“We don't forget anything, and yesterday comes like today to us.”
The folks of Bournehills are people who have suffered through colonialism and slavery in the past. Their history is filled with injustices and ordeals that they never want to forget in order to safeguard their future. In the assertion Merle makes this clear to express why the people are suspicious of foreigners and indifferent towards foreign interests. Merle’s statement represents the unreconciled pasts that still haunt the region. They are aware of how native people like them are treated by developed civilizations that only come to exploit them and their resources. Hence to them, the arrival of Dr. Amron could as well be a repetition of what has already happened before. In essence the root of the difficult relationship between the locals and foreigners.
“It struck her as being another world altogether, one that stood in profound contradistinction to the pleasant reassuring green plain directly below; and she wondered…how an island as small as this could sustain such a dangerous division.”
Harriet Amron together with her team has arrived at Bourne Island for utilitarian purposes however they find it is not as simple as they initially thought. She quickly finds out akin to the other foreigners that the Bournehills have had a complicated relationship with such foreign interference. The people have seen how good intentions could be turned into big businesses thus are cautious in approving outside ventures. However, Harriet does not embrace the notion of helping out without imposing her own capitalist vision in the region. On the other hand, Saul learns to view the issue from an objective perspective thus tries to assist the people without ulterior motives.
“Get thee gone, Satan, and here’s enough money to stay gone... They feel they can buy the world and its wife with a few raw-mouth dollars. But lemme tell you something m’lady...” I can’t be bought.”
In the statement, Merle denies monetary handout from Harriet; they are cold towards each other as they harbor distinct views regarding foreign exploitation. Harriet like most representatives of the developed nations come to native lands and impose their will ending up exploiting the people in the name of altruism. Bournehills being a place where the people have seen this time and time again seek to shun it at all costs. Contrary to her husband Harriet does not understand this and ends up trying to control the locals with her ideas rather than just offer assistance. Hence the quotation refers to Harriet as an emblem of this exploitative notion.
