PALM WINE :: essays research papers

Palm Wine is a story of an anthropologist named Bertrand that traveled to Senegal on a graduate fellowship to collect proverbs from its mountain (McKnight 35). The miscommunication, lack of understanding, and appreciation for the people of Senegal caused alienation between them and Bertrand. I believe that if Bertrand went to Senegal with an absorbent mind disgorge and stuck to his academic responsibilities, he would have fulfilled his purpose and came expose of this move around with a new found respect and some proverbs.The language obstacle between Omar, Bertrand and Doudou caused indifference between them. I notice that when you dont exchangeable a certain person you tend to tune them out and only pick up a portion of what is being stated. even so though Omars English was relatively poor it was clear that Bertrand didnt actually like him (McKnight 36). Doudou mat offended to be studied like rats in a laboratory without being asked. He and his people felt disrespected and felt as if people of Bertrands profession steal from them (McKnight 40).In a sense, I think they mean that they steal their culture by writing in books what they perceive and not what the culture of imposts are really about.Bertrand was already behind because of a lengthy bout of malaria (McKnight 35). Knowing this, he should have been more prepared and geared up to collect the Wolof proverbs. He was caught up in this idea and desire to acquire this address wine-coloured. A yearn that he obtained from reading The Palm-Wine Drunkard in college (McKnight 35). Bertrand knew that his intentions on get a hold of some proverbs were low on the list compared to get some palm wine. He stated, I took my pad, pencils, and tape recorder along, crafty I wasnt going to use them (McKnight 35).I feel that Bertrand did count at anthropology as being the study of primitive cultures(McKnight 39). He didnt appreciate it as a culture rich in tradition but as a place yet to be civilized. He wasnt taking in the people and their customs and way of keep he only wanted what they could offer that could calm his thirst which was the palm wine.Once he attained the palm wine and realized that this wine that the Drinkard soujourns through many cruel and horrifying worlds to in order in try to retrieve (McKnight 35) is an acquired taste (McKnight 39).