The Embassy of Cambodia - Zadie Smith

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youngest child when the little girl threatened to suffocate on a marble → gets dismissed by the family shortly afterwards with the support of Andrew, Fatou takes her life into her own hands → open end Fatou: refugee from Ivory Coast • worked as chambermaid in different countries and now works as a Maid for the Derawals in North West London → housekeeper/domestic help • tries to overcome the racist circumstances that continue to hinder her life • woman in a position of great hardships, lacking any trace, self-pity or anxiety → exploited and controlled by the Derawals • lower class status → unable to exercise any control ● passionate about swimming: coping mechanism (escapism), does not feel excluded, constant habit that keeps her grounde symbol for her self-taught) • smart, clever, naive • no inclination or feeling of belonging towards England • prime example of how undocumented workers in any country are affected by racism →>>> shapes the way they work hard for a better life Andrew: Nigerian Student • Fatou's closest friend and moral support → influences and encourages her religious but often relies on logic → rational • stands for equality • attentive, educated, friendly, open-minded, conscientious The Derawals: wealthy Pakistani immigrants • mistreat and exploit Fatou ● →show discriminating, disrespectful and racist behavior towards their maid →verbal and mental abuse → do not appreciate Fatou saving their daughter- → fire her in full control: superiority possibly aware that their behavior constitutes illegal modern slavery ● Fatou vs. the Sudanese slave Sudanese slave kid-napped (in someone else's interest) separated from her family and all alone no communication skills due to lack of education experienced a great amount of violence & abuse no access to her passport lots of restrictions and prohibitions: no freedom → basically a prisoner Fatou taken by her father (in favor of her own well-being) was employed with her father for a certain amount of time educated: reading skills (English & little Italian) experienced very little violence victim of sexual assault and verbal abuse (by the Derawals) hidden or disappeared passport doesn't get paid (dependent), has to hand in receipts, opportunity to leave the house and do things she enjoys every now and then, but isolated → Fatou does not see herself a slave but really only has two things that make her life bearable: her secret visits to the pool and her meetings with Andrew fter church. → In fact, many aspects of her life and employment are considered conditions of slavery and highly illegal in Britain. Symbols in the Embassy of Cambodia ● symbol suburbs, surrounded by wealthy residences national flags as connection to Cambodia huge wall Cambodia as a nation protected by France and later occupied by Japan and Vietnam Badminton meaning similar to Fatou who does not seem to fit in and has face hardships all alone Fatou being deeply connected to her home country and the experiences she has made there (also seen by her flashbacks) hidden pain and feelings as well as the Cambodian history and colonialism Fatou will always be dependent on others as she lacks occupation and qualification continuous ups and downs: Fatou's resilience → persistent pattern of achievement & defeat player vs. opponent: society (scores points) vs. Fatou (score equals zero) infinity: never ending match or battle silence and secrecy: behind the walls Themes: otherness, multiculturalism, racism,... Slavery and exploitation: Fatou having been exploited sexually and economically → powerlessness of the poor and underprivileged • Multiculturalism: Willesden as a multicultural community with large immigrant population • Racism: continues to be a part of daily life of powerless people in Britain (e.g. the Derawals as wealthy immigrants being superior to Fatou) • Lack of solidarity: everyone seems to only care about themselves (e.g. the Derawals) Shows how problems of belonging and inclusion and exclusion continue in highly multicultural and muticloloured societies.