Contrast
Contrast is used to depict power dynamics, mainly through the stories in the Forest of Stories featuring Anansi. These tales show how Anansi compensates for his small size when matched against larger and stronger opponents. He leverages his attributes—being “small and quick,” “crafty,” and always having the “smartest plan” and the “cleverest head.” Anansi is fully aware of Tiger’s powerful roar, regal bearing, and lethal ability, as are the other forest creatures. However, the playwright illustrates that true power isn’t about physical strength. Anansi’s knack for outwitting everyone, including Her, a symbol of imperial power, underscores his status as a king in African folklore.
The playwright also uses contrasting settings to highlight power dynamics. This is evident in the different parts of the slave ship (the cabin, the deck, and the hold) and the imaginative world of The Forest of Stories. Through the innocent eyes of the captain’s son, the audience sees the dehumanizing nature of slavery and the slave trade, which the boy documents in the ledger under his father’s direction. This depiction underscores the stark contrast between the powerful (slave owners) and the powerless (slaves). Unlike the dark, filthy, and fever-ridden slave ship, the imaginative world represents a space of wonder and hope, emphasizing different power structures.
Characterization to Portray Power Relationships
Characterization highlights power dynamics through physical attributes and behaviours. The audience sees a physical contrast between the Captain and his son, not only in size and age but also in their roles—the Captain commands the ship and his word is law, while his son is subject to his physical and verbal abuse. The sailors fear the Captain and obey his commands, while the slaves dread the sailors, fearing death during the voyage.
In the Forest of Stories, mythical creatures like Mancrow, Tiger, and Snake are contrasted with humans on the slave ship. These creatures embody human emotions and behaviours, particularly concerning power and control. Mancrow, symbolizing death, exploitation, and destruction, along with Tiger, Snake, and Her, represents exploitation and death.
Symbols Associated with Power Relationships
The ledger and diary symbolize the contrasting mindsets of the captain and his son. The ledger, associated with the captain, highlights the materialistic nature of slavery, documenting transactions like “Only three slaves of the last batch of forty have died.” In contrast, the boy’s diary reflects his personal and emotional experiences, such as hearing the slaves singing below deck. These symbols represent the father’s focus on money and property (the head) and the son’s emotional perspective (the heart).
Anansi the spider also symbolizes power relationships. The old woman introduces the girl to Anansi, whose web in the ship’s hold becomes a symbol of resilience for the girl. As the girl learns to see herself in the spider that finds the strength to make its web, she grows mentally stronger. The old woman’s approval, “Now you’re showing strength. Weave your little web, like a dream in the dark, and wait, wait, wait,” signifies the girl’s developing resilience.
The calabash is another symbol connected to African heritage and culture. In the reimagined Cinderella story, Her, abusive mother, collects her children’s tears in the calabash, which represents their suffering. When Anansi, disguised as a slave, tricks Her, the calabash filled with the tears of all the slaves becomes a coping symbol for the girl. She declares, “That’s what my story’s going to be: a hardback, many tears, and a name that nobody knows. A new story for a new world.” Thus, the calabash, the web, the ledger, and the diary all symbolize power relationships.
Irony and Sarcasm
Irony and sarcasm highlight power relationships, especially in exchanges between Anansi, Tiger, and Snake. Anansi sarcastically praises Tiger’s strength and schedule, saying, “You’re so busy roaring and stomping about the forest and being grand and frightening people … not much time left to think when you’ve got that kind of schedule. You royals have it tough.”
When Anansi disguises as a female servant/slave, the audience knows it’s a disguise, but Her and her children do not. Despite a few slip-ups, such as not curtsying properly and using unladylike language, Anansi successfully outwits Her and leaves with half her wealth.
The Theme of History
The theme of history also illustrates power relationships. The opening scene’s stage directions establish the historical context. A seemingly innocent scene—a ship preparing for the Atlantic voyage with a boy reading and writing while his father consults ledgers and maps—quickly turns dark. The boy questions his father about the people on shore who are tied together and look frightened, leading to the father hitting him. The scene then shifts to the deck where a terrified girl, tied to others, is taken below.
The stage directions vividly describe the inhumane conditions of the slaves, who are mere cargo and pawns to their owners. The hold is “almost completely dark,” with “hundreds of people” packed together and some tied back to back. This portrayal of the slaves as disposable property highlights the stark power imbalance between the owners and the enslaved.