Introduction As something we encounter on the daily, it is easy to overlook the importance birds hold in literary works. In Patrick Chamoiseau’s novel Texaco, the topic of birds gets brought up multiple times throughout the story, and it communicates something different with the readers each time. Birds in literature have served as symbolic references […]
Author: Texaco Wiki
Békés
Introduction Békés are the white population of Martinique who have been living there for generations (Bongie 225). As seen with Esternome’s early life stories, békés were originally plantation owners and owned masses of enslaved people. The békés’ forces were harsh, and they continued to push the power discrepancies, which allowed themselves to continue to grow […]
Sugarcane
Sugarcane is a species of tropical grass with a hard, thick stem that can reach several meters tall. Originating from eastern Asia, sugarcane was brought to the Caribbean by Christopher Columbus, and since then has grown exponentially, impacting the Caribbean culture and economy dramatically. Its rapid growth caused the introduction of slavery into the New World, […]
Schœlcher Library
The Schoelcher Library is a library in the city of Fort-de-France in Martinique, France that is named after abolitionist Victor Schoelcher. The library was opened in honor of Schoelcher because he donated a large portion of his personal library to Martinique. The collection consists of political documents, manuscripts, letters, and music compositions. This library is […]
Saint-Pierre
Introduction Saint-Pierre is a port city located on the island of Martinique in the West Indies. The city of Saint-Pierre was founded by French settlers in 1635 (“Saint-Pierre”). Its main export is sugar. As of 2004, the estimated population is 4,544. Saint-Pierre serves as an important port city on the island of Martinique. In the […]
Oiseau de Cham
Introduction One of the many traditions stemming from Africa is the art of oral storytelling. Mother to daughter, grandfather to grandson, aunt to nephew, friend to friend – from whomever it may be, and to whomever it may go, stories, histories, and traditions are passed down through words of passion. Patrick Chamoiseau, best known for […]
Mount Pelée
OVERVIEW Mount Pelée is a stratovolcano located on the French island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc of the Caribbean. In the past 250 years, there have been an estimated four eruptions. The most recent eruption of this active volcano was in 1932. The terrain of the volcano consists of solidified lava and […]
Mentoh
Introduction The Mentoh is a figure that is represented as an other-worldly being that has a vast knowledge of everything about the world. The Mentoh is often depicted in Patrick Chamoiseau’s Texaco as a guide for the enslaved peoples and formerly enslaved people to take over the city. The Mentoh represents power and freedom, as […]
Memory
Memory & Texaco’s Storytelling Texaco, written by Patrick Chamoiseau, is the story of Martinique native Marie-Sophie and her fight to establish a place where others like her can live peacefully in an often-brutal post-slavery world. Memory, by definition, is the faculty of the brain by which data and information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when […]
Martinique
Introduction The Caribbean island of Martinique is well-known for its popular resort spots and tourist destinations. However, this French-owned territory in the Caribbean Sea held strong roots in the beginnings of globalization. Martinique served as one of the world’s top sugar exporters during the 19th century due to the abundance of fertile land for plantations. […]
