Analysis of Jamaica Kincaid's Essay "On Seeing England for the First Time"

Slavery takes many forms. Physical degradation often eclipses a much more insidious mental enslavement. When the mind is bound by fear, the slave will work because he is afraid of the consequences. However, when the mind is bound by adulation, the slave will volunteer his services. The latter is more sinister because it is indirect but equally effective. This form of slavery is what Jamaica Kincaid, the author of the passage, rebelled and fought against. Employing a medley of rhetorical strategies including syntax and careful selection of diction, Kincaid succeeds in expressing her rebellious and distasteful attitude towards England.
Beginning the passage with recollections of her childhood, Kincaid recalls how England seemed to be "A special jewel." From England Kincaid received her "sense of what was meaningful, and... what was meaningless." Even her "source of myth and the source from which [she] got [her] sense of reality" were based in England. However, imbedded in her seeming praise of England are patches of nonconformity. Patches such as "though [England] looked like a leg of mutton, it could not really look like anything so familiar... because it was England." This demonstration of flawed circular reasoning represents the larger picture. It represents the flawed ideas of the islanders who worshipped England rather than scorned it. Her sarcastic voice is again evident when she says, "England was a special jewel all right, and only special people got to wear it." Her use of "special" and "all right" highlight her real feelings. This unique technique that Kincaid uses to criticize England (masking excoriation in praise) reflects the way that England made themselves out as the "good guys," worthy of emulation and reverence, but really forced the de facto slavery of the native people on the island and elsewhere. Her use of sarcasm demonstrates her distasteful attitude. As the passage progresses, an attitude of inferiority is shown. The idea that England is wonderful and since the islanders are not "England" they are therefore inferior manifests. She rebels against this idea. Though she eats the "pretty," English way and eats a big breakfast, Kincaid rebels because "[she] knew then that [she] enjoyed [her] food more when [she] ate it with [her] bare hands." Since her mind is free of English influence, she is still technically free.
Finally, in the last paragraph, Kincaid's true feelings shine through. Having started many of her previous sentences with "England," Kincaid switches her use of syntax and uses "I." Her blunt statements "I had long ago been conquered" and "I did not know then that this statement was part of a process that would result in my erasure" invoke sympathy from the reader. Her focus on what England had done to her in the past carries resentment because England had imposed her will on Kincaid when "[she] did not know very much of anything." Targeting her at a young age, she was unable to fight the influence. Being the victim of England's imperialistic agenda, Kincaid shows her outrage and distaste towards the occupants of her homeland.
Though slavery comes in many varieties, the end is always the same. Slaves are remnants of people. Broken shells. Lifeless. Though the practice of de jure slavery ended long ago, people will always be bound in one form or another. In the passage taken from Kincaid's essay, she reveals to the reader her rebellious and distasteful attitude towards England through use of syntax and careful word selection. Though surrounded by the omnipresent "England," Kincaid realizes how fortunate "it was that [she] was unable to draw a map of England correctly," for it freed her mind of slavery.