To Da-Duh, In Memoriam

An allusion is an indirect reference to another work of literature or to something of other cultural significance. “To Da-duh, in Memoriam” includes several allusions, deepening the resonance of an otherwise straightforward narrative by associating it with broader social and historical forces. For example, when describing life in New York, the narrator references a number of cultural touchstones that collectively give a sense of the world she inhabits, such as a “Shirley Temple coat with fur on the collar” (102). The reference to the famous child star heightens the sense of New York as another world—a place where movies are accessible and Black and white girls wear similar clothing, implying a degree of social mobility and cultural exchange that is unusual in Barbados. Conversely, the narrator compares Da-duh’s face to a “Benin mask,” referencing the ceremonial art of a former West African empire. In associating Da-duh with a powerful but fallen civilization, the allusion suggests her difficulty adjusting to a changing world order while also acknowledging her heritage and dignity.  

Allusions thus serve as a key way of evoking the broader context of