In the Castle of My Skin: Analysis of Major Characters
"In the Castle of My Skin" is a coming-of-age novel by George Lamming that captures the experiences of G., a young boy growing up in the fictional Creighton's Village in Barbados. The narrative unfolds over nine years, detailing G.'s journey from childhood to adolescence against the backdrop of significant historical and social changes in his community. G. is depicted as a sensitive and imaginative child, whose scholarship to high school sets him apart from his peers, offering a glimpse into his evolving consciousness and the dynamics within the village.
Key characters include G.'s mother, a hardworking single parent who balances affection with discipline, and Pa, a revered elder whose declining health reflects the village's struggles. Other prominent figures are Mr. Creighton, the landlord whose authority wanes, and Mr. Slime, the schoolteacher-turned-entrepreneur who ultimately gains control over the village's economy. G.'s friendships with Trumper, Boy Blue, and Bob highlight the challenges of racial identity and societal expectations as they navigate their youth. The narrative also incorporates significant villagers like the shoemaker, who engages in political discourse, and Mr. Foster, who plays a role during crises. Overall, the novel presents a rich tapestry of characters that reflect the complexities of life in Barbados, emphasizing themes of identity, community, and change.
In the Castle of My Skin: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: George Lamming
First published: 1953
Genre: Novel
Locale: Creighton's Village, Barbados
Plot: Bildungsroman
Time: The mid-1930's to the mid-1940's
G., a young Barbadian boy who is the narrator and protagonist. He is eight years old at the opening of the novel, which spans the subsequent nine years of his life. He tells the story of his childhood, which was spent in a small village (the fictitious Creighton's Village) in Barbados, where he attends the local school with his friends. Unlike his friends, he wins a scholarship to go to high school. After he has been graduated from high school, he goes to Trinidad to become a teacher in a small school for Venezuelan and other South American students. The novel ends on the eve of his departure to Trinidad. G. is a sensitive and imaginative child whose developing consciousness also records an important part of the history of Creighton's Village and Barbados.
G.'s mother, portrayed by G. as a person who is as capable of laughter as she is of wielding a whip to “roast his tail.” She is a capable woman who rears her son single-handedly and works hard to give him his education.
Pa, the father figure of the village. He is the repository of village history and is revered by all the villagers. He apparently earned some money in his youth in Panama, but in the novel he is quite poor. He sells his house after his wife's death and, at the end of the novel, is preparing to move into the Alms House, knowing well that he does not have much longer to live.
Ma, his wife. She is described as balding and wearing a white cloth on her head. She is an intuitive person who is filled with foreboding at the future of Creighton's Village. Significantly, she dies at the end of the riots.
Mr. Creighton, the landlord who owns the village. During the course of the novel, he loses his authority to Mr. Slime. Mr. Creighton figures prominently in the riot scene, when the striking workers from the city come into the village and prepare to attack him. He walks alone through the streets of the village, fully aware of the impending danger; he is saved by the opportune arrival of Mr. Slime, whose mere presence saves Mr. Creighton's life.
Mr. Slime, the village schoolteacher, an entrepreneur, and ultimately the person with the most power in the village. In the beginning, he teaches fifth grade in G.'s school, but he is forced to resign because of his liaison with the wife of the head teacher. He founds the Friendly Society and Penny Bank, which ultimately help him to take control of the economics of the village. He is simultaneously feared and revered by the villagers.
Trumper, one of G.'s childhood friends. He goes to America, discovers the music of Paul Robeson, and is brought to an awareness of his racial identity. He tries to impart this new-found sense of identity to G. when he returns to Barbados.
Boy Blue, another childhood friend of G. He participates in G.'s childhood adventures, along with Trumper and Bob. He eventually joins the police force in the village.
Bob, the fourth member of the quartet of children featured in the novel. He figures prominently in the riot scene when he accidentally strays into the city during the riot and returns to the village with eyewitness reports of the bloodshed in the city. He also grows up to be a policeman.
The shoemaker, a significant villager. His shop is the center for intellectual debates on politics. He has the unique distinction of having read a book, a novel by J. B. Priestley that he uses as his political gospel when trying to interpret important historical events such as World War II.
Mr. Foster, another important villager. He figures prominently in various important sections of the novel. He refuses to leave his house during the flood and is carried down to the river on its roof; he has to be fished out of the water by a rescue party. During the feared riots, he assumes charge of the situation in the village. At the end of the novel, he voices his protest against the takeover of the land by Mr. Slime.
The overseer, the middleman who negotiates between the landlord and the villagers. He is despised by the villagers for his assumption of authority and for rejecting his origins among the villagers. He later is promoted to supervisor of roads, and his pride at this event does not endear him any further to the villagers.