Walcott's descriptions of his beloved St. Lucia in Omeros reminds us of Shakespeare's Caliban and his blissful speeches about his own island. Both Walcott and Caliban praise the beauty and gentleness of these places, but the comparison is apt in another way: In both cases, we see a native population struggle against outside forces that want to exploit the land for personal gain.
Although Walcott sees St. Lucia through loving eyes, he's stuck in a moral dilemma: Does he lament the loss of traditional ways and natural beauty because of his love for the place? Or because it suits his poetic impulses? Does he look at St. Lucia simply with awe for her beauty, or does he, too, want a piece of the place to fuel his ambition? These are Big Questions. Worry not, though, because (as always) Helen's here to help. She becomes an excellent analogy for what's happening to the island: Its beauty attracts, but is also the cause of its destruction.
Questions About Visions of St. Lucia
- What is the connection that Walcott sees among the three Helens (the women and the island)? To jumpstart your thinking, be sure to read up on Helen over in the "Characters" section.
- What is Major Plunkett's view of St. Lucia? Does his perception of the island feel more closely allied with Walcott's or with the colonial powers that made a footprint there? Give examples to support your claim.
- What is the difference between the male perceptions of St. Lucia and that of the female characters in the work? Are there similarities?
- Why do you think the narrator has to go on that trip to the Underworld? What significance might there be to the location of hell in this poem?
Chew on This
Major Plunkett feels an irresistible attraction to Helen (the woman) because he feels a connection to the beauty of the island.
The beauty of St. Lucia only works its magic on the male characters in the work; the female characters are indifferent to or untouched by it.