HW#24

Jamaica Kincaid, My Brother, FSG, 1997

    This book is a biography of my life in Antigua as well as my life in the states and how I was affected by the sudden death of my brother whom I did not know much of but shared an interesting connection with.

    The overall theme is illness and death and any other problems that come along with that. I look at my brother’s death through my own eyes as well as through his, the way I think he felt about his illness. I also discuss our family and how they dealt with his death and how our geographical location could have influenced his health.

1.)    “...And the way she distanced herself from him caused him great pain...”(pg 163)

-         Whether or not the people you know distance themselves from you or try to make themselves closer, their motives are obvious because both mean the worst is in store.

2.)”... And he knew that they knew of his situation, and so their scorn (they did not hide it) must have been especially painful...”

- Some people do not go the extra mile to make the person who is sick feel comfortable which in some cases is the right thing to do instead of acting rude.

Knowing that at some point in my life I will be close to dying, I hope that people will not look at me with pity or hate the same way people look at Jamaica’s brother because that is truly a terrible way to die, knowing that people hate you. Dying alone with no one by your side, in my perspective is the same as not having anyone that really cares for you your entire life. If people truly care about you, how can they not be by your side when you die to console and make you feel better?