Ambiguity in Pantomime

The central theme of Pantomime is the protagonists' struggle for identity especially in the midst of colonization. It is a mirror of the situation in the colonized countries in the Caribbean, where people are torn between the inherited Caribbean traditions and the imposed Western culture. The struggle is evident in action and language. Harry, the hotel owner, neglects his property and his staff by refusing to direct them, effectively denying his status of a boss. Jackson, his servant, switches between the English and Creole accents, and therefore identities, depending on the situation. Their inability to find their identity is exemplified by their rehearsal of Robinson Crusoe, when the roles are reversed. Both slip in and out of the role of master and servant, struggling to portray the characters of Robinson and Friday, before they eventually realize the limitations of their capabilities: Jackson cannot be the master because he has nothing that he could impose on the slave, while Harry cannot be the slave because he feels uncomfortable in this role. At the end of the play, Derek Walcott proposes a celebration of diversity in art, embracing one's heritage, and collaboration with other cultures to foster human unity.