StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Caribbean Pastoral Imagery - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Caribbean Pastoral Imagery" suggests that within the simplicity of the word the Caribbean lies complexity and even contradiction. Nicholas Laughlin contends that The Caribbean is not a simple word; it means so much about history and landscape, freedom and despair, language and silence…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.6% of users find it useful
Caribbean Pastoral Imagery
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Caribbean Pastoral Imagery"

Within the simpli of the word Caribbean lies a complexity and even contradiction. Nicholas Laughlin contends that, "Caribbean is not a simple word; it means so much about history and landscape, freedom and despair, language and silence, home and exile, power and love." Hence, the voice of Caribbean or West Indian poetry often reflects anguish which resulted from past oppression. One West Indian poet, Eric Roach, experienced a life of confusion, which is shown in his poetry. In his poem, "Love Overgrows a Rock," Roach shows an absolute internal conflict between his pride or love for his country and the struggle with its history. Despite the magnitude of his struggle, however, Roach resigns himself to his natural feelings; the love for his country conquers the obstacles of the past. Much like the Caribbean people who struggle with their national identities after enduring European brutality, West Indian poets found it difficult to find their own poetic voice (Breiner, 113). Instead of producing works that reflected their true feelings, West Indian poets found their poetry succumbing to the traditional British verse and subject matters. It was not until later that West Indian poets were permitted to liberally express themselves in the poetic form. When they ventured to write parallel to their true feelings and beliefs, West Indian poets often did so apologetically. Poets were left to question their poetic boundaries. Likely questions of the poets were whether or not they should engage in "social commentary, protests," or seek to find a balance between "protest poetry and high art" (Jennings 23). As a result, much of the West Indian poetry, including Eric Roach's, conveyed uncertainty and confusion. Known for Caribbean pastoral imagery in his writing (Jennings 4), Roach paints vivid pictures that show beauty of the land. In each stanza of the poem, the poet conveys his adoration of the land. The poem opens with sensual imagery which allows the reader to picture lush green vegetation and hear waves breaking amid the expansive blue waters. Roach further enjoys what the land has to offer by accompanying others on a jubilant banana boat tour. Roach's imaginative perception of the landscape serves a dual purpose; it captures the essence of Caribbean beauty and showcases the delight that the author takes in his land. Amid the beauty in each stanza, however, resides negativity and inner turmoil. Roach reveals that the internal conflict interrupts his ability to fully appreciate his surroundings. In the first stanza, the beauty and brilliance of the landscape intrudes upon his desires. Though pleasing to the eye, Roach's surroundings hold his dreams and aspirations hostage. From there, the poem digresses into an explanation of the role of restriction and how it ultimately tainted his view of the land. With songs in his heart, Roach once again optimistically attempts to enjoy what the land has to offer in the following stanza. However, the enjoyable excursion is short-lived as the sun turns to snow and they encounter "hostile and exploding zones." Thus, inner turmoil and confusion taints the joys and hopes presented in the poem. Each stanza of the poem conveys an absolute contrast between the land and the Roach's state of mind. In the beginning of the poem, the distant beautiful and crashing waves are empty, yet they engulf all of his dreams. It seems that the water represents a destructive force. Roach comments on the burial of his friend and his sister's beauty being tainted. Obviously, the vicious experiences take a toll on the people of the land. In spite of it all, however, the people remain steadfast in their desire to survive. Once again, hope is presented in the people's perseverance to regenerate their confidence. Moreover, the people's perseverance encourages Roach to proclaim that love (the pride in their heritage and nation) defeats the oppressive struggle. In the end, the Roach finally admits the struggle in coming to terms with the tainted precedence before him and the will to purify it with his original experience. Roach further seeks affirmation and comfort from his own words. In fact, the precedence clouds the avenues of his mind and further exasperates the task of perseverance past the struggle to a desired place. Somehow, Roach finds the strength, audacity, and hope to beckon the reader to embrace the land as a love. The obvious separation of land and water serve the same purpose as the contrasts. They both illustrate the Roach's love for the land but regret and confusion about the historical precedence. Normally, Roach uses the land as a metaphor for the struggle between Eurocentric hegemony and Caribbean independence (Jennings 25). In this poem, however, Roach seems to use the water as a culprit that devastates enjoyable moments. In the first stanza, the shore water swallows all of his dreams. What begins as an enjoyable banana-boat ride for tourist in the third stanza becomes an exploration of less-desired zones. Each troublesome experience appears to be complements of the water. Thus, the aqueous experiences compel the poet to neglect or "scorn" the water and find rapture with the land. Undoubtedly, the Roach harbors a great loves for his land. The tumultuous and remarkable journey is symbolic of his love for the land. He endures several obstacles but never cease to proclaim pride for his land throughout and at the poem's end. The love is his sustainability. Moreover, it is a metaphor for his pride for his nation; whereas, the rock is a literary equivalent to his struggle. Undoubtedly, Roach declares that love for his land conquers the struggles. However, the constant contrasts in the poem leave the reader to question whether or not the narrator has truly resolved his conflicts and can fully embrace the land in all of its capacity. Despite the love for the land, Roach abandoned the land and sought refuge in the water when he completed suicide in 1974. Jennings notes the details of Roach's death: His suicide was accomplished by drinking insecticide and then swimming out to sea at Quinam's Bay in Trinidad where he presumed Christopher Columbus has landed. By deliberately staging his death at Columbus' supposed landing point, Roach inscribes his body as his final text. (31) Not only did Roach struggle to come to terms with the past of his land and people, but he shared his struggles. The result of that sharing was an art. Though poets of his time thought they had to choose one (voices of protest) or the other (social commentary) (Jennings 23-25), an unintentional combination of both produced an art that is continually admired and currently studied. Confusion and struggles plagued Eric Roach's life and were undeniably evident in his works. By analyzing his poems and studying the chronicles of his life, readers not only encounter the contrasting beauty that resulted from anguish and turmoil, but they gain a true understanding of a prolific writer's fervent desires and limitations to overcome struggles. Works Cited Breiner, Laurence A. An Introduction to West Indian Poetry. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Jennings, Lisa Gay. "Renaissance Models for Caribbean Poets: Identity, Authencity and the Early Modern Lyric Revisited." MS Thesis. Florida State University, 2005. Laughlin, Nicholas. "What the Leaves Hear." The Caribbean Review of Books. 11 February 2007 . Roach, Eric. "Love Overgrows a Rock." The Flowering Rock: Collected Poems 1938-1974. Yorkshire : Peepal Tree Books, 1992. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Caribbean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Caribbean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1520273-caribbean
(Caribbean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
Caribbean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1520273-caribbean.
“Caribbean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1520273-caribbean.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Caribbean Pastoral Imagery

Pastoral Care

this research paper "pastoral Care" shows that young and old, rich or poor, from every ethnic background, cancer victims each fight a unique fight of faith and hope as they often struggle through issues that only a day before they were unaware or merely considered an annoyance.... This paper posits that pastoral care can identify and address the spiritual and emotional needs of the patient, family members, and loved ones.... Background Jann Aldredge Clanton's book Counseling People with Cancer sets a major theological theme as hope, and the pastoral task associated with this is to nurture hope through the use of sacred images and stories....
13 Pages (3250 words) Research Paper

Syncretism . The ways indigenous traditions shape and inform Latina/o expressions of Christianity

This is evident in evangelico and Pentecostal churches in which women have exercised pastoral and ministerial functions.... Syncretism refers to the fusion or reconciliation of divergent and differing belief systems.... In relation to religious syncretism, it refers to the introduction of foreign belief systems within an indigenous belief pattern....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Hispanic Americans Diversity

The Latino population of the United States is a highly heterogeneous population that defies easy generalizations.... At the political level, the pan ethnic construct has emerged as significant.... Latinos are entering the United States in large numbers at a time when the nation's ethos is conquered by a "culture of multiculturalism" (Surez-Orozco and Surez-Orozco 2001; Friedman, L....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Missionary Groups in Nicaragua

The objectives of the mission groups were to promote growth in this country, reinforce ecumenical relationships, supporting social changes and helping the.... ... ... The missionaries spread in all areas of Nicaragua whereby they conducted their missions and spread the gospel which assisted them greatly in achieving their goals....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

The Philosophy of Pastoral Work

Therefore, to achieve a successful relationship with Christ, and live an exemplary life imitating the imagery of Christ, love must abide within the heart of a pastor.... The paper "The Philosophy of pastoral Work" states that the role of a pastor in the evangelism processes of the church is crucial.... Additionally, the pastoral work of preaching is central to pastoral responsibilities....
9 Pages (2250 words) Scholarship Essay

The Incidence of Exclusion in the United Kingdoms Education System

The paper "The Incidence of Exclusion in the United Kingdoms Education System " states that education policy is part of the wider national strategy for international competitiveness and increased productivity.... The problem of exclusion is dependent on this crucial dimension.... .... ... ... Exclusion in education highlights the dynamics of the wider social exclusion discourse in the UK....
8 Pages (2000 words) Case Study

Race and Masculinity Between the White Men and Black Men

The paper "Race and Masculinity Between the White Men and Black Men" states that hegemonic masculinity has contextually emerged as a popular concept, which explains the power of men to maintain their patriarchy social role over women and other gender individualities.... ... ... ... An assembly of African-American run by the leader of labor threatened to dispute the inequitable treatment....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Growth Strategy of the Church

The paper "Growth Strategy of the Church" tells the author received knowledge about starting a church from scratch, locating a church next to a school, and having youths as majority members of the church.... The placement equipped him with the skills of strategizing in difficult times.... .... ... ...
11 Pages (2750 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us