In the Castle of My Skin

The chapter opens on May 24, the queen’s birthday—also known as Empire Day—with a description of four different corners of a village square. “In one corner a palm-tree, and in the others three shrines of enlightenment that looked over the wall and across a benighted wooden tenantry” (35). The first corner houses the schoolyard, which is made up of the palm tree and rocks. The second corner houses the school itself, while the third corner houses the church (though the school isn’t a church school, the buildings share much of the same space). The last corner contains the head teacher’s living quarters. Two English officials occasionally visit the school: the school minister and the inspector. The school minister is considered harmless, but the inspector instills fear in everyone. Because it’s the queen’s birthday, parades and celebrations are held at schools across the island. The schoolchildren love parades, and they are exceptionally happy to see all of the Union Jack flags. Everyone is proud to be a part of the British Empire, especially as they are known as Little England. As the schoolchildren at G.’s village school wait in assigned squads, the inspector arrives, signifying the start of the festivities.