Differing Perspectives of the Caribbean :: Caribbean History Historical Essays

Differing Perspectives of the CaribbeanThe Caribbean has been an unexplained piece throughout the test of time because there are many disparate depictions of what actually is happening. The ranging cultures in the Caribbean sum up about many different points of view. A perfect example is how Cliff, Mintz, and Benitez-Rojo describe their version of the Caribbean. They discuss affairs in the Caribbean from the days of slave trading to present day issues. In analyzing their anecdotes and books, atomic number 53 can find not only similarities between them, but discrepancies as well. All three authors express their thoughts vividly, unleashing ideas about the Caribbean. Among the most important themes of these ideas were that of the woodlet, identity, and brotherly hierarchy.The role of the plantation was a prominent issue brought up by all the authors. The plantation played an imperative role in Caribbean orderliness from colonialism to contemporary society. Mintz and Benitez-Rojo gave a number of positive aspects of how plantations were positive in component the delivery whereas Cliff despised the unscathed plantation system. All authors bring out valid issues on their analysis of plantations.According to Mintz, the emergence of the plantation occurred when there became a decline in miners. This decline brought a impertinent economy and an alternate plan to their mining careers. In addition, it was a sensitive source of production for goods like scratch line, rum, coffee and tobacco. Production of goods meant more cash to the Caribbeans economy as well as new materials to keep back to their colonial powers. Mintz argues that the Caribbean flourished because of the system of plantations. He goes as far as saying, the plantation system was not only an agricultural device it also became the root word for an entire societal design (Mintz, 27).Benitez-Rojo also gives praise to the plantation in his article entitled the Repeating Island. He said how the modest sugar boom in the Spanish Antilles left an indelible mark on the islands society (Benitez-Rojo, 42). The plantations created an economy in the Caribbean when there was previously nothing. It changes the whole course of Caribbean history and this can be incorporated with his Chaos Theory. Benitez-Rojo believes in the physics theory that things in one place certainly brace a great effect on something else. However, Cliff significantly differs on her view of the plantation.In Cliffs Abeng, there is much password about the plantation. However, Cliff argues how the sugar plantation actually hurt the economy and made little profits.