Summary
The first-person narrative by B. Wordsworth centers on a young child who meets a man with the same name and explores concepts of identity, estrangement, friendship, admiration, and the artist’s responsibility. A man shows up one day at the narrator’s home to watch the bees. In stark contrast to the beggars who frequent his house daily, he is well-dressed (Krishnan, 37). The man’s mother approaches him with coldness, which the narrator notices immediately. Unlike her, the narrator talks to the man politely and without passing judgment. Presumably, due to how easily the narrator-child can connect and communicate with the other, they can learn about the fascinating, lonely man’s life. They may even be the sole individual to do so.
Mentorship and Life Lessons
Wordsworth fosters the development of the young narrator while also imparting valuable life skills. B. Wordsworth’s friendly personality contrasts with the narrator’s severe mother. He even considers the youngster’s suggestion to stick the pin in the stream to observe what happens. The pin represents life’s inherent ambiguity and the reality that no one can predict the future (Krishnan, 37).
The narrator appears to be learning from his mistakes and doing so independently. He instills in the youngster a sense of joy in the little pleasures we often overlook and gives him a new perspective from which to view and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding us. The narrator had previously questioned Wordsworth’s homestead. However, he realizes the natural beauty of the environment upon his death. This is after the green plants in his homestead were cut and replaced with concrete.
Curiosity
A strong bond is created between the narrator and the character as the narrator becomes curious to know more about him. Although B. Wordsworth does seem unusual, precisely this strangeness makes people like him (Krishnan, 37). He is concerned about life’s lesser things and understands his place in the cosmos.
His sluggish wanderings may seem like an escape attempt, but they are an avenue for exploration. This is how the characters feel as he watches the night sky while lying on the lawn with B. Wordsworth after being humiliated by his mother (Krishnan, 37). The character also decides to share a funny story with the narrator about a woman who died while expecting a baby. This further left the narrator curious to know more about the story and why Wordsworth had expressed it.
Identity Struggles
The storyline explores how the character struggles with identity and the occupational roles he assumes in society. In addition to the allegations of being related to William Wordsworth, Black Wordsworth also identifies himself as one of the world’s greatest poets (Krishnan, 37). The narrator first notices Wordsworth’s fluency in English, which differentiates him from the other folks from his Trinidadian hood. B. Wordsworth enjoys being in nature, much like his Romanticism predecessor, a well-known Nature Poet, although no one recognizes him as a poet. Although his pigmentation may contribute to his marginalization, it is unclear whether he genuinely composes any poetry.
Alienation
Alienation is also evident in Black Wordsworth’s story, as artists in society are looked down upon as they realize their roles in the community. B. Wordsworth is a marginalized person, as he does not appear to influence public life, and no one ever purchases his poetry. However, he has a profound influence on the narrator’s personal life, which is clearly reflected in his artistic narration style.
The fact that B. Wordsworth came from the Trinidadian community, which is often associated with the black community, made his creative work less likely to sell. As such, racial segregation based on colonial perspectives still affected the artists. For instance, B. Wordsworth almost missed watching the guru bees in the narrator’s homestead till it was an oven that he spoke good English. Moreover, the narrator’s mother refuses to purchase Wordsworth’s artistic work, giving him a hostile and rude response. As a result, the theme or the relationship between material wealth and art is determined.
Compassion and Selflessness
He also gives the impression of a compassionate individual with a high emotional quotient. He tells the narrator a humorous narrative about how everything he had said about the Poet’s wife was a lie. Then, just before he passes away, he commands the narrator never to return, and in the process, he loses his voice. It appears, however, that the narrative was accurate and that he is now lying. Wordsworth seemed lonely, but eventually, he found a friend with whom he could share his stories.
However, when he realizes he is about to die, he calls the narrator back to try to do away with the facts he previously told him and to enable him to lead his own life. In other words, he attempts to invalidate himself for the benefit of the other, arguably the most significant act a person can perform. This admirable act of self-denial offers a message of selflessness, even though Wordsworth misled the narrator before his passing by claiming that neither a poem nor a female poet existed. Even so, Wordsworth has left a lasting influence on this narrator, teaching him to value nature and develop self-assurance.
Work Cited
“B. Wordsworth.” V. S. Naipaul’s Journeys, Columbia UP. 2020, pp. 37–51. Web.