A Small Place

The library is a symbol of colonialist ruins that continue to occupy space in Antigua—and of the difficulty of freed nations to flourish within the remnants of colonial institutions that were never intended to serve them. Kincaid notes that this empire was destructive both when it was built and when the English simply packed up and left, leaving Antigua to deal with their mess. Representing this, the library, a “splendid old building from colonial times” (9), stands in ruins without any real prospect of being fixed. The library was full of books glorifying England and English culture, which was left behind in the wake of independence. The library, though a colonial institution, was also a place of free education for Antiguans, which is the one aspect Kincaid admires about it. With its resources relegated to a “temporary” location in a dry-goods store, Kincaid sees it falling into disuse and sees her people becoming more and more illiterate. Since Antiguans were forced to have English as their first language, Kincaid finds that they should at least have the ability to learn this language. Kincaid has fond memories of this building, not because of her love for English cultural products but because she was an avid reader and enjoyed stealing from the mean librarian, which was a way to take something back from her oppressors.