Small Island discussion

Hi everyone,

I have a question on this novel. One amazing thing of this novel is that it has four narrators. I believe the narrative point of view of two characters in Andrea Levy’s Small Island may result in different versions of the same event. And their particular perspective is influenced by their character and context (that is, their personal and political circumstances such as their race, class, and gender.). But after I read it, I can't find any significant event like this.

Do you have the same feeling? If not, could anyone give me some examples?

Thank you.

The events you speak on are nothing major. I guess its what you said, how they view the same environment through the lens of different social, economic, and political layers that existed at the time. If you want to do direct character comparisons take Bernard and Queenie. Queenie was open for change but at times still kept her guard up while Bernard shunned change and was not willing to let his guard down by no means. I guess in that sense Queenie symbolized a change in consciousness for some of the working class White people of London and Bernard reflected the views of pre war London and was very afraid of change.