The 1940s in Trinidad were a mix of British and American presence that affected the country’s development. The Americans came and withdrew from the island after World War II ended. Before this point in time we must remember that many waves of immigrants had migrated to Trinidad. This included Chinese, Syrian, Lebanese, Indian, Jews and many others who came to make this country their new home. For various reasons they all found themselves sharing this one island. This multicultural population of people all call for a different way of expressing themselves in their daily lives. The problem lies when you have the legacy left behind by colonial exploitation there becomes an ongoing struggle for independence. By understanding the historical memory of Trinidad we are able to have context and a better understanding as to why the country possesses the social and political norms it carries. The context that we have now from the 40’s in the country has impacted significantly the social class, economic status and the religious affiliations of the characters we see in Hungry Ghost. Through this novel we see the way the characters navigate this society, two characters in particular are Hansraj and Marlee. Their decisions and how well they do in taking charge of their circumstances are shaped by the roles they play within this segregated society.
Hansraj is a wealthy landowner of Indo-Caribbean heritage and as such enjoys the privileges in Trinidadian society. Because of his financial success he is able to keep a distance from the hardships faced by those living in the Barracks who work the land. Hansraj is not free from the moral and spiritual consequences of his behavior. “He was a man of means, and yet the means had never meant anything at all. All his life he had reaped the fruits of others’ labor, but never the sweetness.” Due to the fact that his fortune is based on the labor and suffering of the poor, he is plagued by fear and guilt. Since Hansraj is a Hindu, his sense of duty is connected with his spiritual beliefs. His decisions are influenced by the idea of karma, which fuels his desire for atonement. His effort to take control of his life seems almost ineffective because while he tries with material charity he still upholds the institutional injustices of his society. In a way Hansraj is trying to “have his cake and eat it too” when we all know that cant happen. Although his wealth and power allow him to influence his immediate surroundings, his own internal conflict shows how limited his capacity is to address deeper systemic and moral problems.
Marlee on the other hand is an Afro-Caribbean laborer who experiences the disadvantages of the Trindiadian social class system. She represents the exploitation of colonial labor systems where workers receive discriminately low wages. “Marlee had no riches to her name, but what she had was hers—her hands, her voice, and the spirit that lived in the blood of her people.” As a result of her social status Marlee has limited resources and because of it she faces financial challenges. Despite all of this we are graced to see how this character’s tenacity and strong Afro-Caribbean spirituality are what makes her strong. She finds purpose and power in her life by turning to the spiritual traditions and group support. Whereas Hansraj, whose wealth keeps him apart from his community. It is the lack of social mobility in those who have the power to do something that prevents Marlee with the obstacles to better improve her circumstances.
Hosein, Kevin Jared. Hungry Ghosts. HarperCollins, 2023.