Essay Questions

Why is Clare fascinated by the stories of oppressed people throughout history?

Clare wants to understand why certain people are oppressed in society and reads anything she can about oppression. She reads of the Holocaust, the internment of the Japanese, and the fight related to LGBTQ society. She connects with the people who are oppressed because they are different. Being half white and half black, she wants to make sense of why people are viewed differently. Her search leads her to understand herself and her ancestors’ plight in society.

Why does Clare not understand Zoe’s bitterness toward white society?

Clare is half white on her father’s side, so she has been sheltered from the discrimination that Zoe has suffered because of her skin color. This has caused Zoe to become bitter and resentful to those she sees as oppressors. Clare has not experienced oppression and has only read about it or been told stories about it. She cannot fully understand her friend’s experience.

Why has Clare’s mother not told her the stories of her family and how they suffered at the hands of colonization?

Kitty, Clare’s mother, wants her daughter to not be defined by how others view her. In fact, Kitty grew up in fear and does not want her daughter to have the same experience. She wants her daughter to be empowered and not feel that she is different.

Examine the character development of Clare Savage in "Abeng". How does her personal growth reflect the broader social and political changes occurring in Jamaica during the period depicted in the novel?

The growth of Clare Savage in "Abeng" simulates the social and political revolutions that occurred in Jamaica in the middle of the 20th century. Clare, who is first constrained by colonial ideals and her mixed-race status, develops into a self-aware person who questions social standards. Her increasing awareness of her roots and the Maroons' struggle for freedom are reflections of Jamaica's own process of regaining its cultural identity. Clare's personal metamorphosis, characterized by a stronger bond with her heritage and a critical examination of oppressive systems, represents the larger change in Jamaican society as it aspires to recast itself and claim its independence.