This statement falls deeper than it looks, especially in hindsight after reading the book. I do agree with this statement. The only reason why one may disagree is because it may lack bliss in the beginning, but once you overcome the tribulations of your journey, Hugh’s claims hold true.  I feel that Lucy reacted so well with what Hugh had said because it is something she resonated with, and she feels supported in her decision to leave her old life behind and begin a new one. She can feel his respect when it comes to her and her homeland. I feel like aside from the instant support that Lucy may have felt, it goes deeper than that when you take into consideration all the personal issues she has rooted in her mind. For example, the constant feelings of displacement she may be feeling and this desire she has for independence. The blissful feeling that can come from her anticipation to be in a new area but there not blissful feeling could be from her feeling alienated and not feeling a sense of self identity because of these new influences around her, like her new environment and the people around her. When Hugh said “…to be so far away that you don’t even know yourself anymore…” shows more than what the reader can initially interpret because for me, I recognized Lucy’s lack of self-identity and her desire for it. This was one of the themes in this book as well, which is why Kincaid delayed the mention of Lucy’s name because it allowed us to focus more on Lucy’s journey and focus on her mind, feelings, and decisions. It’s kind of like the crown to Lucy asserting her own identity and self-discovery in the end.

            Colonization has shaped Lucy’s response to this question by creating this juxtaposition of emotions for Lucy. For example, where she sees freedom, there is also displacement. Where she sees independence, there’s also no sense of self-identity. While it’s a journey she’s taking on, it’s also an escape. While she is able to pull away from her past and her upbringing and allows her this opportunity to explore her individuality, there is also this alienation that she feels that can affect her journey to self-discovery and identity. There is someone she was, who she is and who she wants to be.

            This shapes her experience because it seems that culture and the way she was raised had been strict and you can tell this based on the way she narrates the story. For example, on page 90, she states “My past was my mother; I could hear her voice,…” this shows how Lucy was very influenced by her mother as she grew up. It shows the connection between her identity and her mother’s influence and that creates the barrier that delays her independence. It discloses how familial relationships can shape the way we carry on in the world. The fact that she can still hear her voice subconsciously affects how she thinks and behaves and how her mother’s expectations continue to resonate with her.

            To conclude, I believe that Lucy hearing this creates a sense of comfort as she progresses with her journey to independence. It gives her this sense of easement because she wanted to become someone new, she didn’t want to be herself anymore and who that person was that was so attached to her homeland and everything that came along with it. She wanted solace and growth, and this is something that meant a lot to her.