In a Native Village by Louis Becke
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his native village after many years abroad. He finds that the village has changed and that he no longer fits in with the community. The villagers are wary of him, and he struggles to adjust to their customs and way of life. As he navigates this new reality, he becomes embroiled in a conflict between the old ways and the modern influences that have arrived in the village. He must confront his own identity and decide where he truly belongs. The narrative explores themes of cultural dislocation, identity crisis, and the tension between tradition and progress.
By Louis Becke · First published 1888 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Historical Fiction · 3,092 words
First lines
When I first settled down on this particular island as a trader, I had, in my boundless ignorance of the fierce jealousy that prevailed between the various villages thereon, been foolish enough to engage two or three servants from outlying districts -- much against the wishes of the local _kaupule_ (town councillors), each of whom brought me two or three candidates (relatives, connections or spongers of their own) and urged that I should engage them and no others. This I refused to do, point blank, and after much angry discussion and argument, I succeeded in having my own way, and was allowed to choose my servants from villages widely apart. In the course of a few weeks some terrific encounters had taken place between my women servants and other of the local females, who regarded them as vile usurpers of their right to rob and plunder the new white man. However, in time matters settled down in a measure; and beyond vituperative language and sanguinary threats against the successful applicants, the rejected candidates, male and female, behaved very nicely. But I was slumbering on a latent volcano of fresh troubles, and the premonitory upheaval came about a month after our head nurse, Hakala, had been fined five dollars for using English Seafaring' language to another woman who had called her a pig. As Hakala could not pay the fine -- being already in debt to me for two months' wages paid in advance -- I settled it; for she was a widow, and had endeared herself to me by the vigorous manner in which she had pitched a large, fat girl named 'Heke out of the house for stealing some sugar from my store-room.
What this Textopian page supports
In a Native Village is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Louis Becke
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Humor, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 3,092 words
- Structure: 1 section, 33 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In a Native Village by Louis Becke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering In a Native Village?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex themes of cultural conflict, identity, and social dynamics within a colonial context.
- Humor — The writing style employs wit and satire to depict the absurdities of the protagonist's experiences with the local villagers.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and events reflect historical interactions between colonizers and indigenous populations, providing a glimpse into the past.
- Adventure — The protagonist's experiences on the island involve various challenges and encounters that evoke a sense of adventure.
Tags
Adventure · Anthropology · Colonialism · Cultural Studies · Ethnography · Fiction · Historical Fiction · Literary Fiction · Missionary Work · Native Cultures · Pacific Islands · Philosophy