known fact that the majority of people would prefer a sunny day rather than a gray, rainy day. It is

also a known fact that the image of light can have a great effect on someone’s life. In Jamaica

Kincaid’s Lucy, images of positive light and negative light are used to show how the perception of

a marriage causes Lucy to perceive her past and present in two different ways.

Before Mariah’s failed marriage with Lewis, the author uses negative light to portray

Lucy’s past. Whenever Lucy speaks of her mother and the place she came from references of light

are used in a negative way. This causes the reader to feel Lucy’s past is not something she likes to

remember. In the beginning of the novel Lucy says, “It was not the sort of bright sun-yellow

making everything curl at the edges, almost in fright, that I was used to . . .” (Kincaid 5). The

light from the sun seems so strong that it is damaging. When Lucy speaks of where she was born

and grew up she says, “It had only one season-sunny, drought ridden” (Kincaid 86). After she

says this, she talks about the effect this climate and strong light had on her life. “

present suitable life with Mariah’s happy family. In the beginning of the novel, Lucy speaks of

go home, and so I could not die yet” (Kincaid 141). Throughout the novel Lucy talks about how

only place that is hot is her home. She finally has admitted to herself that the only place she will

Some topics in this essay:
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