Postcolonialism
Xuela’s Dominica is rife with the aftermath of a series of colonizers. The island nation had once been a French colony and later was overtaken by the Brittish. This cultural imposition permeates nearly every aspect of Xuela’s life. Xuela herself is somewhat of a cultural intersection. Being born to a father of African and Scottish descent and to a mother of African and native Carib descent she finds herself belonging to several of the ethnical groups occupying Dominica. These different cultures clash heavily and hold a clear hierarchy among themselves. This hierarchy can be seen in many aspects of The Autobiography of My Mother, language being one such, consisting of English, French Patois and the native Dominican Creole in descending order. This hierarchy of languages directly mirrors the ethnical hierarchy in Dominica, with the English being revered and idealized, standing head and shoulders above those of African or native Carib descent. Discrepancies between the ethnical groups set the stage for the unfairness found on the island. Although while the postcolonial aspects of the novel can be readily seen they are often not criticized, instead Kincaid merely presents this colonial heritage as an aspect of life for the Dominicans. For them an unfair stage is simply the way of the world, injustice is as common an occurrence as the sunrise and Xuela for one accepts this as the norm.
Power
In Kincaid’s novel we find that power is a recurring theme. This is generally shown in two ways, through Xuela who seeks self-empowerment and through other characters such as her father Alfred who seeks power over others. In this regard Xuela accepts that changing the world is beyond her. She can however change herself and control her own life and so throughout the novel she seeks the power to do just that. This is shown repeatedly through her choices and proving to herself that she can not only survive, but thrive independently. Alfred however seeks to increase his personal power and social standing. Every aspect of his life is built around rising higher and flaunting his gains. This use of power is shown in many ways, from inconveniencing others simply because he can, to flaunting his economic wealth by driving the only automobile in the town.
Gender
Men and women are frequently compared and contrasted against each other in The Autobiography of My Mother. There is a clear discrepancy between the genders, with men being far more valued than women. Xuela experiences the societal expectations of women frequently throughout her life, oftentimes being seen as little more than a servant or a potential baby maker. Similarly she compares the expectations placed upon her with those placed upon men. Her half-brother is without a doubt the favorite of her father and stepmother and is seen as the undisputed heir to her father’s legacy. Even in Xuela’s childhood the gender discrepancy could be felt through school, as she was one of the few girls to actually receive an education. Additionally there are times when Xuela describes herself as genderless, such as when she was working and living alone. This genderless period of her life represents her unconsciously railing against the gender norm and carving out a place for herself where gender is ultimately meaningless.
Mysticism
Xuela’s Dominica is a swirling pot of cultures, and through these cultures different beliefs and religions mix. The French and English introduced Christianity to the island, which is heavily followed. However remnants of mysticism remain, from witch-like spells to surreal phenomenon. Xuela is introduced to these native beliefs as being undisputedly true and for rituals and charms to hold actual power. However many mystical experiences are outright disregarded, such as the drowning boy and siren like woman that Xuela experiences with her classmates.
Sexuality
Kincaid describes sexuality with the same matter of fact that she does anything else. Sex and sexuality is never described as something taboo. Instead it is considered openly and shamelessly, and in so doing is presented as something natural. Much of Xuela’s personal power comes from being in control over her sexuality. This is in fact such a central pillar of her life that she makes life decisions based upon her sexuality. For her it is a desire and a central part of herself as a woman. As such she is very sexually inhibited and sees the pleasure that her body can give her to be a right of womanhood.
