Filip Švehelka

27.12. 2019

Culture differences

Martha,Martha by Zadie Smith

As Zadie Smith created a significant character called Martha she may have focused on the real
ills of immigration, inclusion and misinterpretation. Martha which is by the narrator and
throughout the story explained as a Nigerian is searching for accomodation which is supposed
to be provided by an estate agent Pam. Martha serves as a lost, mournful woman that is
desperate to find accomodation for her higher plan to become a lawyer. Pam, a divorced
English woman, is introducing her houses that are for rent. In the story a visible awkardness is
seen between those two women. Especially in case of Pam who is trying to act as she is equal
to her. That may point out that the elements of racism are disappearing in England. It can also
point out that the acting of Pam could be feigned only for bussines purposes. That woud on
the other hand show no improvement of the view on other races in England. The first
statement tends to be more compelling. However, throughout the story Pam is noticing many
features on Martha. For instance as she goes outside and her hair is full of snow falling from
the sky. „Martha´s hair was speckled white, like dusting on a chocolate cake .“ That is
represented by this simile refering to her black hair. In dialogues, Marthas language is also
noticable from the linguistic view. In a few sentences she used a word „man“ as an ending
even though she was speaking with Pam. This may indicate the influence of Jamaican English
(Jamaican Patois) which is slightly different and the usage of „man“ at the end of the sentence
is widely used and also pronounced differently.“This house feels sad, man.“ As the writers
mother comes from Jamaica, Zadie Smith may have included this slang into her work on
purpose. Also a few grammatical mistakes are shown while is Martha speaking and also lack
of vocabulary and lack of the ability of right expression. "I´m just arksing“, „‘I didn’t mean
that, I mean I meant I think I want to be nearer the university, nearer all of that, yeah? It’s
very alone up here, if you’re alone, isn’t it?“ A one slightly racist joke was uttered by Pam
which was not facetious for the other side.“ Please, feel absolutely at liberty.’“‘Oh, she will,’
said Pam rather tartly, but Amelia did not smile and Pam was mortified to see that she had
thought the comment cruel.“ At the end of the story Martha reveals her family relations which
may indicate that she went to England to start a new life for her and her family or close ones.
As from my point of view this is common for people from South Africa like Nigeria to come
and seek new oppoturnity to live a better life. On my Erasmus in Tallinn in the year 2019
many students came from Nigeria to study, bring their family. start a new life and never come
back to their home country which is not offering them so much opportunities as other
countries.