Jean Rhys short-story “Pioneers, Oh, Pioneers” takes place on the Caribbean island Dominica at a time, when it was still a British colony. It is a story about aman called Mr. Ramage who buys a house on this island, marries a native girl and starts to behave so unconventional that the other people in the city become askant, spread rumours about them and pursue him. Under that pressure he probably commits suicide. Though the last-mentioned aspect is not said exactly it is most likely. The setting of the story is influenced by both, the environment and representatives of British colonialism and the nature and the wilderness of the Caribbean island itself. Rhys probably chose this exotic setting for two reasons: the accentuation of the unnaturalness and the declining power of British colonialism and for the reprocessing of her own childhood memories
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Setting as Accentuation for the Unnaturalness and the Declining Power of the British Colony
- The Setting as a Tool for the Reprocessing of Childhood Memories
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The short story "Pioneers, Oh, Pioneers" by Jean Rhys explores the tension between British colonial influences and the natural environment of the Caribbean island of Dominica. The author uses the setting to highlight the conflict between the colonial powers and the indigenous culture and environment. Rhys's story aims to illustrate the struggles faced by both colonizers and colonized in this complex historical context.
- The failure of British colonialism in Dominica
- The contrasting values of European and Caribbean societies
- The influence of the Caribbean environment on the colonizers
- The role of memory and nostalgia in shaping individual experiences
- The themes of isolation and alienation
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the setting of the story, Dominica, and the protagonist, Mr. Ramage, who moves to the island and faces societal disapproval. The chapter highlights the interplay between the British colonial presence and the island's natural environment.
- The Setting as Accentuation for the Unnaturalness and the Declining Power of the British Colony: This chapter analyzes the setting as a tool for highlighting the contradictions between the colonial elements and the Caribbean environment. The author uses examples of locations and objects within the story to demonstrate the failure of British colonialism to fully control and assimilate the island.
- The Setting as a Tool for the Reprocessing of Childhood Memories: This chapter explores how the setting of the story is used to evoke and reprocess the protagonist's memories of childhood, potentially revealing the psychological impact of colonial life and the yearning for a different past.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The story's key themes include British colonialism, Caribbean culture, setting analysis, colonialism's impact on individuals and societies, and the representation of cultural conflict in literature. The narrative explores the complexities of identity, memory, and belonging in a colonial context.
What is the setting of Jean Rhys’ "Pioneers, Oh, Pioneers"?
The story is set on the Caribbean island of Dominica during its time as a British colony, emphasizing the contrast between colonial order and the tropical wilderness.
How does the setting reflect the decline of British colonialism?
Rhys uses the "unnaturalness" of the colonial presence and the overwhelming power of the island's nature to symbolize the fading authority of the British Empire.
Why did Jean Rhys choose Dominica for this story?
The exotic setting serves two purposes: highlighting cultural conflict and allowing the author to reprocess her own childhood memories of the island.
What happens to the protagonist, Mr. Ramage?
Mr. Ramage buys a house and marries a native girl, but his unconventional behavior leads to social isolation, rumors, and his eventual probable suicide.
What are the main themes explored in the setting analysis?
The themes include alienation, the failure of colonial assimilation, cultural conflict, and the psychological impact of memory and nostalgia.
