Previous
Chapter 19: Gilbert
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Small Island, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Manners and Civilization
Race and Prejudice
Redemption
Displacement and Belonging
Marriage and Women’s Roles
Summary
Analysis
In the morning, Gilbert “rudely” wakes Hortense up and makes her a cup of tea before going to work. Hortense is shocked that the sun hasn’t even risen yet. Gilbert asks if she can make him “chips” for dinner when he comes home, and she’s so touched by his “plaintive” tone that she agrees without arguing.
While Hortense continues to misunderstand Gilbert’s attempts to be kind to her, her sudden agreement to his request is a moment of unusual sensitivity, suggesting that their relationship does have the potential to improve.
Themes
