28 pages 56 minutes read

Derek Walcott

Dream on Monkey Mountain

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1970

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Dream on Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott is an allegorical post-colonial play set on an unnamed Caribbean island where a jailed black man named Makak, who despises his own identity, dreams that a white goddess inspires him to become an African king, transforming his former jailer into his new enforcer. Themes include colonial oppression, racial identity, and dreams versus reality. This story includes depictions of imprisonment, violence, and racial discrimination.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Dream on Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott has received acclaim for its poetic language and exploration of post-colonial identity. Reviewers praise its rich imagery and complex themes, though some find its abstract narrative challenging. Overall, the play is celebrated for its profound cultural insights and evocative storytelling, despite occasional difficulties in clarity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Dream on Monkey Mountain?

Readers who relish rich, poetic language and themes exploring post-colonial identity, myth, and spirituality will appreciate Derek Walcott's Dream on Monkey Mountain. Comparable to works like Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Aimé Césaire’s A Tempest, this play appeals to those intrigued by cultural narrative and historical reflection.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Race / Racism

History: World

Period

Colonialism / Postcolonialism

Genre

Drama / Tragedy

Classic Fiction