This term paper analyses identity conflicts of the Caribbean immigrants struggling in Great Britain in Caryl Phillips´ play "Strange Fruit". First, the term ´identity´ is defined and the historical background concerning Caribbean immigration in Great Britain and Pan-Africanism is provided. Then, the identitiy issues of the play´s immigrants are discussed. This discussion includes the first-generation immigrant Vivien Marshall as well as the second-generation immigrants Errol and Alvin, Vivien´s two sons. Notions such as "playing white" and "playing black" as well as illusions and disillusionment are presented and analyzed in detail.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background: What is "Identity"?
3. Historical Context
3.1. Caribbean Immigration in Britain
3.2. Pan-Africanism
4. Issues of Identity in Strange Fruit
4.1. First-generation Immigrants: Vivien Marshall
4.1.1. Vivien as a Mother
4.1.2. "Playing white"
4.2. Second-generation Immigrants: Errol and Alvin Marshall
4.2.1. Errol Marshall: "Playing black"
4.2.2. Errol's Illusions
4.2.3. Alvin's Disillusionment
4.2.4. Objective Identity vs. Subjective Identity
5. Conclusion
Objectives & Core Topics
This paper examines the complex identity struggles of Caribbean immigrants in Great Britain through a literary analysis of Caryl Phillips's 1981 play, Strange Fruit. By applying theoretical frameworks regarding subjective and objective identity, the research explores how the characters navigate themes of belonging, displacement, and the generational divide between first-generation immigrants and their British-born children.
- Theoretical definitions of identity and the social construction of race.
- Historical context of post-war Caribbean migration to Britain.
- Generational differences in coping mechanisms and perceptions of "home".
- Analysis of Pan-Africanism as a source of identity and strength.
- The clash between self-perception (subjective identity) and external societal perception (objective identity).
Excerpt from the Book
4.2.3 Alvin's Disillusionment
While Errol's sense of identity remains built upon the two mentioned main illusions, Alvin is confronted with the reality and becomes disillusioned in the process. Like Errol, he had believed his mother when she had told her sons that their father was a great man, but discovers that he is buried in an unmarked grave (see Phillips 1981: 73). When his mother then tells him that their father used to be a great cricket player, like she told them, but then took to drink, Alvin is hurt, but since he already suspected it he had time to prepare himself for the actual truth.
Therefore, when his mother finally tells him, he is able to control his emotions, telling her: “I can live with what my father was. I could have lived with it before [...]” (Phillips 1981: 84/85).
Alvin had also believed that the Caribbean and Africa would be the solution to his sense of dislocation (see Mizoguchi 464), but when he actually visits the Caribbean, he describes his trip as “[t]he worst two weeks of [his] life" (Phillips 1981: 76). His journey to the Caribbean and back “represent[s] a learning process, but [it] further dislocate[s] a coherent sense of self” (Mizoguchi 464), because Alvin's idealized picture of his home country and his family turns out to be fiction. This makes it suddenly very difficult for Alvin Marshall to self-identify as a Caribbean or an African.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the significance of identity issues in the context of immigration and introduces the primary research objective of analyzing Caryl Phillips's play Strange Fruit.
2. Theoretical Background: What is "Identity"?: Establishes a working definition of identity by distinguishing between subjective self-perception and objective social categorization.
3. Historical Context: Provides an overview of the Windrush generation and the socio-political climate that influenced Caribbean migration to Britain.
4. Issues of Identity in Strange Fruit: Analyzes the psychological and social struggles of the three main characters, exploring their coping mechanisms and generational differences.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting how the characters' struggles reflect broader patterns of dislocation and the complexity of hybrid identities.
Keywords
Identity, Caribbean Immigration, Great Britain, Strange Fruit, Caryl Phillips, Windrush Generation, Pan-Africanism, Subjective Identity, Objective Identity, Assimilation, Disillusionment, Belonging, Displacement, Post-colonialism, Social Construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the identity struggles of Caribbean immigrants in Britain as depicted in Caryl Phillips's play Strange Fruit, analyzing how the characters navigate the challenges of migration and discrimination.
What are the primary themes discussed in the paper?
The key themes include identity construction, generational conflicts between immigrants and their children, the impact of assimilation, the search for ancestral roots, and the concept of "home".
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to provide a literary analysis that shows how the character portrayal in the play offers a realistic representation of the identity struggles faced by different generations of Caribbean immigrants.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing on historical data and sociological theories of identity (such as those by Akeel Bilgrami and Stuart Hall) to interpret character development within the play.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers historical context (Windrush generation), theoretical definitions of identity, and an in-depth character study of Vivien, Errol, and Alvin Marshall.
How would you describe the main keywords characterizing this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as identity, migration, Pan-Africanism, assimilation, and disillusionment, all of which frame the sociocultural experience of the characters.
How does Vivien's "playing white" differ from Errol's "playing black"?
Vivien attempts to survive by rejecting her Caribbean heritage and assimilating into white British society, whereas Errol adopts a radical black identity to cope with racism and uses Pan-Africanism as a source of strength.
Why does Alvin become disillusioned by the end of the play?
Alvin becomes disillusioned because the idealized versions of his father, his cultural heritage, and his homeland (the Caribbean) are shattered by his personal experiences and the discovery of the truth, forcing him to reconstruct his identity.
- Citar trabajo
- Silvia Schilling (Autor), 2015, Issues of Identity. Caribbean Immigrants Struggling in Britain in Caryl Phillips' Play "Strange Fruit", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/450250
