Themes & patterns

The book extensively details the absolute political control Spain exerts over Cuba, including martial law, censorship, lack of representation, and the arbitrary power of the Captain-General to banish or imprison anyone.

Dana provides a stark examination of the institution of slavery in Cuba, describing the brutal conditions of plantation labor, the legal and social status of slaves and free blacks, and the racial divisions that underpin the entire society.

The narrative highlights how Cuba's economy is dominated by sugar production for export, with enormous wealth generated for a few while the island is heavily taxed by Spain and lacks industrial or intellectual diversity.

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 book critiques the enforced dominance of Roman Catholicism, the historical corruption of the clergy, and the contrast between the piety of institutions like the Sisters of Charity and the moral decay of the broader society.

The journey itself—from the steamship voyage to visits to plantations, prisons, and hospitals—serves as a framework for Dana's detailed observations and philosophical reflections on Cuban society and human nature.

Dana explores the debates over Cuba's potential paths—independence, annexation to the U.S., or continued Spanish rule—weighing the island's lack of self-governing experience against its internal racial and social divisions.