(15) "they say when trouble comes close ranks, and so the white people did. But we
were not in their ranks. The Jamaican ladies had never approved of my mother,'
because she pretty like pretty self'" - answer Speaker: Antoinette
Context: the introduction of the novel
Analysis: Since this is the first part of the novel it shows how important this idea is to the
novel. The white people were protecting themselves and because Antionette and her
family are white creoles they don't make the cut to be protected.
(17) "Our garden was large and beautiful as that garden in the Bible-- the tree of life
grew there. But it had gone wild. The paths were overgrown and a smell of dead flowers
mixed with the fresh living smell" - answer Speaker: Antoinette
Context: Describing the garden at Colibri
Analysis: Corruption of something pure and clean but underneath the pure and
cleanliness you have something rotting and Antoinette is seeing this as Jamaica before
the emancipation and emancipator is making it rot
(20) "White cockroach, go away, go away. Nobody want you. Go away" -
answerSpeaker: little girl
Context: following Antoinette home and calling her names
Analysis: Being differentiated from creoles and Englishmen and slaves can say this bc
they are no longer slaves, cockroaches underneath wanted which shows how they are
outsiders in the island
(41) "I looked at her and I saw her face crumple up as she began to cry. We stared at
each other, blood on my face, tears on hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking-
glass." - answerSpeaker: Anoinette
Context: Looking at Tia after she threw a rock at her causing Antoinette
Analysis: Between tia and ant there is a connection but there also a boundary and there
is a familiarity on opposite sides of the mirror bc of the bigger social structure. The
biggest part is that the social problems have not just affected the adults but also
destroyed the children
(45) "look the crazy girl, you crazy like your mother, Your aunt frightened to have you in
the house" - answerSpeaker: girl on the street
Context: Antoinette is walking to Aunt Cora's house when people start yelling things at
her. Sandi comes and defends her
Analysis: Reflects how everyone knows everyone else's business and draws Sandi to
Antoinette which is important bc Sandi is the only other comforting character besides
Christophine
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