Corruption In A Small Place

Furthermore, due largely to these lingering effects of the colonial era, one may argue that Kincaid speaks about native Antinguans as if they exist soley as a form of bare life. Bare life, a theory developed and discussed by renowned Italian philosopher Georgio Agamben, posits that the “sheer biological fact of life is given priority over the way a life is lived, by which Agamben means its possibilities and potentialities” (Oxford 2018). With this state of bare life, individuals become reduced to mere bodies. Expression, culture, and individually become essentially ignored or deemed unimportant.

To further highlight the impact colonialism has had upon the geography of Antigua, Kincaid continually addresses two key symbolic elements that

In her eyes, corruption in Antigua is a learned behaviour, one Antiguans have adopted directly from the English following their departure (Kincaid 1988, 34). Consequently, A Small Place draws attention to the many forms of corruption rampant across the island, particularly within the beauracratic governing structures of the country. This is yet another way, via the theme(s) of colonialism and decolonialism, that Kincaid grounds her argument within geogrpahy, as corruption has no doubt influenced the overall sense of place across Antigua. Specific examples of corruption include the two main Japanese car dealer ships being owned by the government (9), the political and economic influence of “the Syrians” (11), the woman Evita having a say in cabinet meetings due to her relationship with a high government official (12), the disappearance of 11 million dollars given by the French for developmental aid (66), and the Prime Minister viewing the “the government of Antigua as his own business, with his two sons holding positions of influence directly under him

I, in this essay, have merely scratched the surface. Kincaid, through a perspective grounded in a comprehensive critique of colonialism, provides us with a profoundly affective narrative - one that encompasses elements of place, identity, politics, and history. A Small Place presents readers with a quick and relatively easy read, at least at surface level. However, when one truly begins to unpack the book, taking the time to critically reflect upon its content matter, Kincaid 's delivery shines through, presenting a collection of ideas that are anything but straightforward. Imbued with a continuous degree of subtle intricacy, ASP packs a significant degree of substance into a deceivingly small package. Evidently, Kincaid 's approach relates heavily to the various geogrpahies of Antigua and thus, her arguments can not be removed from such a reality. Such