ISP post #4

For this post I have decided to use the archetypal literary criticism to analyze the Book of Negroes. Previously, I used the feminist criticism and have discovered that the archetypal criticism reveals a lot more about the plot and the characters than the feminist point of view does. Archetypal Literary Criticism focuses on reoccurring patterns in character traits and plots lines of stories in general. When analyzing The Book of Negroes from an archetypal point of view one can easily see the development of the hero’s journey within the text and also find common archetypal figures.

                The archetypal hero’s journey begins in their comfortable environment and at a point of their life where they have all their innocence. For Aminata, this was as a young girl in her home village in Bayo, Africa. As she begins her imprisoned journey to the shore she begins to gain experience and starts her “decent into danger”. Her month long walk is symbolism for the hard journey and the tasks she is going to face, or the steps in the coming hero’s quest.

                 As the quest goes on, the hero is supposed to mature and gain experience according to the archetypal criticism. Aminata developing into an experienced protagonist is symbolised by her new name given by Georgia upon her arrival on Applebee’s plantation. “Georgia made me repeat it, but the best she could do was to say ‘Meena.’”, Aminata was no longer known as her homeland name, and this symbolizes how she has grown as a character (130). Within the plot there are many small tasks which Aminata needs to overcome, but her main goal of returning home has yet to be achieved. “In this new land, I had a different name…A new name for the second life of a girl who survived” (130).  This quote represents how Aminata has overcome one of her challenges but she is still yet to complete her archetypal hero’s quest.

                As Aminata traveled across the world from Bayo Africa to Applebee’s plantation, Lindo’s home, her home in Canvastown New York, to Nova Scotia and then Sierra Leone Africa, Aminata has gained wisdom and developed into a true hero. She is close to reaching her goal of returning home which would also complete the hero’s journey.

                Not only does the plot follow closely to the archetypal hero’s quest, many of the characters follow archetypal pattern. Aminata is obviously the hero, but she has come across many foxes, wise old men and great mothers. In my opinion the main Trickster Fox is Master Applebee. He was her first master and showed little respect to Aminata as a person. He would beat her, sexually abuse her, and humiliate her consistently as she was his slave (129). He also stole and sold Mamadu, Aminata’s son while she was sleeping (184). He was heartless and cunning like the archetypal fox. Applebee also reappears later on in the story. When Meena was finally boarding the vessel that would be taking her to Nova Scotia, Applebee tried to claim her as his property once again (306). No matter how far Aminata traveled she could not escape his presence. That is what makes me feel that he is the main “Fox” of the story.

                As I read, I saw Daddy Moses as the wise old man. Even his name symbolizes wisdom and authority. Daddy Moses helps Aminata get settled in Nova Scotia and gives her advice and comfort all throughout her stay (316). Of all the people in Nova Scotia, Aminata found the most comfort with Daddy Moses. I feel that Aminata saw Daddy Moses as a father figure the same way she saw Georgia as a Mother figure in the beginning. Georgia was one of the archetypal “Great Mother’s” Aminata met along her journey. She nursed her back to health and taught her how to survive and take care of herself as a slave in the United States. Georgia made sure Chekura was a good man for Aminata, and she helped Aminata be the best mother she could be to Mamadu. Since Aminata was so young and vulnerable at the time, I believe Lawrence Hill wrote Georgia to be a mother figure Aminata on purpose.

                With that said, I do not believe Lawrence Hill wrote the Book of Negroes with an archetypal perspective. I feel that when you purposefully look for patterns and connections they are not hard to find in any well written and developed story. Lawrence Hill wrote a story of a slave’s life. There are going to be ups and downs, and there is going to be a goal that motivates the main character to survive and thrive. I feel this may get mistaken for a purposeful archetypal hero’s quest. I also believe that Lawrence wrote characters like Georgia and Daddy Moses to be helpful and caring, which Aminata and the reader are able to connect to, but not deliberately as the Wise Man and Great Mother as the criticism would imply. The archetypal literary theory could be applied to almost every story written.