Bri Susco

Susco1

14 October 2010
AP Literature
Vogt
The Virgins by Derek Walcott Questions

10

15

Down the dead streets of sun-stoned Frederiksted,

the first free port to die for tourism,
strolling at funeral pace, I am reminded
of life not lost to the American dream;
but my small-islanders simplicities
cant better our new empires civilized
exchange of cameras, watches, perfumes, brandies
for the good life, so cheaply underpriced
that only the crime rate is on the rise
in streets blighted with sun, stone arches
and plazas blown dry by the hysteria
of rumor. A condominium drowns
in vacancy; its bargains are dusted,
but only a jeweled housefly drones
over the bargains. The roulettes spin
rustily to the windthe vigorous trade
that every morning would begin afresh
by revving up green water round the pierhead
heading for where the banks of silver thresh.

1) Did you find yourself sympathizing with or questioning the speakers viewpoint?
Explain. I sympathize with the speakers viewpoint, as a local of a tourist destination I
understand his view of the Virgin Islands and how they have died to the tourism and
the American dream.

2) What is the tourist reminded of as he strolls the streets of Frederiksted? The tourist is
reminded of life not lost to the American dream and his small-islanders simplicities.

Bri Susco

Susco2

14 October 2010
AP Literature
Vogt
3) How does Walcott ironically represent the good life of the American dream? How
does his picture compare with your ideas of the American dream and progress?
Walcott ironically depicts the good life as an island being overtaken by tourism that has
lost its luster and charm and turned into a cheap and crime ridden city. The typical image
of the American dream is rolling plains, apple pie, freedom, hard working citizens
earning a living doing an honest days work. Progress of the American people is seen as
industry, suburbia, growth, and money.

4) How do you explain line 2? What other images in the poem suggest decay and
emptiness? Line 2 explains the demise of the island and its fall to tourism. Images of the
town such as blown dry drowns in vacancy spins rustily in the wind all depict a
town in ruins. The images suggest a city in the desert dry and deserted, not an island in
the Virgin Islands.

5) What positive images suggest the island simplicities that once existed in
Frederiksted? Frederiksted once engaged in simplistic trading of fish at the pier.

6) Sum up what you think Walcott is saying about the changes he sees. Who or what is
responsible for the changes? Are the changes for the better or for the worse? Walcott is
conveying his dislike for tourism and industry on the Island which seems to be

Bri Susco

Susco3

14 October 2010
AP Literature
Vogt
responsible for the changes. The changes that have occurred with the arrival and
departure of tourism have negatively affected the island and the islanders.
7) Have places within the United States fallen victim to the American dream in ways
similar to Walcotts description of Frederiksted? Explain your answer, and discuss your
reactions. Detroit has fallen victim to the American dream in similar ways to Walcotts
description of Frederiksted. Detroit was resurrected by the car industry boom, but after
car companies started moving their factories, the city fell to ruins, leaving slums and
thousands of people jobless.