This post is for everyone, but particularly for those who have no tutorial sessions today because of the Divali holiday.
Based on the contributions of two of your classmates in one of our tutorial discussions, I noted that what they were really saying is that Merle Collins' short story "The Walk" is an allegory. Lydia and Chenice made the sensible observation that the walk is about life (and they explained what they meant, of course). There are those of you who feel nothing really happens in the story, that it is anti-climactic, etc. We've said that a short story may seem deceptively simple. Consider, then, that this story has allegorical meaning.
What do you think? Of course you need to review what's an allegory!
I believe “The Walk” may be an allegory for faith.
ReplyDeleteIn “The Walk” faith is seen as a journey and on such journey faith goes through various stages such as being uplifting, tested, waivered, blind, and renewed. The reward of such journey is enlightenment which is represented through the motif of light.
There is a pun with the mother’s name, as in “Faith reaches up” (366) which shows faith can be uplifting. With the dropping of the apron and the loosening of knots alludes to idea that by having faith one’s burdens may be relieved. Queen’s actions are metaphors of faith for instance, young faith as seen in her simple but sincere prayers, renewed faith for she brings water for her tired mother, blind faith she does not need light to see in her dark bedroom and hope for she is able to see the light in the distance.
When the mother sits down on a stone, alludes to the idiom “rock bottom” meaning lowest point. The actions of Faith relaxing alludes to wavering faith and when she is fearful of her lamp’s light being out by the wind shows a life without faith is empty, dark and full of fear. On the journey Queen encounters a crossroad, a cock and says the word “t-h-r-ee, this may be a biblical allusion to Peter who denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed and a way for the author to show how faith can be weak. Queen’s faith was weak because of her fears, but her cousin Liza displayed faith through prayers and both girls were able to complete their journey.
I think that the story is an allegory of the journey that Mary, the mother of God, representative in Queen, had to take. Faith knew that she could depend on Queen to take this journey since she had been ‘a good child when she put her mind to it’ (366). Further evidence of her commitment to obey the instructions that Mother Faith gives is seen when we are told that she had scrubbed the kitchen floor and made bake, actions which all satisfy her mother. She was also hurry to refresh Faith with a drink of water. In the same manner, Biblical Mary was found faithful by God and was given a special duty as a result. Queen was commissioned to take this 'walk' for the sake of the 'Faith' of Christianity. The absence of light on this journey suggests that this would be one of the darkest times of her life.
ReplyDeleteShe was afraid of this journey and felt that it would be too long. Faith knew that she needed a special company and allowed Cousin Liza to walk with her. This is a direct link to the Biblical Elizabeth, Mary's cousin, who also became pregnant at the same time of her conception. The journey could then be an allegory of the suffering and fear these mothers endured for the sake of their Sons, Jesus and John his forerunner. The climax of the story in which the two journeyers becomes most fearful could represent the darkest hour of Christ’s life, which was his betrayal, indicated by the counting seconds, “One…two…t-h-r-e-e…” (370) which causes his ultimate death. Upon completion of their journey they reached their destination, “Paradise’ (371) which serves as a symbol for the literal Paradise that has been promised to humankind as a result of Christ’s death. The author is highlighting the sacrifice that this daughter of the Faith had to endure in order for humanity to be saved.
I see the Allegory in "The Walk" now that it has been explained by Shellz and Danielle. With regard to those who feel nothing really happens in the story I would like to respectfully disagree. "The Walk" to me is a beautiful depicition of a child's mind. I also feel it greatly speaks to reprocussions of colonialism. One is able to get a feel of the harsh economic times directly affecting the freed West Indian through the simple language which highlights the main concerns of Faith and Queen. The reason Queen has to take "The Walk" is because Faith"must pay the society". She worries about their finiancial state. Also Faith being so 'bone tired' as she comes home from working as a maid at the 'Great House' reminds us that alothough slavery had been abolished the blacks were still figurative slaves to the whites.
ReplyDeleteWest Indian folklore and simple tradition of storeytelling comes into play with the darkness of the walk and the mind-numbing fear Queen feels at "the thing" next to the gravestone. These stories of jumbies and la diablesses and socouyants were sometimes the sole entertainment for children and adults alike. The story easily tranlates the child's fear into reality.
"The Walk" takes the reader into the story and allows us to experience the real fears and stuggles of our history which we may consider unimportant or "uneventful" now. Please Take another read.
Upon my first reading, I was only to identify the struggles faced by the poor, especially those living in the rural areas. After re-reading with the insight of the story being an allegory, I was able to see 'The Walk' as a representation of life.
ReplyDeleteLife is a journey, with no concept of what the future holds. Whether near or distant, it is filled with moments of fear and uncertainity. The use of the imagery of light and darkness, highlights the fears represented by the darkness and the light being indicative of hope, which dispells fear.
It represents the typical ideology of a child, as children tend to be afraid of the dark, especially living in an era enveloped in folklore. Only at night, the jumbies seem to roam. As in moments of doubt, where we tend to feel as though we are drenched in darkness.
The walk is long and arduous, depicting the struggles associated with poverty, as there seem to be more obstacles along the way. Even in today's society, with poverty being so rampant, many are hoping for that perennial light to dispell the darkness they face. The journey from darkness into light and vice versa, is typical for humanity.
We cannot always enjoy happy days, as we cannot always be enveloped in uncertainity. The cycle of life is thus presented in this particular story.
Indeed , in my opinion the story can be considered an allegory as my peers have mentioned earlier, symbolic of the journey of life. However, it was just a thought that occurred to me on reading the story that there was some biblical implications . Queen and Faith reminded me of the submission that Jesus had to his heavenly father while on his journey on earth. What really hit the nail on the head for me was when reference was made to queen ," ...after two days time , being about her mother's business..." which similarly echoes Luke 2:49 Didn't you know I was about my father's business ? It may be over analyzed but it was just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI concur with what the others above me have said about the story being considered as an allegory. And I especially admire Cherish's reference.
ReplyDeleteFor me, along with the above, "The Walk" was representative of an individual's journey through life, with all the various experiences that come along the way. There was also the notion of, although there might be things that we rather not do, such as having to make a long journey on foot, we are not faced with more than we can bear. Additionally, when going through difficult situations, friends, family or someone unexpected might be there to aid us and ease the journey.
I saw "The Walk" as meaning a path of darkness would eventually lead to the light. I saw it in reference to the journey after death. The journey itself is the path of judgment before one is accepted into heaven......The horrifying things that you have to encounter along the way are those sins which you have committed and which you also don't like to be reminded of....
ReplyDelete