Georgia and Them There United States by Velma Pollard
In Georgia and Them There United States by Velma Pollard we have the theme of discontent, connection, pride, shame and the American Dream. Narrated in the first person by a young Jamaican girl called June the reader realises after reading the story that Pollard may be exploring the theme of discontent. Aunt Teach appears to be discontent with life in her Jamaica. She has nothing good to say about it. A marked contrast from what she thinks of Brooklyn. June on the other hand is not really sold on the American Dream. She sees poverty and waste in Brooklyn. It is nothing like what Aunt Teach has told her. Georgia herself also seems to be impressed with Brooklyn and has acclimatized by beginning to wear a blonde wig, just like Aunt Teach. It is also interesting that at no stage in the story does June make any real connection in Brooklyn. It is a world that is alien to her and one that remains unexciting.
What is also interesting about the story is the attachment that June has to Jamaica. Though she is excited about America she till knows where her real home is. It is the simple things in life that she likes. How the sun shines, how the path to her home is almost vertical. Little things like that thrill June and later on in the story the reader discovers that Brooklyn has nothing on June’s homeland. Unlike Aunt Teach who has immersed herself fully in her new home. Any remnants of her past seem to be forgotten now that she lives in Brooklyn. This may be important as Pollard could be contrasting June and Aunt Teach. How Aunt Teach is impressed by the idea of freedom, yet she has changed herself completely and may possibly have forgotten her roots. Though it is true that Aunt Teach gets along with all her work mates there is a sense that she has forgotten her family (apart from Georgia). She wants them to come to America too and as such there is a sense that she wants them to adjust to Brooklyn and by doing so forget about their roots.
There may be some symbolism in the story which might be important. June is impressed with the American clothes she receives from Aunt Teach so there may still be a part of her that would like to go to America. If America was more like home. This is understandable as the American Dream is a global aspiration. Many people from many different countries believe in the American Dream. Most likely because it is sold so well. Though not by Aunt Teach who may live in worse conditions than June. The fact that June has shaved her hair may also be symbolically significant. She is showing who she is and where she is coming from. If anything she is proud of her roots. Whereas Aunt Teach and Georgia have completely changed how they look possibly out of embarrassment and a desire to blend in with white America.
The end of the story is interesting as the reader gets a true sense about how June feels. She asks her father not to tell anyone she went to America. This is important as it highlights the fact that June may feel ashamed about going to America. America is a very different world to the world June knows and it does not suit her personality or character. She is a home bird and happy to be one. She no longer has aspirations to live in America (if she ever had) and is old enough and wise enough to make up her mind. She knows that she can live a peaceful and happy life at home and does not need to go to America to find happiness. Which does not appear to really exist apart from in Aunt Teach’s head. America represents change for June. A change which may or may not be pleasant. There is no sense either that June will change her mind. During her stay in Brooklyn she has seen enough to know where her home really is.
Does June miss Jamaica and prove your answer with a piece of evidence from the story?
Does June prefer Georgia over Jamaica?
What change occurs in June after her visit to America?
I would say how the American dream is sold by people all over and how Aunt Teach / Leticia was making it look, was that USA is a place like heaven. June was impressed by the clothes she received that she wanted to check out USA for herself but upon reaching there and realizing that it cannot compare to the USA as in she started to miss Jamaica. The change in my opinion would be that she was ashamed and she didn’t want anybody to know that she went to America as it wasn’t what she thought as it wasn’t a bed of gold but hardship and struggles still occurred
Thanks for that Sean.
How would you be feeling if you were in the place of June?
Tkx quite helpful
Also what style is the story written in?
Does the story contain any kind of irony?
what is a quick summary or thoughts of this short story
What is the main conflict in this story?
Compare and contrast the caribbean and the united States as mentioned in the story
according to June how did Georgia change
Summarise june description of american clothes.
What was Georgia’s experience in the foreign country?
how did pollard reveal her background through the story ?
What was the narrator’s personality like?
What are the narrator June’s feelings for Jamaica?
What is aunt Leticia’s opinion to Jamaica?
What I the narrator impression for the bronx
Why were wigs mention so often?were they symbolic to the writer
What did the narrator think of the changes in her cousin Georgia?
what are some traits of the characters portrayed?
What is the story based on
What are the literary devices and can you give examples like where they are found in the story ?
whats the main idea of the story?
How does June either lack or has a strong sense of self and identity.
What point of view is used and from whose perspective is the story told?
How does this perspective impact the story
The fact that it is only June’s perspective we get suggests that the full story is not being told. We never really know how Georgia feels. Things seen are only through June’s eyes.
what are two qualities described about the main character
I’m not sure of the answer to your question.
what are two themese that exist in the story how are they explored in the story?
What are the conflicts in the story
Identify two major characters and describe EACH, supporting your description with evidence
Can you tell me one writing technique used in the story? if so how is it used?
Can you make a comment on the use of and impact of the setting in the story?
Why were wigs mentioned so often? Were they symbolic to the writer?
The narrator finds it difficult to accept that those characters in the story, that live in America, are denying their ethnicity.