First of all this was the most confusing short story I have ever read. I guess in some sense it was Hodge’s intention for the confusion may be linked to the title. The use of the word limbo in the title is important in expressing the confusion of place and by extension of belonging which is evident in the story. I believe the focal concern in the story is the crisis of identity as a result of migration. This identity crisis is expressed mainly through plot and characterisation.
To me, the title, "Limbo Island", with respect to the story refers to the island's precarious situation between its past colonial power and its neocolonial power. Its geographical location in the North Caribbean also situates it physically between the United States and the more southerly "more Caribbean" islands. I think the story addresses the issue of identity as one tries to navigate these opposing forces. Like Kathleen, I was also confused by the story. When the story first begins I have a hard time telling the setting. For quite a while I thought it was in the U.S. because of Mr. Harris's accent, but then it becomes clear that he is one of Limbo's misguided residents.
While many seem bent on becoming more American, I think Lynnette despises this and yearns for her home country which was still very old world. She despises the fake accents, the diets and attitudes of the people in Limbo and yearns for warmth (as opposed to air conditioning) and backyards that grew actual foodstuff. The story directly address the issue of Neocolonialism and people's embracing of anything foreign.
I think that this story was really confusing as well but the first thing that came to my mind as I read it was Homi Bhabha's theory of the existence of the 'third space.' The characters are stuck on 'Limbo Island' with no sense of any fixed identity or sense of belonging. Identity is visualized as fluid and not fixed. Hybridity is seen as unavoidable and ubiquitous so that there is no fixed belonging to one place. There is the existence of that 'in-between identity' as Kwame Dawes labels it. Hodge's aim is to depict how individuals may be unattached to their roots and feel that sense of displacement. The feeling of belonging to everywhere but nowhere at the same time is portrayed in this story. She also demonstrates the huge impact that Western culture can have on a person's life.
The title of the story befits the content of the story. When I saw the word "Limbo" I immediately knew that it was somewhere in transition, a middle area or as I concluded a grey area. The values of the people on the island and their priorities are not typically "island" yet they do exist on an island. For Limbonians, their island is basically America but really this is not so and any Trinidadian should be able to relate to this story. Most of us must know at least one "yankie" talking Trini or have heard or call other islanders "small islanders" forgetting that we live on a dot on the map which is sometimes not even visible on printed maps. It is obvious that Hodge is concerned with the illusion that some Caribbean people have that they "reach" or are better than fellow Caribbean citizens. She is also concerned with the shift in activities from running and playing to watching television away from the parents, the preoccupation with the U.S. dollar and the belief of some Caribbean people that to return to island ways is lesser than the U.S. way or even a shameful thought and a waste of intelligence and skill. There is clearly a statement here about the lack of patriotism and the America is great syndrome that some of us are indeed existing in.
I have always thought of limbo as the dance that people do when they bend over backwards and go under a stick that gets lower each time the dancer goes under. That dance actually originated in Trinidad. On further research I found that limbo also has other meanings: 1. The Catholics believe that it is "the abode of unbaptized but innocent or righteous souls, as those of infants or virtuous individuals who lived before the coming of Christ." 2. "A region or condition of oblivion or neglect 3. A state or place of confinement." 4. "An intermediate place or state." (These four definitions from the Free Online Dictionary) Colloquially it is seen as a state of uncertainty where one does not know if one is coming or going. With all these definitions in mind I approach Hodge's short story. If definition one (1)is used then Limbo Island is a place where those who have achieved upper class status go. They are not in America but away from the "down-islanders". I know the story means so much more than this and the question demands more than such a shallow answer but I am still in limbo as to the real meaning of the story, but I just might be on to something. However, here is a link to a text that might interest some of you bloggers: http://books.google.tt/books?id=_SFSVYVm1TAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=limbo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FwGeT-OmJcjetgf_zI2nBA&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=limbo&f=false Copy and paste it or go to "Google Books" and type the name "Limbo: Blue-collar Roots White-Collar Dreams" by Alfred Lubrano
Limbo Island seems to be a comment on the way the psychological development of the islanders is arrested by neo-colonialism. The one word echoed throughout the story is "America" and indeed like the rest of you have pointed out, for a second you get confused if its America or some place else the story takes place.
Sylvern, you mention the dance of the limbo and definitely we see that with the story's rhythm which also parallels limbo as a place of in-betweeness like Shelly said, never fixed always in movement.
First of all this was the most confusing short story I have ever read. I guess in some sense it was Hodge’s intention for the confusion may be linked to the title. The use of the word limbo in the title is important in expressing the confusion of place and by extension of belonging which is evident in the story. I believe the focal concern in the story is the crisis of identity as a result of migration. This identity crisis is expressed mainly through plot and characterisation.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the title, "Limbo Island", with respect to the story refers to the island's precarious situation between its past colonial power and its neocolonial power. Its geographical location in the North Caribbean also situates it physically between the United States and the more southerly "more Caribbean" islands. I think the story addresses the issue of identity as one tries to navigate these opposing forces. Like Kathleen, I was also confused by the story. When the story first begins I have a hard time telling the setting. For quite a while I thought it was in the U.S. because of Mr. Harris's accent, but then it becomes clear that he is one of Limbo's misguided residents.
ReplyDeleteWhile many seem bent on becoming more American, I think Lynnette despises this and yearns for her home country which was still very old world. She despises the fake accents, the diets and attitudes of the people in Limbo and yearns for warmth (as opposed to air conditioning) and backyards that grew actual foodstuff. The story directly address the issue of Neocolonialism and people's embracing of anything foreign.
I think that this story was really confusing as well but the first thing that came to my mind as I read it was Homi Bhabha's theory of the existence of the 'third space.' The characters are stuck on 'Limbo Island' with no sense of any fixed identity or sense of belonging. Identity is visualized as fluid and not fixed. Hybridity is seen as unavoidable and ubiquitous so that there is no fixed belonging to one place. There is the existence of that 'in-between identity' as Kwame Dawes labels it. Hodge's aim is to depict how individuals may be unattached to their roots and feel that sense of displacement. The feeling of belonging to everywhere but nowhere at the same time is portrayed in this story. She also demonstrates the huge impact that Western culture can have on a person's life.
ReplyDeleteThe title of the story befits the content of the story. When I saw the word "Limbo" I immediately knew that it was somewhere in transition, a middle area or as I concluded a grey area. The values of the people on the island and their priorities are not typically "island" yet they do exist on an island. For Limbonians, their island is basically America but really this is not so and any Trinidadian should be able to relate to this story. Most of us must know at least one "yankie" talking Trini or have heard or call other islanders "small islanders" forgetting that we live on a dot on the map which is sometimes not even visible on printed maps. It is obvious that Hodge is concerned with the illusion that some Caribbean people have that they "reach" or are better than fellow Caribbean citizens. She is also concerned with the shift in activities from running and playing to watching television away from the parents, the preoccupation with the U.S. dollar and the belief of some Caribbean people that to return to island ways is lesser than the U.S. way or even a shameful thought and a waste of intelligence and skill. There is clearly a statement here about the lack of patriotism and the America is great syndrome that some of us are indeed existing in.
ReplyDeleteI have always thought of limbo as the dance that people do when they bend over backwards and go under a stick that gets lower each time the dancer goes under. That dance actually originated in Trinidad. On further research I found that limbo also has other meanings:
ReplyDelete1. The Catholics believe that it is "the abode of unbaptized but innocent or righteous souls, as those of infants or virtuous individuals who lived before the coming of Christ."
2. "A region or condition of oblivion or neglect
3. A state or place of confinement."
4. "An intermediate place or state." (These four definitions from the Free Online Dictionary)
Colloquially it is seen as a state of uncertainty where one does not know if one is coming or going.
With all these definitions in mind I approach Hodge's short story. If definition one (1)is used then Limbo Island is a place where those who have achieved upper class status go. They are not in America but away from the "down-islanders".
I know the story means so much more than this and the question demands more than such a shallow answer but I am still in limbo as to the real meaning of the story, but I just might be on to something. However, here is a link to a text that might interest some of you bloggers:
http://books.google.tt/books?id=_SFSVYVm1TAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=limbo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FwGeT-OmJcjetgf_zI2nBA&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=limbo&f=false
Copy and paste it or go to "Google Books" and type the name "Limbo: Blue-collar Roots White-Collar Dreams" by Alfred Lubrano
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ReplyDeleteLimbo Island seems to be a comment on the way the psychological development of the islanders is arrested by neo-colonialism. The one word echoed throughout the story is "America" and indeed like the rest of you have pointed out, for a second you get confused if its America or some place else the story takes place.
ReplyDeleteSylvern, you mention the dance of the limbo and definitely we see that with the story's rhythm which also parallels limbo as a place of in-betweeness like Shelly said, never fixed always in movement.