Issues of Identity. Caribbean Immigrants Struggling in Britain in Caryl Phillips Play "Strange Fruit"

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, University of Constance, course: Hauptseminar: "Criss-Crossing the Atlantic" Caribbean Culture and Writing in Britain, language: English, abstract: This term paper analyses identity conflicts of the Caribbean immigrants struggling in Great Britain in Caryl Phillips play "Strange Fruit". First, the term identity is defined and the historical background concerning Caribbean immigration in Great Britain and Pan-Africanism is provided. Then, the identitiy issues of the play s immigrants are discussed. This discussion includes the first-generation immigrant Vivien Marshall as well as the second-generation immigrants Errol and Alvin, Vivien s two sons. Notions such as "playing white" and "playing black" as well as illusions and disillusionment are presented and analyzed in detail.