A BRIGHTER SUN

By Samuel Selvon
 What type of novel is “A Brighter Sun?”

• This novel is known as a Bildungsroman. This means this novel is a “coming-of-age”

novel which highlights the psychological and moral growth of its main character from
his /her youth to adulthood and who looks for answers to his/her questions through
different experiences.

• The novel, which is set in World War 2 –era Trinidad was written by Samuel Selvon
and was first published in 1952. It describes the growth of the main character Tiger
from youth to adulthood.
 CHAPTER ONE
• In this chapter we meet the main character Tiger, a 16 year old Indian boy who is
caught up in an arranged marriage to 16 year old Urmilla. As Indians, of the
Hindu faith arranged marriages are quite normal as part of their tradition or
custom
• For his wedding, he receives a cow, a mud hut in Barataria and $200. The
wedding is a big event with Negro and Indian people alike being present, because
Indian weddings are always big and have lots of food, drinks and ceremonial
practices.
 CHAPTER ONE cont’d
• There is very little communication between Tiger and Urmilla when they leave their
homes in Chaguanas to move down to Barataria and the first time Urmilla speaks
to her husband is when she asks him to move the masala stone for her because it is
too heavy. The masala stone is used to grind curry.
• In an attempt to prove himself a man , Tiger orders his wife to get him cigarettes
after they eat. He does this because he feels that smoking makes him a man even
though he has never smoked before. He has only seen his father smoke. However,
when he inhales the smoke, he chokes and his eyes water. After a tense moment,
they both erupt into laughter and this serves as the ice-breaker between them.
 Chapter One contd
• Tiger further aims to prove his manhood by renting land to do his farming.
He also tries to assert himself as a man by stopping by the rum bar on his
return trip to drink with the other Indian men in the bar.
• Tiger and Urmilla eventually consummate their marriage at the end of this
chapter. Consummating the marriage means that sexual intercourse takes
place. It is a belief that if sexual intercourse does not occur between the
married couple then the marriage is not honored.
CHAPTER TWO
A Brighter Sun
 CHAPTER 2
• Because of the war there are changes in the economy and social life. The
Americans are in Trinidad setting up their bases. Many locals leave their jobs
and other interests and turn to the construction of the bases to earn money.
Neighboring natives from Grenada, St. Vincent and Barbados also come to
Trinidad to make their fortune working on the bases.
• In this chapter we meet major characters in the form of Joe Martin and his
wife Rita, who are both Creole. Joe is originally George Street in Port of
Spain but marries Rita and goes to live in Barataria.
 CHAPTER 2 contd
• In a flashback we see that Joe grows up in an abusive household with his mother’s
aunt who takes him from birth since his mother who is a prostitute wanted to abort
the pregnancy but her aunt persuades her not to. They also do not know his father.
Joe does not know his mother either. Joe grows tired of Ma Lambie’s abuse one
day and retaliates. Afterwards, she becomes fearful of him and he grows into a
hardened young man. He quits school and seeks a job. Ma Lambie is describes as
being big and unattractive.
• Joe gets a job preparing the land for the buildings that the Americans are erecting .
Whatever money he earns he gives to Rita who lives next door to save for him. Rita
works for a rich white family in a good residential neighbourhood.
 CHAPTER 2 contd
• Rita and Joe never really court, they just decide that once they have enough
money they would move away from the barrackyard.
• Rita and Joe eventually move to Barataria where they become neighbours to
Tiger and Urmilla.
• In Barataria Joe and Rita live in a concrete house with amenities such as an
electric stove and a septic tank that Tiger and Urmilla do not have. They
become the guardians of Henry who is Rita’s nephew.
 CHAPTER 2 contd
• Henry grows to call Rita and Joe Ma and Pa. This is fitting since Rita is unable to
have children of her own. Henry observes Joe’s growing abusive nature towards
Rita.
• Urmilla finds out that she is pregnant and both she and Tiger are happy.
• Tiger continues to assert himself as man since he now farms the land, stops by Tall
Boy’s shop to drink rum, he opens a bill at the shop so that Urmilla can credit
goods, and we see him making financial decisions with Urmilla.
• Rita and Urmilla become close friends. Urmilla asserts herself as a woman and a
wife by selling the cow’s milk to earn extra money.
CHAPTER 3
 CHAPTER 3
• Urmilla grows heavier and more advanced in her pregnancy. Rita expresses
her displeasure with her sleeping on the floor and offers to lend her their bed
to have the baby. Joe becomes extremely upset and insults Tiger and Urmilla
when he expresses his anger.
• Tiger is fearful of returning the bed out of shame that the baby arrives and
Urmilla delivers on the floor. Urmilla is fascinated by the new feeling of
being in an actual bed.
 CHAPTER 3 contd
• Tiger is anxious to get a son instead of a daughter because it is often believed that you are not a
man if you get a daughter instead of a son.
• Urmilla goes into labour and Rita attends to her. Joe keeps Tiger calm by engaging him in
conversation and drinking rum.
• Urmilla gives birth to a daughter but at first Tiger is not thrilled. However, his displeasure changes
to gratitude when he finds himself reflecting on his life and growth. He gets an epiphany (a sudden
insight into reality or essential meaning of something)into his life overall, his wife and daughter
whom he names Chandra based off the advice of the pundit (similar to holy man/priest). He is now
happy that he has a wife and child and he seems content.
• Tiger and Urmilla’s families come to visit them in Barataria to celebrate the birth of the baby and to
see the baby.
 CHAPTER 3 contd
• The families are introduced to Joe and Rita.
• Racial tension between Joe’s disdain for “coolie” people and Tiger’s father refers to
Joe as Tiger’s “nigger” friend is highlighted. Joe often comments on the habits of
‘coolie’ people and he is and Tiger and Urmilla’s families urge them to find Indian
friends like themselves and keep their creole friends at a distance.
• The chapter ends with both Urmilla and Tiger re-assessing their
relationship/friendship with Joe and Rita and their own growth as man and
woman.
CHAPTER 4
 CHAPTER 4
• We are taken to San Fernando where there is a predominant settlement of
Chinese. Chinese trickled into Trinidad towards the end of the 19th century.
Since then they have become a staple in Trinidad.
• They are mostly owners of shops and laundry businesses. They flourished
since they bring in family members into the businesses and then extend such
businesses. The culture there is to refer to everyone from a specific ethnicity
as the same names. E.g. All Chinese are called Chin, all Indians are either
Ram or Singh.
 CHAPTER 4 contd
• We get a better look at Tall Boy, who is Chinese and once an assistant in Port of
Spain before he moves to Barataria with his wife Mary and their four young
children.
• Tall Boy is the serious entrepreneur and the family man.
• Although they are Chinese they get along with the Trinidadians very well. Tall Boy
runs his shop professionally.
• Racial tension is highlighted among the children who attend the little kindergarten
school in the neighborhood. Tall Boy’s children attend, Henry attends and other
children attend. They often sing jingles to mock each others’ ethnicity.
 CHAPTER 4 contd
• An older Chinese by the name of Otto also owns a business across the road
from Tall Boy. He sells shaved ice, breads, cakes, sweets and so on.
However, his business doesn’t boom because he isn’t as disciplined as Tall
Boy. He instead is an opium addict and often visits Port of Spain to feed his
habit. He is too lazy to shave the ice so he hires a young man to work in the
shop.
• Otto eventually sells the business to Tall Boy and buys shares in a Chinese
restaurant in the city.
 CHAPTER 4 contd
• Tall Boy’s business is broken into one night but the police officers are unable
to find out who the culprits are.
• Tall Boy turns the shop into rooms and rent them out. Joe Martin gets the
place for a friend from Laventille. Tall Boy no longer cares who lives in the
rooms as long as he gets the entire 6 months rent. Tall Boy moves his goods
into one shop.
• The chapter ends with Tall Boy sorting out and figuring out his expenses,
needs and wants.
 POINTS TO FOCUS ON

The characters - Tiger, Urmilla, Joe, Rita, Tall Boy, Mary, Henry and Otto
The setting- Barataria, George Street in Port of Spain, San Fernando
The plot- chain of events from Tiger and Urmilla’s wedding to Tall Boy moving his
business into one structure after he is robbed.
Conflict- Tiger and his own thoughts, Joe and his aunt, Joe and Rita
Themes: racial tension, quest for manhood
Techniques: flashback ( used to allow the readers to learn about Joe’s childhood), use
of the Trinidadian dialect, imagery, literary devices (simile, alliteration etc)