It is day 17 of isolation, I’ve got to say that as more time passes on I am becoming less hopeful. I hope you all are doing well and staying both healthy and safe! I decided to put myself on a self-isolation schedule, or at least wake up at 9:30 every day, the noon thing just doesn’t seem to be working anymore. I say this as I write this post at 3:30, my whole life is essentially a contradiction at this point.
Being home seems to increase my workload greatly, and I have no sense of a “normal” schedule anymore. This being the reason why I have no time to read for pleasure (ironic isn’t it?).
I read The Women of Colour: A tale for one of my classes, and it was really good. I think British literature gets a bad rap, it’s pretty interesting. I moreso enjoy the pieces that revolve around race, class, gender, etc. The Women of Colour: A tale gave me Jane Austen and Wide Sargasso Sea vibes.
This book was about the daughter (Olivia) of a black slave and a white plantation owner. In an attempt to protect Olivia, the slave owner sent her to England with a load sum of money to marry her cousin. She was forced to leave her home and everything she knew because her father thought this would protect her. Olivia really did not want to leave Jamaica, but, unfortunately, she had no choice.
Dido, Olivia’s servant, was an intriguing character. She reminded me of Bertha (from Jane Austen) and I was really interested in the way the author characterized her. One of my peers mentioned that Dido acted on emotion and voiced her own opinions which are character traits we don’t tend to see in black servants during this time. I also think the relationship between Dido and Oliva was based on loyalty and friendship, though I believe this was complicated by the sense of hierarchy.
This book challenged the perception most have about women of color during this time. Oliva was the epitome of a morally conscious person. She judged people based on their characteristics and persona rather than their appearance. Olivia was presented as being someone who was intelligent, kind, religious, and independent. I admired the way she carried herself, especially with those who hurt her. She had to deal with her uncle’s wife who would constantly other and insult her at any chance she got. Olivia fought for her own beliefs and would stick to her gut.
I enjoyed reading this, it definitely challenges one's perception of what we assume the 18th century to be. Sorry, I realize this may not be my most interesting post, but I recommend attempting it before you bash it!
On a completely irrelevant note, I highly recommend Harlots. It is a great show to binge and avoids all responsibilities. It is about 18th-century British prostitution. And it is much more compelling than love island.
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