Essay Questions

How does Diamond Mathew prove his hatred for the Black adults in Malaga Island?

Diamond Mathew is a paradoxical character who claims that he loves black children but hates their parents. Mathew is a racist and tries to hide his hatred by teaching black children about Christianity. In addition, Mathew proves his hatred for Black adults when he proposes that they undergo improved breeding to produce an intellectual future population. Mathew supports the mainland authorities and doctors in evicting Malaga's inhabitants, which shows his hatred for the local inhabitants.

How does Paul Harding explore the theme of eugenics thinking in This Other Eden?

Eugenics is an important theme in the novel. Mathew takes the government officials across Malaga Island to study the behavior patterns of the inhabitants to suggest how they can be improved, which prompts their eviction. The government claims that its decision to evict the people of Malaga Island is the outcome of Eugenics thinking, a scientific approach targeted at altering the people's genes to turn them into a better breed.

Why is the governor of Maine determined to evict the inhabitants of Malaga Island?

The governor of Maine intentionally ignores the needs and welfare of the people living on Malaga Island because of their mixed-race origins. The governor looks for an excuse to evict the people of Malaga Island because he wants to set up holiday homes and resorts on the island to attract tourists. However, the governor lies that he is evicting the inhabitants of Malaga to bring them to the mainland to improve their breeding.