Introduction: Tales from the Caribbean
Earlier this year at a Canadian Women in Communications event, the speaker, Trina McQueen, a television journalist and executive, told the audience that she would take month-long vacations and rent an apartment in the city she and her husband visited. To decide which country to visit, they conducted extensive research and one of the things they also did was read the best five works of fiction from each country. I thought, “What a novel idea!” I thought I would borrow the idea and feature the best books from a variety of countries.
I have not been able to execute the plan the way I first perceived it. However, since I am in Jamaica right now, I thought I’d feature some Jamaican stories. They aren’t the best works, but stories that were readily accessible.
3 Tales from the Caribbean
Anancy and the Cow
Most countries have their myths, and the renowned mythologist, Joseph Campbell, wrote and spoke extensively about mythology. In Jamaica, one famous myth is that of Brother Anancy, a trickster. In Anancy and the Cow (Anansi Stories), the cow is chewing on some chew-stick and Anancy tells him that he has some better chew-stick. The trickster goes home for some sugar cane and also promises his family that they will have some cow meat for supper. Anancy returns with the sugar caen which the cow greatly enjoys. He tells the cow to return home with him so that he can get more sugar cane.
Anancy explains to the cow the need to tie him up since his small children will be frightened by the great size of the cow. The cow agrees to that. When the two arrive at Anancy’s house, the trickster encourages the cow to fan his tail to prevent the flies from bothering him. Anancy shouts out to the neighbours to look at the way the cow is fanning its tail furiously and frightening his kids. He wants an excuse to kill the cow. He takes out his knife and tries to slaughter the cow, but the knife cuts the rope and the cow escapes.
What is the moral of Anancy and the Cow? Be a questioner and never take things at face value. Just because someone says it’s so doesn’t mean that that’s the case.
Countryman by Karl Phillpotts
Farmer Joe had four children – two boys and two girls. He takes the time to teach his children many things including farming. He teaches them how to till the soil and plant banana and corn. But Joe notices that some of his children would rather play than learn about farming. To instill a proper work ethic and emphasize the importance of farming he decides to tell them a story.
Joe tells his children a story about a farmer called Sam, whose brother ridicules him by calling him names. The brothers do not want to get their hands dirty in the soil and are only interested in wearing nice clothes. One day, the drought comes and there is no food in town, only the farmers have some food. Sam’s brothers come by for food and he has compassion and feeds them. They cannot eat their pretty clothes. His brothers never ridiculed him again and developed a respect for farming.
In what ways can you demonstrate an important point by telling a story?
Mr. Rain by Karl Phillpotts
Patsy is very excited about attending her friend Betty’s party. While thinking about the pretty new dress she will be wearing and all the fun she will have at the party, the rain starts to fall very heavily. She is very upset with Mr Rain and wishes the rain will never fall again.
In her very upset state, she becomes very tired and falls asleep at the window she is looking through. During her dream, Mr. Rain visits her and tells her he has heard her wish and will grant it by going away. Without the rain, the seas and rivers dry up, the vegetation wither away, and the place becomes desolate. Patsy has no water to quench her thirst.
She cries out to Mr. Rain, begging him to come again, which he does and things revert to normal. Patsy is most grateful and tells Mr Rain that she will never make a wish like that ever again. And on top of that, the little girl decides she’ll find ways to conserve water.
Patsy’s mother wakes her up, telling her she has a party to attend. In life, we have to take the good with the bad, and there are positives and negatives to everything, so we have to make the most of it.
Final Thoughts: Tales from the Caribbean
What are some stories that you grew up with?