Issues of Identity. Caribbean Immigrants Struggling in Britain in Caryl Phillips' Play 'Strange Fruit'

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, University of Constance, course: Hauptseminar: 'Criss-Crossing the Atlantic': Caribbean Culture and Writing in Britain, language: English, abstract: This term paper analyses identity conflicts of the Caribbean immigrants struggling in Great Britain in Caryl Phillips´ play 'Strange Fruit'. First, the term ´identity´ is defined and the historical background concerning Caribbean immigration in Great Britain and Pan-Africanism is provided. Then, the identitiy issues of the play´s immigrants are discussed. This discussion includes the first-generation immigrant Vivien Marshall as well as the second-generation immigrants Errol and Alvin, Vivien´s two sons. Notions such as 'playing white' and 'playing black' as well as illusions and disillusionment are presented and analyzed in detail.