PALM WINE :: essays research papers

Palm Wine is a story of an anthropologist named Bertrand that traveled to Senegal on a graduate association to collect proverbs from its people (McKnight 35). The miscommunication, lack of understanding, and appreciation for the people of Senegal ca habitd alienation between them and Bertrand. I believe that if Bertrand went to Senegal with an absorbent mind frame and stuck to his academic responsibilities, he would fox fulfilled his purpose and came out of this journey with a new found respect and some(a) proverbs.The language barrier between Omar, Bertrand and Doudou caused indifference between them. I notice that when you dont like a certain person you tend to tune them out and only pick up a passel of what is being stated. Even though Omars English was relatively poor it was clear that Bertrand didnt really like him (McKnight 36). Doudou felt offended to be study like rats in a laboratory without being asked. He and his people felt disrespected and felt as if people of Bertr ands 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 traditions 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 palm drink. A yearn that he obtained from reading The Palm-Wine Drunkard in college (McKnight 35). Bertrand knew that his intentions on getting a hold of some proverbs were low on the list compared to getting some palm wine. He stated, I took my pad, pencils, and tape recorder along, knowing I wasnt going to use them (McKnight 35).I feel that Bertrand did look at anthropology as being the study of primitive cultures(McKnight 39). He didnt appreciate it as a culture privileged in tradition but as a place yet to be civilized. He wasnt taking in the people and their customs and management of life 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).