Short Fiction · Chapter
Sketch Sixth: Barrington Isle and the Buccaneers explained
The narrator describes Barrington Isle as a former retreat for West Indian Buccaneers, who used its secure and tranquil environment for rest and refitting after raids.
What happens
The narrator describes Barrington Isle as a former retreat for West Indian Buccaneers, who used its secure and tranquil environment for rest and refitting after raids. He reflects on the paradoxical nature of these men, who could commit violent acts yet also create peaceful, romantic seats and appreciate nature, suggesting that not all buccaneers were unmitigated monsters.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and Desolation
The isle's tranquil, natural beauty contrasts with the violent history of its buccaneer inhabitants, highlighting the coexistence of peace and brutality.
Appearance vs. Reality
The buccaneers are commonly seen as monsters, but the narrator finds evidence of their capacity for peacefulness and virtue, challenging surface perceptions.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Six)
The narrator recounts his visit to Barrington Isle, observing ruins of seats and artifacts left by buccaneers, and reflects on their dual nature.
Key passages
“Let us all servile base subjection scorn, And as we be sons of the earth so wide, Let us our father's heritage divide, And challenge to ourselves our portions dew Of all the patrimony, which a few hold on hugger-mugger in their hand.”
The buccaneers reject servitude and claim their share of the world's riches, which are unfairly hoarded by a few.
This epigraph sets the tone for the buccaneers' rebellious and free-spirited ethos.
“Could it be possible, that they robbed and murdered one day, reveled the next, and rested themselves by turning meditative philosophers, rural poets, and seat-builders on the third?”
The narrator wonders if buccaneers could alternate between violent crime and peaceful, reflective activities.
Highlights the central paradox of the buccaneers' character explored in the sketch.