksgiving while in the depths of despair. This elicits tears from the Devil and Bolom takes the opportunity to ask Ti-Jean to ask the Devil for his life. The Devil allows Bolom to be born and leaves with the warning that he will meet Ti-Jean and his new brother again. Ti-Jean exits with Bolom. The creatures then gather and the Frog closes the scene.
Prologue
Frog introduces the reader to Gros Jean, the eldest brother, Mi-Jean, the middle brother, and T-Jean, the youngest brother. They live in a house made of wood and thatch, which is perched on the forehead of a mountain. The reader then gets a visual of the three brothers through their actions. Gros Jean is very strong, but also 'very stupid' (Walcott, 26), as described by Frog, because he refuses to cut wood because his axe will get wet and rusty. While Mi-Jean is 'half stupid' (Walcott, 26), also as described by Frog, because he can't catch fish because he, as a fisherman, is always forgetting his bait. Ti-Jean, the youngest brother, is then introduced as the brother who is, ironically, disliked by his brothers because he does nothing all day. The family is very poor and the brothers believe that God has forgotten them. The reader is then introduced to the brothers' mother, who hears a noise in the wind and recognizes it as evil. Bolom then identifies himself and tells the mother what the Devil wants: her sons to eat for dinner, in descending order. He therefore issues a challenge to all three sons. If any of them can make the Devil feel anger, rage, and human weakness, then he will grant them riches, but if any of the sons fail, then his flesh shall be eaten.
Act One
Gros Jean tries to sneak out of the house, but his mother discovers him. She gives him advice for his journey and he disregards them. He encounters an old man whom he asks for advice about the shortest path to success and wealth. The old man offers some wisdom, but Gros Jean rejects this. He threatens violence if he is not given a shortcut to success and wealth. The old man tells him about the estate where harvesters were being hired. He is hired, but he is (www.bulbsoup.com) also issued a challenge; the person that gets the other one vexed will be eaten. The Devil, in the form of the planter, gives Gros Jean impossible tasks and irritates him by constantly referring to him by different names. Gros Jean eventually gets angry and is eaten.
Act Two
Mi-Jean cannot believe that the cricket has the nerve to speak to him, but he speaks to him, as well as the bird and the frog, anyway. He remembers his mother's advice regarding the idea that no one can know what the Devil wears. Mi-Jean also encounters Papa Bois (the Old Man), who tries to give him advice, but he tells him that he does not need it, but he will listen. He shares how he plans to beat the Devil with the Old Man; he will beat the Devil with silence and a smile. He meets and starts working for the planter, and endeavors to be smiling and silent. The planter, however, taunts him with his superior knowledge of basic things, such as knots. The Devil then finally gets Mi-Jean upset with the argument that a goat might have more sense than him. Mi-Jean is eaten at the end of this act.
Act Three
The Devil wanders off after his meal of Mi-Jean, and Papa Bois (Old Man) tells the reader that there is one more meal left. The reader then sees Ti-Jean and his mother in their hut. She expresses concern for her youngest child, due to his lack of exposure, but advises him to trust his instincts and use his conscience. He encounters the animals in the forest and treats them gently. They help him by making him aware of Papa Bois' presence, then leave with a promise to help him if they can. Papa Bois tries to discover Ti-Jean's approach to the challenge and he calls on the animals for help. The Bird then loosens Pap Bois' sticks, causing him to become distracted. While pretending to help to take up the sticks, Ti-Jean discovers the Old Man's forked tail. He makes the Devil aware that he knows who he is and the Devil tells him about the challenge; the one who wastes his temper will be eaten. The Old Man/ Devil gives Ti-Jean two tasks. He is to catch a wayward goat and tie it good and hard, and if it gets away, he must attempt to tie it again. The Old Man enjoys watching T-Jean's attempts to capture the goat, until Ti-Jean, not seeing himself repeating the exercise of recapturing the goat all night, tied the goat and cut off its seed. The Old Man gets agitated (www.bulbsoup.com) at this news and Ti-Jean mildly taunts him.
Ti-Jean is then given a third task by the Old Man, which is to go to the cane- fields and check every blade, count each leaf on the stalk, and file them away. Ti-Jean is to complete this task before night falls, then return to the Old Man. Ti-Jean answers this challenge by telling the workmen that the Devil wants them to burn down the field. The Devil returns at dawn, dons the mask of the Old Man, and gets very upset when he is informed of his burning field. His resulting monologue informs the reader of his origin, as well as his deep desire to be loved. He then sees Ti-Jean approaching and dons the mask of the planter. Ti-Jean reports, after being asked by the planter, that he has been drinking and eating curried goat. The Devil then admits that Ti-Jean nearly had him vexed several times throughout the day. The Devil admits to having a headache and wanting some sleep. He invites Ti-Jean to his house, only to realize that it is on fire. The Devil then gets extremely upset. The Devil reveals that he does not play fairly by admitting that he cannot return Gros Jean and Mi-Jean to life. Ti-Jean then begs the Devil to pay his mother what is owed to him, because he made the Devil feel emotion. The Devil's response is that he does not play fairly, but he gives him the gold, and then shows Ti-Jean his mother, dying in the hut. Ti-Jean, prompted by the Frog, sings a song of thanksgiving while in the depths of despair. This elicits tears from the Devil and Bolom takes the opportunity to ask Ti-Jean to ask the Devil for his life. The Devil allows Bolom to be born and leaves with the warning that he will meet Ti-Jean and his new brother again. Ti-Jean exits with Bolom. The creatures then gather and the Frog closes the scene.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1992/walcott/biographical/
https://literarydevices.net/fable/
https://literarydevices.net/allegory/
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1992/walcott/biographical/
https://literarydevices.net/fable/
https://literarydevices.net/allegory/
