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Study Guide For Andrea Levy Small Island

Robin Powell

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Andrea Levy's Small Island is a powerful and poignant novel that explores the complex themes of identity, race, and immigration in post-war Britain. The book follows the lives of three main characters: Hortense, a Jamaican immigrant who travels to England as a domestic worker; Gilbert, a Jamaican sugarcane worker who fought in the war; and Queenie, a white woman who struggles with the aftermath of her husband's death. Small Island is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that provides a unique perspective on the social and historical issues of its time.

Study Guide for Andrea Levy's Small Island

by Course Hero

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6889 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	18 pages

Character Analysis:

Hortense Roberts:

Hortense is a strong and independent woman who is determined to make a better life for herself and her children. She travels to England in search of work and opportunity, but she faces discrimination and prejudice at every turn. Despite these challenges, Hortense perseveres and eventually finds her place in British society.

Gilbert Joseph:

Gilbert is a kind and gentle man who is haunted by the horrors he witnessed during the war. He comes to England in search of a new beginning, but he finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. Gilbert struggles with racism and prejudice, but he eventually finds happiness and fulfillment with Hortense.

Gilbert Joseph, A Jamaican Sugarcane Worker Who Served In World War II And Later Immigrated To England. Study Guide For Andrea Levy S Small Island

Queenie Bligh:

Queenie is a complex and troubled woman. She is grieving the loss of her husband, and she struggles to come to terms with the changes that are happening in post-war Britain. Queenie is initially prejudiced against Hortense, but she eventually comes to see her as a friend and confidante.

Historical Context:

Small Island is set in the years following World War II. This was a time of great social and political change in Britain. The war had left Britain with a labor shortage, and many people from the Caribbean and other parts of the Commonwealth came to England to fill these jobs. However, these immigrants faced discrimination and prejudice from many white Britons. Small Island provides a unique perspective on this period of British history, and it sheds light on the challenges that immigrants faced.

Themes:

Identity:

Small Island explores the complex issue of identity. The characters in the novel are all struggling to find their place in a rapidly changing world. Hortense is trying to find her place in British society, while Gilbert is trying to find his place in civilian life after the war. Queenie is trying to find her place in a world that has changed dramatically since her husband's death.

Race:

Race is a major theme in Small Island. The novel explores the different ways that people experience race, and it examines the impact of racism on individuals and communities. Hortense and Gilbert both experience racism in their everyday lives, and Queenie eventually comes to see the ways that her own prejudice has shaped her life.

Immigration:

Small Island is a novel about immigration. The novel explores the challenges that immigrants face, and it provides a unique perspective on the role that immigrants have played in British society. The novel shows how immigrants have helped to shape British culture, and it challenges the idea that immigrants are a threat to British identity.

:

Small Island is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Small Island is an important novel that deserves to be widely read. It is a novel that will make you think about the world around you, and it will challenge your assumptions about race, identity, and immigration.

Study Guide for Andrea Levy's Small Island

by Course Hero

4 out of 5