To Cuba and Back · Question
How does To Cuba and Back develop the theme of Cultural Contrast Between North and South?
Answer
To Cuba and Back by Richard Henry Dana Jr. develops Cultural Contrast Between North and South across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Dana constantly compares the tropical, Spanish-colonial world of Cuba with the industrial, democratic, and Protestant culture of the United States, particularly New England, emphasizing differences in governance, religion, and social habits.
The contrast between the cold, snowy New York departure and the anticipation of Cuba's tropical warmth underscores the cultural and climatic divide.
The narrator contrasts Northern boys (fair, loud, plainly dressed) with Cuban boys (sallow, graceful, ornamented), highlighting cultural differences.
The narrator contrasts Havana's narrow streets, volantes, and customs with his New York experience.
Evidence in the book
- I
The contrast between the cold, snowy New York departure and the anticipation of Cuba's tropical warmth underscores the cultural and climatic divide.
- III
The narrator contrasts Northern boys (fair, loud, plainly dressed) with Cuban boys (sallow, graceful, ornamented), highlighting cultural differences.
- IV
The narrator contrasts Havana's narrow streets, volantes, and customs with his New York experience.
- V
The narrator contrasts the indifferent, relaxed service at Le Grand's with the efficiency expected in the North, and marvels at the airy, leisurely breakfasts of fruit and claret versus heavy American meals.
- VII
The narrator contrasts the open, public domestic life in Havana with the privacy of hotels in the United States, highlighting cultural differences.
- VIII
The narrator notes differences in social etiquette (seating arrangements), street life, and the absence of streetwalking in Havana compared to U.S. cities.
- IX
The narrator compares Cuban religious practices and the Jesuits' methods with Northern sensibilities, noting differences in education, recreation, and decoration.
- XIII
The young master's education in Europe and the United States contrasts with the narrowness of plantation life, highlighting the tension between cosmopolitanism and local isolation.
