Anancy's Score: Analysis of Major Characters
"Anancy's Score: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complex world of Anancy, a trickster figure deeply rooted in African-Caribbean folklore. Anancy, often depicted as a "spider individual person," embodies themes of creativity and destruction, showcasing a dual nature that can be both childlike and self-absorbed. His character is multifaceted, oscillating between being a source of annoyance and a figure of salvation for Caribbean communities. The narrative also explores the dynamic between Anancy and his wife, who is portrayed as equally clever and influential, suggesting a shared cunning that complicates their relationship.
Supporting characters like Brother Tiger, a sage who provides wisdom, and Brother Dog, a cynical critic, add depth to Anancy's journey. Brother Snake, in contrast to traditional serpent imagery, emerges as a positive force, granting Anancy and his wife transformative powers. Other characters, such as Brother Tacuma and Sister Mysore Cow, further enrich the narrative, presenting rationality and patience, respectively. Together, these characters create a vibrant tapestry that reflects a rich cultural heritage, blending humor with moral lessons while inviting diverse interpretations of their roles within the stories.
Anancy's Score: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Andrew Salkey
First published: 1973
Genre: Short fiction
Locale: West Africa and the Caribbean
Plot: Fable
Time: Creation to the Vietnam War era
Anancy, a “spider individual person” who respects no one, human or beast. Much like his African-Caribbean counterpart, Anancy is a trickster figure, one who transcends natural and cultural boundaries. As a trickster, Anancy symbolizes primal creativity and a pathological bent toward destruction. He is both childlike and ruthlessly self-absorbed. Anancy is a marked creature in both worlds, viewed often as a pest but in the later stories almost as a savior for the Caribbean peoples. He can be a womanizer and a con artist while exhibiting an almost innate nobility. Anancy, a changeling, at one point calls himself “Peacefulness.” As Peacefulness, Anancy becomes a romancer of women, much to the despair of the villagers. Other forms Anancy uses are Hope, Peace Meal, Atomic Horse, Vietnam Anancy, Spider Preacher, and Sweet Love-Powder Merchant. At the end, he undergoes a remarkable transformation into New Man Anancy, a potential leader in the land of the C. World.
Anancy's wife, an astute female creature, more than a match in wits for her trickster mate. Anancy's wife is often characterized by her overwhelming sexuality and good sense. In the Creation, Anancy and his wife become one spider individual person. In this capacity, Anancy's cunning ways are attributed to the ways of his wife, who is locked within his arachnid body. In other stories, it is not clear whether Anancy and his wife are one creature or two.
Brother Tiger, the philosopher/sage in Anancy's world. Anancy consults with Brother Tiger, depending on the tiger's wisdom to untangle dilemmas.
Brother Dog, the critic person, somewhat surly and cynical. In the Beginning, Brother Dog is described as a warmonger, goading others to wreak havoc. Sometimes he is called Ge Bon.
Brother Snake, a serpent. As in the Judeo-Christian Creation story, the snake offers the woman (in this case, Anancy's wife) a delicious fruit and bids her to eat it, which she does. Unlike the Garden of Eve serpent, Brother Snake is a positive figure, the harbinger of change. When Anancy and his wife become fearful of the animals, they flee the forest. During their flight, they stop to appeal to Brother Snake for assistance. Brother Snake consequently becomes their savior, transforming them into a singular spider that shares Brother Snake's power of change and magic.
Brother Tacuma, Anancy's sometime traveling companion outside the village. Also a spider individual, Brother Tacuma exerts a calming, rational influence over the impetuous Anancy.
Brother Oversea, the self-identified narrator in the short story “Anancy, the Spider Preacher.” This is the only story in the collection in which the narrator is identified.
Sister Mysore Cow, Anancy's friend, who reserves judgment until she can survey the whole picture. Anancy tends to misread Sister Mysore Cow's cautiousness as a lack of faith in him and the new world order.