Omeros Through a Postcolonial Lens
Omeros is an epic poem by Derek Walcott chronicling the trials of various residents of the island St. Lucia, as well as the island’s own changes and difficulties. When choosing a lens from which to view Omeros, many options present themselves. Seeing as the author Derek Walcott is actually from St. Lucia, a biographical approach might seem like a reasonable lens to use. The epic also compares itself heavily to that of Homer’s The Odyssey. That, coupled with the use of spirits and visions throughout the narrative, makes a strong argument for the mythological lens to be employed. Although the epic presents and balances many themes, the theme of change is what sticks out the strongest.. This change is reflected throughout the interwoven tales of the epic, but is most prevalent when the poem chronicles the history of St. Lucia itself; thus presenting the postcolonial view as a very strong lens to view the epic.
Omeros weaves and balances multiple tales revolving around the inhabitants of St. Lucia and their issues, often in a disjointed or fragmented progression. One stoy involves the two fisherman Hector and Achille and their conflict over the beautiful Helen. Helen begins the poem interested Achille, but after some time and even a duel between Achille and Hector, Helen chooses the later. Hector forgoes the fisherman’s life; trading canoe for taxi in light of the changing culture of the island. Helen’s choice thoroughly ruins Achille, and he tries different schemes to get her back. Whilst searching for fabled treasures off the coast of St. Lucia, Achille suffers some kind of stroke, inducing a vision of his African ancestors. In this vision, Achille travels to his family’s ancestral village in Africa, meeting various members of his family as well as learning the tribe’s traditions and rituals. The tribe is eventually captured and taken aboard a ship set for the new world. Achille learns that they would would be taken as slaves and experiences their thoughts and prayers as they lose their culture in the new world. Achille then wakes and returns to St. Lucia, where many thought him lost at sea. Soon after, Hector dies in a car crash, and it is revealed that Helen is pregnant. Achille and Helen reconcile, and Achille turns his attention to the changing culture of the island. Another tale follows Philoctete, a fellow fisherman who injures himself early on. The injury has a great effect on Philoctete, as he searches for a way to deal with his ailment, both physically and mentally. Ma Kilman, the owner of the local bar, eventually reconnects with her African roots and discovers a way to cure Philoctete’s injury. The third story follows Major Plunkett and his wife Maude. Plunkett, a retired World War II Major, came to St. Lucia as a way to escape the enduring effects the war had on him, and to hopefully give some peace to Maude, who was dying of cancer. Plunkett decides to spend his time researching and chronically the history of St. Lucia. In his research of the British and French conflicts over St. Lucia and the surrounding islands, Plunkett discovers that he had an ancestor that was killed in one of the battles. Plunkett also uncovers similarities between Helen of Troy and the Helen from St. Lucia, whom had once been the Plunkett’s maid. Maud eventually succumbs to her sickness and dies. Major Plunkett is able to get over her passing with the help of Ma Kilman, and this helps to heal Plunkett’s lingered guilts and worries. The final story follows the narrator of the poem, a reflection of Walcott himself as he journeys to journies and writes his own poem. The narrator finds in inspiration in various places in his travels; the struggles of the people of St. Lucia, the footprint that Imperialism had left on various cities in Europe, and the parallels between the suffering of both Native Americans and his the indigenous people of St. Lucia. The narrator also uses his past as inspiration, visiting ghosts of important people from his life. Through his musings, he remembers that the Greek word for Homer is Omeros. The narrator experiences a vision of Hell, and with Omeros/Homer’s help is able to escape it, allowing the narrator to find peace of mind and finished his epic.
[unfinished, will be updated with the final draft]
