MILLICENT
Millicent
Author: Jean D' Costa
Type of work: Children's Novel
Theme : Friendship
Point of View: First Person Perspective
Setting: A rural community on an unnamed Caribbean island.
Racism
This occurs when Millicent introduces name calling, based on racial markers, to fourth standard. Examples of this are 'picky-head Congo Vena' and 'roti-Coolie Harry. Miss did not allow this to propagate, but stamped it out very quickly with her lecture about the mixed heritage of everyone in the class.
Summary: Fourth standard was an ordinary class in every way. There were students who were constantly late, there was fighting among the students for various reasons, and it had a 'bright spark' and a 'duncy head'. Therefore, fourth standard was a very ordinary class, but the arrival of Millicent changed everything. She broke up friendships,created racial division in the class and was rude to the teacher. The result was that fourth standard became a quarrelsome class and Millicent reigned supreme. The arrival of the end of term test saw Millicent announcing that she would place first in the class. The opposite occurred, however, Millicent came last instead. The students laughed at her and things went back to normal in fourth standard.
Characters :
Miss
- Described by her students as a 'nice' teacher who was also very strict
- Was thoroughly opposed to the dissension in her classroom
- Was a very wise and patient individual because she warned Millicent that 'pride goeth before a fall'
- A spoilt little girl
- She liked to be in control
- She liked to be the center of attention