Essay Questions

What is the significance of the novel’s title ‘Brown Girl, Brownstones’?

The title of this novel is imperative because it helps the author to develop the theme of bigotry in the United States of America. Selina is a brown woman and she is encountered with instances of racism every time she interacts with the white people. These instances of racism remind Selina that despite being a brown girl, she is a migrant and a non-white. Anybody who is not white is discriminated against in one way or the other.

How does Paule Marshall use imagery to engage readers in his novel?

Imagery is among the many literary devices that novelists use to engage their readers. For instance, Paule Marshall helps readers to envision the happenings in the novel when he writes, "A wide bar of light from the hall made a path for them and the rich colors of their laughter painted the darkness." Using this imagery, the reader can visualize and see what is happening as he reads through the story.

According to the author, what is the satire of the American dream as depicted in the novel?

The main protagonist of this story is Selina who is ten years old living in the United States as a migrant. It is everyone's dream to go to the United States of America because it is portrayed as the land of seamless opportunities and good life. Throughout the life of Selina in America, the reader gets the harsh reality that life is not easy for any immigrant. Selina is racially discriminated every time she comes across a white person. Opportunities for immigrants are limited because good jobs are reserved for the whites. Therefore, it is satirical that outwardly America is viewed as a heaven of opportunities but the reality is the opposite.