I Get on the Bus: Analysis of Major Characters
"I Get on the Bus: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complexities of identity and cultural dislocation through the lens of its primary characters, particularly focusing on Evan Norris, an African American who faces profound challenges after leaving the U.S. to teach in Senegal with the Peace Corps. Evan's narrative reveals his struggles with alienation and identity, both personally and culturally, as he grapples with his experiences in a foreign land. His girlfriend, Wanda Wright, serves as a crucial touchstone for Evan, highlighting the communication barriers that exacerbate his sense of isolation.
Another key character is Aminata Gueye, Evan's Senegalese girlfriend, whose role as a trickster adds layers of psychological conflict to Evan's journey. She embodies the dual influences of support and confusion, complicating his understanding of himself within the new cultural context. Additionally, Mamadou Ford, a native of Oakland living in Senegal, provides insights into navigating cultural shock, encouraging Evan to embrace the Senegalese perspective. Lastly, Lamont Samb, Aminata’s fiancée, represents the culmination of Evan’s struggles, embodying both menace and enigma. Together, these characters enrich the exploration of themes surrounding identity, communication, and the often tumultuous interplay of cultures.
I Get on the Bus: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Reginald McKnight
First published: 1990
Genre: Novel
Locale: Senegal
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: The 1980's
Evan Norris, the protagonist and narrator, an alienated African American who has left the United States for two years to teach in Senegal for the Peace Corps. His experiences there generate mental and physical suffering and raise fundamental questions about the nature and viability of his personal and cultural identity.
Wanda Wright, Evan's girlfriend in the United States, with whom he persistently fails to communicate, both during their life together and more literally when he is in Senegal. She is an important point of reference for Evan. Through her, the reader perceives that his troubles are not merely the result of being geographically dislocated.
Aminata Gueye (ah-mee-NAH-tah geh-yay), a student, Evan's Senegalese girlfriend. She is the daughter of a marabout, a Muslim holy man familiar with the occult who gives rise to the various forms of psychological and cultural duress that Evan is forced to undergo. She is a trickster figure, ostensibly attempting to do Evan good but undermining his sense of who he is and what he is doing.
Africa Mamadou Ford, a native of Oakland, California, currently residing in Senegal. His experiences of the country and its culture are models of what Evan has to go through. He tries to help Evan counteract what he perceives to be the effects of culture shock, advising Evan to respond to Senegal in its own terms rather than from an American perspective.
Lamont Samb, Aminata's Senegalese fiancée, a former teacher of French in Wales. Allegedly well versed in phenomena that have caused and that will redress Evan's condition, he is the most menacing and most elusive figure Evan encounters. He provides the culmination of Evan's experiences.