Learning Objectives:

By the end of the reading you should be able to:

1. identify the plot and subplots,
2. compare the conditions on the ship to that of the forest,
3. discuss Anansi’s dual role in the play

There are several scenes in the play. One scene takes place aboard ‘The Good Ship Hope’ and the other in ‘The Forest’. The scene on the ship shows the experiences that the slave girl and the Boy share as they travel though the Middle Passage while the scene in the forest tells stories of Anansi. The latter scenes reflect the Girl’s imagination. Anansi is presented as a modern form of drama because of its unconventional form as well as the isolated scenes. Both the scenes on the ship and those in the forest are connected as the Girl on board ‘The Good Ship Hope” allows her imagination to embrace the antics of Anansi as she struggles with the hardships on the ship. She connects this character to her hopes as she struggles. His humour, wit, and cunning nature inspires her. As such, Campbell creates an atmosphere that entwines drama and storytelling with moral issues. The plot also alludes to the historical and political context of the Slave trade. There is political satire which is evident in the power struggle that one associates with the system of slavery.

On board the slave ship 

A young white boy holds a conversation with his father and a sailor. This boy is sensitive and inquisitive. He asks the two men about the status and appearance of the African slaves. He is concerned with the poor treatment that the slaves receive aboard the ship. His father distracts him from these observations and tells him to focus on improving his education. The father also scolds the boy when he inquires too much. The sailor tries to dissuade the boy from being too concerned for the slaves and tells him that “slaves are more like beasts rather than ‘the image of God’. Still, the readers get a glimpse into the poor living conditions of the slaves on board the ship. The boy’s sympathy results from the hardships that the slaves face. He cries when a slave is thrown into the sea and lingers when Girl is going to be auctioned off. Through the boy’s perspective, the readers see a disturbed young girl and an old woman. The girl describes the dark hole and the way the slaves are “crushed together” as ‘hostile.’ She remarks, “Why has the world come to an end?” But the old slave woman on board offers her hope. The woman encourages the girl to use her imagination to free herself from the present hostile circumstances. The old woman introduces the folklore character, Anansi in the story. The traditions of storytelling had helped the weak and oppressed to find hope. Here this is no different as she plants the thoughts of the free spirit of Anansi in the Girl’s mind with the use of the stories. These stories reflect the moral that despite Anansi’s small size and failed efforts, he does not give up. The Girl understands what she must do and therefore the Girl uses the tales of ‘The Forest’ to sustain her.

In the Forest

The scene in The Forest comes after the Girl is reminded of the stories of Anansi. The readers see Anansi as a charismatic and cunning spider, who creates schemes that make him powerful in the forest. He outwits Brother Tiger, the King, and Brother Snake. He manipulates Brother Ratbat to take the blame for the mischief he creates with Brother Tiger.  The readers also see Anansi outwits Brother Crab and outsmart the cruel Lady.

Comparing the different worlds in Anansi

There are various plots and settings within “Anansi.” It juxtaposes the portrayal of the slave ship, characterized by its fearful and dismal ambiance, with the more whimsical and eccentric atmosphere of the Forest of Stories. Campbell seamlessly navigates between these contrasting settings throughout the play, thereby captivating the reader’s interest and enriching its complexity. Despite the divergence in plots and settings, the central character, Anansi, remains the unifying force.