Tanti at de Oval

Think Piece

“Paul Keens-Douglas was born in September of 1942 in San Juan, Trinidad, but spent his early childhood in Grenada where his family resides and where he attended Presentation Boys College. Paul Keens-Douglas is a playwright, writer and performer whose voice is nicely recognized in the Caribbean. His stories present engaging colloquial language, vivid imagery and relatable tales. As one writer puts it, “Paul Keens-Douglas celebrates our rich cultural amalgam and Caribbean landscapes like nobody else does. With a bubbling well of humour, humanity and heart, he reaches into the innermost crevices of ourselves and our cultures, and brings us back to joyful feeling, to the real sweetness of our societies.”

Paul Keens-Douglas short story “Tanti At De Oval” was published in 1992 but written in 1976. It is based on the writer’s aunt, Tanti Merle, and her first visit to The Queen’s Park Oval (the ‘Oval’) in Trinidad to watch an important cricket match between Trinidad and the Combined Islands.’

My first impression of this was “why, in the world do I have to do this in the first place.” But after quietly sitting down and listening to the audio, I realised that it was quite entertaining and enlightening, it reflected the Caribbean people’s culture, passion and manner of expression that to me expresses their enthusiasm and joy for living. In the piece Paul Keens-Douglas used a variety of slangs. In analysing this piece ‘Tanti At De Oval’ I noticed different issues were identified in this story and expressed in his dialogue. Issues like gender, nationalism, the Caribbean language and how cricket was viewed in the Caribbean.

Tanti Merle was an elderly woman only sixty-five year’s old living in Trinidad but originated from St Vincent and proud to be one. She is a ‘fussy’ old woman who likes to be in control, this is indicated where he said “So ah tell she "choose yu own taxi". She say she want ah red taxi. Now tell me why your Tanti...