Victory and the Blight Essay Example for Free

Victory and the Blight Essay Victory and the blight, is written by Trinidadian author Earl Lovelace and is a simple tale about a man who lives in Rio Claro, a village in Trinidad. His story is about Victory, a barber, who takes pride and pleasure in his job. Victory, begins his day, by finding his friend Braun and a stranger at his barber shop, even before it has opened for the day. He thinks to himself that this stranger is going to be blight or a stain on his day. Victory is a man who doesn’t believe in taking the short way but believes that things must be done in a smooth process. He also believes in doing his job right, hence his choice of scissors and razor over the clippers. This is also clearly evident in the manner in which he prepares for a haircut and completes the job His barbering skills are a reflection of his attitude and approach to life. The pictures on the walls of Victory’s shop show his interest in sports and there are also pictures of Victory, the winner of long and high jump prizes. As the story continues readers come to know of Victory’s club, the Wanderers, a cricket team, and of the members who are soon to leave it. We also learn of his passion for the sport. As the bench on which Braun and the stranger, Ross, sit collapses he realizes that Ross like him is also a sportsman and also a man who knows what he wants. The story on one level describes a simple incident in a barber shop and Victory’s way of living life. It also speaks of how leaving your homeland changes things, ‘as if they were never there’.