초록 열기/닫기 버튼
The Woman of Colour, published anonymously in 1808, introduces Olivia Fairfield, a virtuous, attractive, and intelligent mulatto heiress whose journey to England to marry her cousin explores the reconfiguration of British imperial identity. While many scholarly analyses of the novel emphasize the theme of emancipation and the representation of Olivia as a mulatto, it is important to note that the novel’s anti-slavery sentiment is not automatically guaranteed by her racial background. The novel takes a conservative stance in terms of racial representation while Olivia’s cultural empowerment stems from her deep understanding and reverence for English tradition. This study aims to examine the nuanced interplay of inclusion and exclusion within the narrative, exploring how Olivia’s identity becomes integrated into the framework of the British Empire. Through the characterization of Olivia, The Woman of Colour asserts a British identity that transcends racial, regional boundaries and encompasses the colony as a source of traditional rural virtue. The novel explicitly presents the mission of the West Indies as the creation of “little England” distinct from the corrupt, materialistic “genteel vulgar.” Culminating in Olivia’s return to Jamaica to fulfill this mission, The Woman of Colour exemplifies the cultural and literary agenda of the century to build a British imperial identity.
