Politics of Myth and History in Derek Walcott’s Omeros

Abstract

To read Derek Walcott’s epic Omeros is to focus on its representation of myth and history to narrate the story of St. Lucia with reference to the history of wars and slavery, and to relate mythical references with common people of St. Lucia. This research analyzes the politics behind the use of myth and history of Caribbean by using alternative modernity vis-a-vis Caribbean discourse. Through mythical references, Walcott revives the native history of St. Lucia as an alternative to Western modernity resulted by the history of imperialism. This research concludes that Walcott, in this epic, valorizes the rich cultural heritage of St. Lucia and highlights the significance of ancestral heritage and the need of cultural revival against the domination of Western culture.