COURSE CODE: LIT 313

COURSE TITLE: CARIBBEAN DRAMA

COURSE LECTURER: MR. EVANS NYONGESA

TASK: CAT 1

DATE:18/11/2022

GROUP MEMBERS

NAMES ADMIN NO.

OTIENO BONFACE OCHIENG SESS/EDA03/304/20

GLORIA CHESETO SESS/EDA03/341/20

BRAMWEL SHITIKHA SESS/EDA03/075/20

MAUREEN CHEPKEMEI SESS/EDA03/316/20

MERCY JEPKORIR. SESS/EDA03/041/20

NAOMI SHEDDY SESS/EDA03/411/20

Task: Using Dream on monkey mountain, expound on the relationship between form and content.
Form is the style or vehicle or a structure in which an author uses to present is literary work. It is a visual
organization of the art of work- how the artist uses lines shapes, values and colors to present the work
while content is everything the author includes in their book like plot, characters, setting and themes.

In Dream On Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott, the playwright has bestowed us a close relationship
between content and form in various ways. This relationship tends to explain how form and content
can't disunite from each other. Content cannot do without a form and form cannot do without content.

To begin with, Derek Walcott uses Symbolism to depict the theme of racism. Some names of characters
like Makak's name was representing monkeys and Tigre was representing Tiger and the prisoner in the
play called Souris was represented as a rat. All this was about the skin colours of human beings and
thereby it depicts giving animal names to humans. Corporal Lestrade is a mulatto of a mixed race but he
introduced himself as a white and calls inmate animal names. This clearly shows how symbolism has
been used to bring the theme of racism in the play.

Secondl, through direct address we get the theme of identity crisis. Everyone is seeking for their identity
or running from their identity. At the start of the play, Corporal Lestrade asks Makak about his name
and race but Makak replied that he is tired. This clearly shows how identify, particularly skin color and
Nationality was so important than the life of people. They were much interested to know where one
comes for the purpose of identity recognition.

Next, through vivid description we get the theme of death and disillusionment. Though initiatially
Makak believes that he has failed to heal Josephus, Josephus begins to sweat and lives.The first time he
is caught impersonating the new famous healer Makak in the market and he's killed by anger.

Through dialogue we get the theme of conflict. When Corporal asks Makak about his race and name,
Makak just says that he is tired.This means that Makak is so much annoyed about this question.

From "Ti Jean and his Brothers" by Derreck Walcott, through play within a play we get the theme of
colonialism and racism.When the Bolom the horrifying ghost of an aborted fetus who is a servant of the
Devil appears outside of his family’s home to announce that the Devil has a challenge for the three boys,
Ti-Jean is the only member of the family with enough courage to go outside and meet the Bolom. Ti-
Jean demonstrates great courage again when he goes to meet the Devil for the challenge, which his two
older brothers have failed at. The conditions of the challenge are that whoever makes the Devil angry
will win property and riches, but if the Devil is able to provoke anger in one of the boys, he will eat that
boy alive.

From "Ti Jean and his Brothers"by Derreck Walcott, through Symbolism we get the theme of colonialism
and each brother represents a phase of opposition towards colonial rule.Gros-Jean represents strength
against the opposition, but the devil represents colonial oppressor.Mi-Jean represents intelligence
against the opposition,Ti-Jean represents belief in God, common sense, and taking advice from other
people, like his animal friends.The Devil and the many masks he wears represent colonial
oppression.Bolom represents the community that wouldn’t be born, and when he is born, it represents
the community that can come to be Morality faith in God is better than strength and intelligence, Ti-
Jean is compared to David.

In Ti Jean and his brothers by Derek Walcott Symbolism has been used to bring out the theme of
colonialism. Each brother represents a phase of opposition towards colonial rule .Gros Jean represents
strength against the opposition and the devil represents colonial oppressor. Mi jean represents
intelligence against the opposition. Ti jean represents believe in God,common sense and taking advice
from other people like his animal friends Frog,Bird and Cricket .The devil and the many masks he wears
represent colonial oppression, Bolom represents post colonial Carrebean society.The community that
wouldn't be born ,and when he is born,it represents a community that came to be moral.

Bibilical Allusion has been used to bring out the theme of The power of faith.David has been used to
represent Ti Jean and Goliath to represent the devil.Ti-Jean cleverly defeats the Devil by burning down
his plantation and refusing to complete the menial tasks the devil has assigned him.

Conclusively from the illustration given above, it is true that form and content are closely interleaded in
the manner that none of them can exist without the other one.