Ti-Jean and His Brothers

30 review for Ti-Jean and His Brothers

5 out of 5

Greg – Sep 15, 2017

Ti-Jean and His Brothers is a very good play. It has comedy, tragedy, music, poetry…it provides a full effect that transports the audience to the Caribbean. In the play, the Devil, who is a planter, interacts with three brothers. There are all kinds of interesting statements and small poems. “Woman life is so. Watching and losing.” (102) “Who is the man who can speak to the strong? Where is the fool who can talk to the wise? Men who are dead now have learnt this long, Bitter is wisdom that fails whe Ti-Jean and His Brothers is a very good play. It has comedy, tragedy, music, poetry…it provides a full effect that transports the audience to the Caribbean. In the play, the Devil, who is a planter, interacts with three brothers. There are all kinds of interesting statements and small poems. “Woman life is so. Watching and losing.” (102) “Who is the man who can speak to the strong? Where is the fool who can talk to the wise? Men who are dead now have learnt this long, Bitter is wisdom that fails when it tries.” (108) “Who with the Devil tries to play fair, weaves the net of his own despair. Oh, smile; what’s a house between drunkards?” (156) The deal they make with the devil has tragic consequences. See my other reviews here!
5 out of 5

Mìçhëãl Räžåçk – May 23, 2016

it waz a rele great book
5 out of 5

Isaac Salmon – Jun 04, 2015

Good
5 out of 5

Gwyneth Davidson – Nov 09, 2020

I am cheating here. I watched a performance of this play and did not read it. This is a celebrated play from the Caribbean and it has all the flourishes of what I think can be called a play done in the classical Western European tradition. There are live musicians, singing and dancing, there are other worldly costumes, there is a Grecian style chorus, humans interact with animal and spiritual elements, there is poetry, there is humour, there are tears and scary bits, the characters speak in a var I am cheating here. I watched a performance of this play and did not read it. This is a celebrated play from the Caribbean and it has all the flourishes of what I think can be called a play done in the classical Western European tradition. There are live musicians, singing and dancing, there are other worldly costumes, there is a Grecian style chorus, humans interact with animal and spiritual elements, there is poetry, there is humour, there are tears and scary bits, the characters speak in a variety of English accents but, there are no males acting as females. I am spitefully adding that point as the performance that I watched as billed as the production of the Antigua Girls High School Drama Ensemble - Honey Bee Theatre, but the principal male characters are real boys, the girls were not given a chance! Perhaps it is a mixed drama troupe sponsored by the school, I am also suggesting to myself. Many other sites will explore the reasons why this play is properly regarded as a literary gem. As a quick recap, a poor widow fearfully allows her sons to leave home and seek fortune in the world and in the path of devilish forces, in this case, a white faced devil. The book is layered with the West Indian experience of colonialism as experienced by peoples of African descent. Yes, the Caribbean is peopled with other races, but the spirits employed are all from African Caribbean mythology. The matter that struck me most about this play is that it does not name, does not give show respect to the spirit of the star character because, as I see it, Ti-Jean is Walcott's Ananse. Where his stronger and more learned brothers failed, he succeeded because of his intelligence, his smarts, understanding that he needs to use what he had in his hands, and at his disposal, to survive and to thrive. In popular modern West Indian culture, Ananse has been relegated, like a once useful floor mop, to the dustbin. He has not been given an honourable place in our acknowledged memory, but here Walcott has actually elevated him to be the person who has found a path out of a deprivation and death. He actually writes life-giving qualities into the quick witted, tricky, weak bodied character of Ti-Jean who left the web of his home and won where his talented brothers failed. Where the other brothers were boorish or serious and had a sense of self importance, T-Jean has humour and does not take himself seriously even as he works through life threatening situations. I actually think that Walcott had no intention to elevate Ananse, he did not integrate any obvious aspect of this character in his story, but ha! there he is, speaking and acting in the form of the young hero, Ti-Jean. This is another Caribbean story of a young person creating new opportunities for himself under great obstacles, never losing a sense of fun, enjoying music and the environment and reverencing his loving mother and his God.
5 out of 5

Ziad Altaghlibi – Mar 31, 2019

مسرحية جميلة وديناميكية. تجتمع فيها عناصر الطبيعة والعائلة والخير والشر في قالب حيوي يتفاعل بعضه مع بعضه الآخر. لغة ديريك مميزة كأسلوبه، وثقافته المحلية الممزوجة بالعالمية تعطي لمسرحيته طابعاً خاصاً لا يشبه أحداً. ظهور الشيطان في المسرحية مميز جداً، فهو على غير عادته ترك الإغواء والتزم بالسوداوية والعدمية المجردتين.
4 out of 5

Shaquana August – Mar 01, 2021

I want to read the book
5 out of 5

Dinara – Nov 08, 2019

In the beginning you might think it is a childish play that is familiar to you. Then, after you read enough, you start to understand why it is so cool, hilarious and witty.
4 out of 5

Jumane – Jan 14, 2020

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. read later
4 out of 5

Shae – Sep 09, 2018

Good
4 out of 5

Unruly Don – Oct 16, 2020

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Good book
5 out of 5

Aaliyah – Sep 25, 2019

good book
4 out of 5

Micheal Johnson – Nov 06, 2019

kool
5 out of 5

Kirito James – Mar 01, 2021

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. l
4 out of 5

Harley Savage – Mar 10, 2020

Very interesting play. This book went into Caribbean folklore and gave an insight on the supernatural beliefs of the Caribbean!
5 out of 5

Rebeccah – Jan 07, 2019

it's very good it's very good
4 out of 5

Erin Sullivan – May 11, 2017

I had to read it for a class, and I really enjoyed it.
5 out of 5

Collis Williams – Nov 14, 2016

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5 out of 5

Junika Noel – May 26, 2014

its a good book
4 out of 5

Trivon Stewart – Oct 07, 2016

it was good
4 out of 5

Maju Riviere – Mar 19, 2013

i fts good
4 out of 5

Rodhika Dhanraj – May 20, 2016

good
5 out of 5

Oslyn Nicholson –
5 out of 5

Chave –
4 out of 5

Alia Smith –
5 out of 5

Nia – Jan 29, 2019

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. nice
4 out of 5

FaleizaHossein –
4 out of 5

Brandon Heeralal –
4 out of 5

Denika Davis –
5 out of 5

Davion Williams –
5 out of 5

Shamar –