KareemNelson

ProfessorKing
March30,2014
CaribbeanStudies
MidnightRobberResponse
IbelievethatthemainideaofthispassageisTanTandealingwithkillingherfatherandthewar
betweenherselftryingtojustifyheractionsbutalsoblamingherselfatthesametimetakingallthe
responsibility.ThemurderissomethingshehasntreallydealtwithandIthinkinthispassagesheis
finallytakingthetimetothinkaboutitandjustifyheractions.Inpassagesheisgoingbackandforthwith
JohncrowabouthowrottensheisandthatcateringtoDryBoneisherpunishmentforbeingevil.She
acceptedthispunishmentmebecauseshebelievesthatthedeathofherfatherwasallherfault.Thisis
somethingweseeoverandoverinthenovelasTanTanblamesherselfforherfatherleavingherand
hermother,forherfatherrapingher,andnowforthedeathofherfather.Sheconstantlyblamesherself
forthingsthatwerenotherfaultorshehadnocontroloverandinthispassageithinksheiscomingto
realizethatitwasntherfaultandthatshewasintheright.
TherelationshipbetweenTanTanandDryBoneisthatDryBoneisTanTanssinsinaperson
takingcontrolofhereverymove.HeisconstantlyeatingororderingTanTantocookandverbally
abusesher.Shecannotleaveorbreakfreeofhimnomatterhowhardshetries.Atthepointinthe
passageTanTanhasacceptedthisasherfutureandevensaysSeen, MasterBuzzard. Iis a evil
woman, andI must pay for my corruption by looking after Dry Bone.It go drive metomegrave.This
showingsheknowsthatDryBonewillbethedeathofherandsheisokwiththatfeelingthathersins
warrantdeath.
ThepassageusesalotofsymbolismmainlywithDryBoneashersinsandJohncrowasher
conscienceorevenaGodlyfigure.ShetalkstoJohncrowaboutbeinganevilwomanandthatasa
resultshehastodealwithDryBoneandmakesitsoundlikeistheendforherthatshowshewilldie.
HoweveryouthenhaveJohncrowsayinghedoesn'tknowofherandanycorruptionandtheyasked
herifsheisattackedisntsherightindefendingherself.Thisgivingthefeelthatheisomniscientand
knowsalreadywhatwentdownandalreadyknowsTanTanwasjustdefendingherself.Alsotheauthor
symbolizesDryBoneasthesinsofTanTanandhowmuchtheyareofaburdentoherbasically
controllingherlife.TheninthepassageweseeJohncrowaskingTanTantodeliverDryBonetohim
andthisIbelieveshowshowJohncrowisbeingsymbolizedinaGodlyway.Thisisdonebyhimasking
TanTantobringDryBoneoutintotheopensohecantakecareofhimthesamewayweareaskedto
confessoursinstoGodtobecleansedofthem.
Therearemanykeywordsandphraseswithinthepassagethatgivehintstothissymbolismone
istheconstantuseofthewordknowandknowing.ThisisimportantbecausetheJohncrowcharacter
wasnotmentionedbeforeinthebookbutknowseverythingthathappened.Thissupportingmybeliefin
himbeingomniscient.Anotherkeyphraseisthephraseopensky.ThisphraseisusedtoexplainDry
Bonefairofbeingoutsideandisbasicallyaboutbeingoutintheopenandnotkeepingeverythingto
yourself.ShowingthisistheonlywayJohncrowcanhelpTanTanisifDryBoneisoutintheopen.
Thephrasebut,itdidlikeitneverliveisanotherkeyphrasebecauseitletsusknowindirectlywhat
theotherburdenthatJohncrowspokeofandthatbeingTanTansabortion.Ibelievethiswasbrought
upbecausethiswasanotherinstancethatTanTanneverreallydealtwithoritwasntexpressedhow
shedid.Shekeptitwithinherselfandalsoblamedherselfforthatwhichisarecurringthing.
AsImentionedoneoftherecurringideasinthestoryisTanTanblamingherselfandassuming
responsibilityforthingsthatwerenotherfault.Shealwayskepttheminjusttryingtochangethings
aboutherselftopleaseothers.Anotherideaisforgivenessasweseeinthebeginningofthebookbefore
hearrestedAntonioforgaveIone,AlsoastheyspendmoretimeinNewHalfWayTreeDr.Linstartsto
forgiveAntonio,andasweseeitinthepassageJohncrowforgaveTanTanformurderingherfather
becausehefeelsshewasjustindoingsoandalsointheendingofthebookwhenTanTanfinally
forgivesherselfforkillingherfather.
Myinterpretationofthenovelisthatyoucantcarrythingswithinyouforlongperiodsoftime
withoutlettingthemout.TanTanspendsmostofthebookkeepingeveryemotionandfeelingtoherself
andisbasicallytheotherpersonofheragethroughoutthebookuntilshemeetsmelonhead.Thisleads
toherhavingmanybattleswithinherselfbecausesheistheonlypersonshehastotalktoherproblems
about.Anotherinterpretationisthatforgivenessisimportantforonetobeabletomoveonasaperson.
IsaythisbecauseeventhoughTanTandressedupasrobberqueentryingtorightwrongsandprotect
peopleshestillhadtheguiltofkillingherfather.Theonlytimeshereallygetsoverthisguiltiswhenshe
facesJanisetteandrealizesherfatherrapedherandshedefendedherselfandnothingwaswrongwith
thatleadinghertoforgiveherselfandbeingabletomoveon.