The Narrator, G

The narrator remains with us throughout the novel. In one instance, in chapter two, the narrator is referred to as G. Other than this single instance, he is not named. This signifier is meant to stand in for George as this work is an autobiographical account of the author’s life in Barbados. The truncated signifier works because, in the narrative, the narrator’s identity is not fulfilled. At the end of the narrative, we see that Trumper gained an identity in America. The narrator has yet to achieve this goal. His movement to Trinidad may satisfy this need and provide him with a full name.

The narrative begins with the narrator turning nine and ends when he is seventeen. He is a boisterous youth who is often unwieldy and gives into his desires rather than planning for his future. Although he is intelligent, and is...