Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze how they develop.
What are two themes or central ideas in Jamaica Kincaid's essay "On Seeing
England for the First Time"? Identify one theme about how people in British
colonies were taught to view England and another about how those people were
treated by the English. Support your answers with examples from the essay.

1. illusion vs. reality

2. English imperialism

Explanation:

The theme of Illusion vs. Reality is illuminated by Kincaid’s account On Seeing England for the First Time as she grows up in Antigua surrounded by British culture. The striking contrast of her imagined idea becomes even worse fated as she realizes, ” The space between the idea of something and its reality is always wide and deep and dark. The longer they’re kept apart – idea of thing, reality of thing – the wider the width, the deeper the depth, the thicker and darker the darkness.” Her obvious negativity highlights the dangers of imperialism and its effects.

Throughout her essay, Kincaid strongly condemns English imperialism. The most powerful quotes, include, “The world was theirs [England’s], not mine; everything told me so”; “The reality of my life was conquests, subjugation, humiliation, forced amnesia”; “I may be capable of prejudice, but my prejudices have no weight to them, my prejudices have no force behind them, by prejudices remain opinions, my prejudices remain my personal opinion. … The people I come from are powerless to do evil on a grand scale.” Kincaid expresses her frustration with the cultural genocide of her homeland, perpetuated through colonial education.

I hope this helps you in any shape or form.

personal narrative

first person fiction

etc.