HIGH TIMES IN JAMAICA

by Richard Jacobs

Introduction

A short story written in the style of a journal of the journeys undertook by

the narrator, Richard, unable to bring out the excitement in reading and enjoying

the story. There are no proper plots makes the story to be out of directions, and

as a reader, I find it to be plain and boring. Not much could be learned from the

story as it mainly tells the reader about what the narrator went through for about

5 weeks in Jamaica. Before reading the story, I was intrigued by the word ‘High’

in the title of the story. In many short stories I have read, usually the title would

suggest what the story is all about. As the word ‘high’ has many meanings and it

depends on context to define the word, I assumed that the story would touch on

the rising time of Jamaica in terms of its economy. When I started to read it and

was introduced to the writing style, characters and settings, my assumption has

totally changed.

The author managed to define the title of the story, the story itself as it

mainly deals with the ‘high times’ or ‘fun times’ of the narrator within the duration

of his stay in Jamaica. Despite the plainness of the story, the author also

managed to help the readers to picture the scenes and settings through simple

but imaginable descriptions. It was clear from the very beginning that the story

revolves around the port city of Kingston, Jamaica. I could imagine how the city

looks like and how the surrounding feels even though I have never been to the

place. However, having no plots and no conclusion left the reader with nothing

but just a full stop. For me, a good short story should end with something for the

readers to think and ponder.

Travelers and Traveling

One of the main themes for the story is traveling. It talks about the journey

of the narrators and a few characters in the story. It was a clear cut description of

the journeys they had within that short duration of their stay in Kingston, Jamaica.

What strikes me most about the story to have no conclusion can be looked into a

different perspective all together. Perhaps, the author wants us to relate the story

to the reality. In reality, we are travelers, living in a never-ending journey just like

the story with no ending. As long as we are living our lives, the journey would be

going on and we cannot predict of what will happen in the future. Richard, the

narrator, decided to stop his journey with the rest of Arnetta crews and rest in

Kingston for awhile with another character in the story, Scotty. Linking this to our

lives, there will be a time when we would get tired of what we are doing and

decide to try a new direction just like the aforementioned characters. Towards the

end of the story, we know that Richard decided to take a new direction to Cardiff

on a German ship. Although the future of the new directions we take sometimes

unclear and cannot be predicted, but we can always mould it to become another

interesting chapter of our journey in life.

People and Friendship

Another interesting theme the author tries to discuss in the story is friendship.

Being a traveler, he came across many different characters which end up being

his friends. However, the level of friendships he had with other characters differs,

ranging from just acquaintances to intimate friends. In the story, Richard and

Scotty were shipmates who decided to leave Arnetta and rest in Kingston while

deciding on which ships to board next. The previous journey they had has made

their friendship to grow that strong. From shipmates on Arnetta to roommates at

Aggie’s place has made their friendship to grow stronger than before. They

shared and did a lot of things together during their stay in Kingston. Scotty is an

example of a character in which the narrator would call a best friend as he was

feeling sad when Scotty left to board another ship (page 15). Within his stay,

Richard met a few intimates friend like Marjorie and Spark Faye. Marjorie, a very

dark-skinned Negro but pretty enough has taken a liking to the narrator (page 3).

He also met Spark Faye (page 10), a 22 years old Jamaican lady who could not

forget his act at the Colony Club.

Other characters such as Mr. McMillan (page 9), Jack Anderson (page 5)

are two examples of friends he accidentally met who brought him opportunity to

get some cash to survive there in Kingston. The examples above try to explain

the many different levels of friendships the narrator had in Jamaica. Being

Aggie’s guest, an influential and well-known Negro lady (page 4) has made

Richard and Scotty to have many friends as Aggie’s friends were their friends

too. This can be a perfect example of a friendship with benefits. It is interesting to

see how the author managed to give colours to the characters by differentiating

the level of friendship they had with the narrator. I believe that the author has

succeeded in making the story to be more interesting by having different and

colourful characters.

Struggles and Hardship

The struggles and hardships of the local people there in Kingston, Jamaica, also

has been beautifully captured by the author. Although, limited information was

given to the reader about the history of the place, but the emphasis of their

hardships and struggles can be found throughout the story.

“There is little work to be had. Most of the boys make a living by begging,

guiding tourists around, or selling souvenirs”. (page 3)

“You can hardly move without someone asking for a shilling or something

to eat.” (page 3)

“… Many Jamaican people were out of work and had no money to buy

food” (page 4)

“ … All of these acrobatics get us a lot of free beer. But no one throws

money!” (page 5)

“… they hold you and take your wallet or grab your watch off your wrist as

they go by” (page 6)

The above extracts are the examples of descriptions the author put in the

story to inform the readers about how the local people had to struggles and put

up in hardships. They would do almost anything to get money to survive. If they

could not do it legally, they would do crime just to survive.

“… they hold you and take your wallet or grab your watch off your wrist as

they go by” (page 6)

“… I have learned these five weeks that one should not walk the streets

alone late at night..” (page 13)

Not being able to fulfill their basic needs is enough to show the readers how bad

they live their lives.

“Seeing that so many people don’t have a place to live or sleep…” (page

3)

Tracking back the history, Jamaica is still colonised by British. However, there

were a lot of movements to gain their independence during the time of the story.

During these movements, the economic and politics were unstable. Many

factories were closed down, hence many Jamaican lost their jobs and means to

get money to secure their lives.

“Many years ago, there was a strike on the island against the labour

situation and the wages. Many English factories had closed down, many

Jamaican people were out of work and had no money to buy food.” (page 4)

The aforementioned strike in the extract refers to the 1938 Sugar Riots.

The riots were meant to get attention from the authority on improving their

standard of living, working conditions and their rights as local people. There were

many major and minor uprisings in the island recorded, but this Sugar Riots has

managed to gain people’s political consciousness. During this time, many

political parties were formed and established in order to unite the people for

independence. However, before they could have their independence, they had to

live in hardships and struggle. Political instability had caused the economy to go

down, and the people had to suffer.

The story would be better if some of these historical tracks were put into

the story so that the reader would not have to refer to external source for clearer

pictures of the conditions of Jamaican people at that time. However, the essence

were there and just enough to let the reader imagine their hardships.

Social

There are a few social issues the author tries to discuss in the story. First, the

existence of whore houses like Aggie’s proves the image of Jamaica as “sun,

sand and sex”. It was clearly stated in the story that prostitution was a good

business. Whenever ships ported, all the crews would go to bars, clubs and

whore house like Aggie’s to have some fun.

“There is a gang of Royal Navy downstairs now and it is only 3 in the afternoon.

They are raising all kind of hell and having a ball.” (page 12)

The extract above is one of the examples from the story about how whore

houses in Jamaica were really getting business. Looking at another perspective,

it shows how women in Jamaica have no position in decision-making and were

only allowed to work in lower-level employment such as prostitution. This raised

the issue of gender-biasness in Jamaican community at that time as it seems like

Jamaica was such a male-dominated place. However, having to struggle with the

hardship, the women had no other choice but to work as prostitutes.

Crime - due to hardship of life….

Entertainment – bars/clubs/ theater

Race and Chauvinism

It is undeniable that both Richard and Scotty were treated like a king in Kingston.

They were a few white men among the Negroes. The author described Richard’s

feeling when he was surrounded by the Negroes in the theater as “uneasiness

and uncertainty” (page 6). It is obvious that he feels very uncomfortable and

frightened to be among people of different race than his. I believe that he would

not feel the same feelings if he was surrounded by the people of his races.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “chauvinism” as undue partially or

attachment to a group or place to which one belongs or has belonged. It usually

follows with superior feelings over other groups. Although there is no mention

about how Richard feels superior over the Negroes because he is white, but his

uneasiness feeling shows how he is attached to his race and feels uncomfortable

of being around other group. However, his chauvinistic value is not as alarming

and would not cause external uproars.

Jamaica is well-blended with many different races. Being a port city, it allows the

migration of other races like Chinese into the country. Tracking back the history,

sugar cane used to be the biggest export commodity of Jamaica. Many slaves

were imported from African countries to work in the sector before the Trans-

Atlantic Slave trade was outlawed and slavery eventually was abolished. In the

story, it was mentioned that some of the people there are mixed-blooded and

some have Syrian descent.

“Some have Chinese blood and several are of Syrian descent.” (page 1)

Although the author refers the above extract to the women working at Aggie’s

place, but in general, they are locals. It can be considered as the microcosm of

the bigger population.

Conclusion