One of the key issues: Social Structure and Poverty
One of the key issues that the novel 'Here Comes the Sun' vividly brings out is that of the social structure of the island state of Jamaica. The book depicts a world in which life is particularly difficult for poor black women. Their life options are limited, and they are forced to engage in acts that would be considered immoral in many other societies. Child prostitution is one of these vices. Delores' actions plainly demonstrate this, as she has previously exposed her children to prostitution with her clients in exchange for money. In normal circumstances, a mother would do all she can to protect women from men intending to prey on her children for sexual favors.
The Broken Society and Moral Standards
Jamaica is portrayed as a broken society whereby poverty leads people to do the most immoral of business just to earn a living. Margot is also portrayed as a woman who believes that sexual immorality is the only option she has to get out of her poverty. She works as a receptionist at the front desk at Palm Star Resort. In the past, she has managed to gain favor with her bosses in exchange for sex (Nicole 17). Her mind is focused on escaping the poverty of her native fishing village. She is determined to become the manager of the new hotel that her employer opens. It is clearly stated that the new hotel would significantly destroy her neighborhood. She is tasked with recruiting young women into a prostitution ring. She does not question the morality of this kind of business, but she quickly agrees as she interested in earning more money. Her society is portrayed as one devoid of proper moral standards, where money getting money is the main aim, no matter the means used to acquire it. This is also evident when Delores tells her last-born daughter that money is everything. In an ideal situation, a mother should advise her children about other important things in life such as moral values and character.
The Prevalence of Homophobia
Another major theme that is evident in the story is that of homophobia. This refers to the negative attitude towards people believed to be sexually attracted to other people of the same gender. It is clear that the Jamaican society is intolerant of gays and lesbians. In the course of her work at the Beach Resort, Margot is determined to do anything to move up the ranks from a mere receptionist to a managerial position. She is even willing to blackmail some of her colleagues who she feels may stand in the way of her ambitions. At one point, she falsely accuses her colleague of homosexuality. By doing so, she knows that the colleague is likely to lose credibility or even lose her job. The irony, in this case, is that she secretly loves another woman and is in a gay relationship herself. However, she understands quite well that such sexual affiliations are regarded as taboo in her society, and she thus keeps it a highly guarded secret. The author clearly brings out the fact that same-sex relationships are unwanted in the poor River Bank community that Margot comes from. People suspected to be gays or lesbians are treated as outcasts and are subjected to all manner of cruel treatment. For instance, one may find at their doorstep the body of a dead dog with its throat cut open (Nicole 24). Such actions depict the high prevalence of homophobia in the Jamaican society.
Character Analysis: Margot
Margot easily passes as the main character in the novel 'Here Comes the Sun' due to her involvement in most parts of the plot and also due to her role in bringing out the major themes in the story. She can be described a very ambitious young woman whose main goal in life is to escape the cycle of poverty that she faced when she was growing up as a young girl in the poor neighborhood of River Bank. She detested the life she had as a child and is determined to live a better life when she is older.
Margot can also be described as a schemer as she seems to have her plans clearly laid out in her head. Her goal is to move up the ranks at her place of work and one day occupy a managerial place in the beach resort where she works. She has figured out that such a rank would enable her to earn a decent salary and afford the things she desires in life. She is determined to achieve her dreams no matter what she has to do. Her scheming ways are manifested when she blackmails her colleagues who appear to get in the way of her ambitions. She also plans to keep her bosses close to herself, doing anything to please them. She comes to work looking stunning every day so as to catch the eyes of the clients and the bosses. In the past, she has even had intimate sexual relationships with her bosses in an attempt to gain their favor and trust. This may seem naive, but in the end, it seems to work out for her. Her bosses take note if her ambitious character and plan to use her as an asset in recruiting several young women into prostitution. The proceeds of this business are to be used to build a new hotel. Margot sees this as an opportunity to finally become a manager.
Margot is motivated by her past to become successful in the future. She is disgusted by the poverty in her hometown of River Bank and does not want to live that life forever. She also knows what poor people in her neighborhood have to undergo to earn a living. Most black people are uneducated, and they survive on menial jobs such as fishermen and as casual laborers in the tourist hotels. She understands the plight of women and young girls in her home town; some have to engage in immorality and prostitution to make ends meet. Margot has been exposed to such means of survival as her mother used to 'sell' her to her clients to have sex in exchange for money. She does not want the same predicament for her younger sister, Thandi. Margot makes a sacrifice by using some of her income to educate her sister. She believes that with a proper education, Thandi can make something positive out of her life in the future. She understands that the current state of affairs in her society does not favor the poor black people. Even in this era of post-colonialism, they have to rely on the tourism industry to make ends meet (Cesaire 31). Margot believes that education can help empower the poor people; hence her decision to take Thandi to a private school away from her hometown.
Work cited
Césaire, Aimé. Discourse on colonialism. NYU Press, 2000.
Nicole, Dennis-Benn. Here comes the Sun. One World Publications, 2017.
