Travel as a Lens for Social Critique

Where it surfaces

• To Cuba and Back

  The narrator uses the journey to Cuba as an opportunity to observe and comment on the social and natural environment.

• I

  The chapter uses the voyage as a setting to observe the diverse passengers and to critique the U.S. Navy's promotion system through the young captain's story.

• II

  The journey provides a platform for observing and critiquing the effects of climate, slavery, and political systems on individuals and society.

• III

  The journey serves as a framework for observing and describing the diverse passengers and the exotic landscape of Cuba.

• IV

  The narrator's detailed observations of Havana's people, vehicles, and architecture serve as a critique of Spanish colonial society.

• V

  The narrator uses his travel experiences to critique both Cuban and American customs, from hotel management to dining habits, highlighting the strangeness and charm of Havana.

• VI

  The narrator's detailed observations of daily life in Havana—from baths to mass—serve as a critique of both Cuban society and the behavior of foreign visitors.

• VII

  The narrator uses his observations of Coolies, coinage, and social customs to critique Cuban society and its inequalities.

• IX

  The narrator uses his visit to the Belen to observe and critique the Jesuits' system, Cuban culture, and religious practices, reflecting broader social and moral issues.

• XI

  The narrator's journey into the interior provides a firsthand view of Cuban rural life and the sugar industry, serving as a critique of the system.

• XIV

  The narrator's observations of plantation life, security measures, and the decaying burying ground serve as a critique of the social system.

• XV

  The narrator's observations of Matanzas society, the Cumbre, and the Yumurí valley serve as a lens for comparing Cuban and American life.

• XVI

  The railroad journey provides a vantage point for observing and critiquing Cuba's political and economic conditions.

• XVII

  The narrator uses his travels to observe and critique the political and social conditions in Cuba, such as the trial and the music.

• XX

  The narrator uses the bullfight as an opportunity to observe and criticize Cuban society, comparing it unfavorably to Northern values.

• The Cahawba — Her arrival — Last night in Havana — Leave-takings — On board the Cahawba — Getting underway — Last views of Cuba — Night at sea

  The narrator's observations of Havana, the departure process, and the chain gang serve as a critique of colonial society and its injustices.

• XXV

  The return journey provides a final opportunity for the narrator to critique American society, from the chaos at the dock to the mixed reactions to death aboard ship.