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Olive Senior, a distinguished Jamaican poet, delves into the annals of Caribbean history through her thought-provoking verses. Particularly, her poem "Meditation on Yellow" serves as a poignant exploration of colonization and the consequential suffering endured by the Caribbean people. This essay delves into Senior's discontentment, expressed vividly through the use of symbolism, language, and repetition, as she unravels the brutalities of colonization.
Senior's "Meditation on Yellow" employs symbolism to unravel the harsh reality of colonization.
The recurring motif of "yellow" symbolizes the innocence of the Amerindians and the purity embedded in their minds and souls upon encountering the Europeans. The phrase "but we were peaceful then child-like in the yellow dawn of our innocence" encapsulates the Amerindians' lack of foresight into the impending exploitation they would face. Their innocence becomes a tragic advantage, as they offer the best of their world to the Europeans.
However, "yellow" takes on a dual symbolism, representing sickness and infection in the minds of the Europeans.
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Their insatiable yearning for wealth and power infects their interactions, leading to the enslavement of the Amerindians, ruthless exploitation of the land, and the onset of colonization. This stark duality in symbolism emphasizes the extreme disparities between the Amerindians' kindness and purity and the Europeans' cold-hearted greed.
Senior wields language as a powerful tool to express her displeasure, particularly concerning the enslavement of the Amerindians. Sarcasm and humor permeate the verses, exemplified by the phrase "had I known I would have brewed up some yellow fever grass and arsenic." Here, the contrast between the seemingly hospitable "fever grass" and the sinister intention of "arsenic poison" underscores Senior's mocking and belittling of the Europeans.
Continuing the sarcasm, Senior highlights the Amerindians' passive resistance, notably burning the Europeans' bread in response to ill-treatment.
The phrase "for which management apologizes" acerbically suggests the absence of remorse or empathy from the European oppressors. The use of sarcasm becomes a poignant tool through which Senior conveys her disdain for the colonization process and her critical view of the Europeans.
The poem employs repetition, specifically anaphora, to accentuate the avaricious and materialistic nature of the Europeans. The line "but it was gold in your mind gold in your eyes gold in the crown .. gold the prize" underscores the Europeans' obsessive fixation on gold, highlighting their gluttonous disposition. The repetition becomes a rhythmic chant of their insatiable desires.
Furthermore, Senior employs repetition to emphasize the Europeans' unreasonable wants and desires, vividly expressed in the line "want it strong wan it long want it black want it black want it green want it dread." The relentless repetition echoes the rapacious appetite of the colonizers, reflecting their endless cravings for dominance and control. Additionally, the repetition in the line "silver was your armor silver the cross of your Lord ... silver the bullet I bite..." underscores the multifaceted symbolism of silver, representing both European military superiority and destruction.
Olive Senior's "Meditation on Yellow" emerges as a powerful critique of colonization, revealing her profound displeasure through the adept use of symbolism, language, and repetition. The poem unveils the tragic struggles of the Amerindians, caught in the web of European exploitation and greed. Senior's literary techniques serve as a vehicle to convey not only her personal discontentment but also the broader narrative of suffering woven into the fabric of Caribbean history.
The intricate layers of meaning embedded in Senior's verses force readers to confront the brutalities of colonization and the enduring consequences on the indigenous people of the Caribbean. "Meditation on Yellow" stands as a testament to Senior's commitment to unraveling historical injustices and shedding light on the often-overlooked voices of the colonized.
Olive Senior's Critique of Colonization. (2016, Oct 29). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/slavery-in-meditation-on-yellow-by-olive-senior-essay
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