Ascot - Literature Notes
SUMMARY
This story is about Ascot’s escapades. The story is told from the perspective of a first person narrator called Lily. She explains to the reader that Ascot is viewed as charming by women, but is perceived as a ‘ginnal’, or con artist, by men. The story continues with a rendering of how Ascot stole Papa’s bananas from the family buttery (pantry) with hilarious consequences. He then goes to May Pen, with a relative, to become a gardener. Ascot runs out on this job and goes to Kingston, where he reportedly learnt how to drive, and then returns to ‘country’ (the interior parishes of Jamaica). His dissatisfaction with life in the country is shown in his change in attitude; from being jovial and friendly to being somber. He later announced that he was going to Florida to become a farm worker. The family later learns that Ascot had skipped the farm work in Florida via a letter from the government. The family then receives three letters, spanning a three year period, in which he updated them on his life in New York, Connecticut and Chicago. Ascot then surprises every‐one by visiting the island with his American wife. He shocks every‐one by: arriving in a big, white, rented car; pretending that he is related to the narrator, Lilly, and her family; ignoring the family that he was born into; and, most importantly, having a wife with a masters degree, despite the fact that his education ended at grade 3. He leaves the ‘country’ (parish) for Kingston with a very proud mother in his wake.
SETTING
CHARACTERS
Ascot
THEME
Perseverance
This theme is seen through the character Ascot. Ascot wanted to drive a white car and wear a white suit while doing so and he did everything to achieve this goal. He was dishonest towards close friends and reneged on his farm work contract in order to achieve his goal. Therefore, it came as no surprise that he could choose to disown his own family. Despite the educational and financial difficulties that Ascot faced, he was unrelenting in his efforts to drive a white car and wear a white uniform while doing so.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels‐Thomas
Senior, Olive. 'Ascot'. Over Our Way. Kingston, Jamaica: Carlong Publishers, 1995.
BACK
This story is about Ascot’s escapades. The story is told from the perspective of a first person narrator called Lily. She explains to the reader that Ascot is viewed as charming by women, but is perceived as a ‘ginnal’, or con artist, by men. The story continues with a rendering of how Ascot stole Papa’s bananas from the family buttery (pantry) with hilarious consequences. He then goes to May Pen, with a relative, to become a gardener. Ascot runs out on this job and goes to Kingston, where he reportedly learnt how to drive, and then returns to ‘country’ (the interior parishes of Jamaica). His dissatisfaction with life in the country is shown in his change in attitude; from being jovial and friendly to being somber. He later announced that he was going to Florida to become a farm worker. The family later learns that Ascot had skipped the farm work in Florida via a letter from the government. The family then receives three letters, spanning a three year period, in which he updated them on his life in New York, Connecticut and Chicago. Ascot then surprises every‐one by visiting the island with his American wife. He shocks every‐one by: arriving in a big, white, rented car; pretending that he is related to the narrator, Lilly, and her family; ignoring the family that he was born into; and, most importantly, having a wife with a masters degree, despite the fact that his education ended at grade 3. He leaves the ‘country’ (parish) for Kingston with a very proud mother in his wake.
SETTING
- A rural community on the island of Jamaica.
CHARACTERS
Ascot
- A very charming personality.
- A bit of a con man or ‘ginnal’.
- Persistent, when he wants something.
- Lazy, when he is disinterested in something.
- A very disciplined man who expects respect from his family.
- Dislikes Ascot because he believes him to be dishonest.
- Dislikes the manner in which Ascot ignores his family on his
visit from America.
- Respects his wife because he listens to her.
- She simply reports the events, as well as other peoples’
views.
THEME
Perseverance
This theme is seen through the character Ascot. Ascot wanted to drive a white car and wear a white suit while doing so and he did everything to achieve this goal. He was dishonest towards close friends and reneged on his farm work contract in order to achieve his goal. Therefore, it came as no surprise that he could choose to disown his own family. Despite the educational and financial difficulties that Ascot faced, he was unrelenting in his efforts to drive a white car and wear a white uniform while doing so.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels‐Thomas
Senior, Olive. 'Ascot'. Over Our Way. Kingston, Jamaica: Carlong Publishers, 1995.
BACK
