Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Sheehan, Thomas

Abstract

The text focuses on the language of the law in Omeros , which is defined as "the representation and expression of social order, principles, morality, conscience, and conduct of a community or nation." The language of the law is inherent in the dynamics of the Caribbean's hybrid, cultural community and is revealed through Walcott's characters. Walcott attempts to resolve how the colonial cultural system has maintained cultural and socio-economic authority in a politically independent West Indies. Walcott's characters view the language of the law and each other according to their cultural matrices. Helen is Walcott's key. Helen is the West Indian people, her yellow dress the language of the law, and the Empire's tag is the colonial cultural system. How Helen, in her yellow dress, is perceived by each character gives insight into that character's cultural system. The sum of these cultural matrices is Helen and defines "Caribbeanness."

Extent

76 p.

Comments

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2004.|Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Identifier

FADT13145

Format

pdf

Download

Share

COinS