Samuel Selvon's second novel "An Island Is a World" (1955) introduces the readers to the middle-class protagonist, Foster. As the narrative unfolds, Foster is exposed as an introspective cogitating protagonist whose actions do not positively correlate with his thought processes. He can be seen as, "a character whose attractiveness or interest consists of the inability to perform deeds of bravery, courage or generosity." Consequently, it can be said that Foster possesses traits of the common unheroic working-class protagonist present in twentieth century literature. His progress in terms of evolution is cyclical, paralleling the arrangement of the novel which "is circular; its beginning is its end, and the prologue is in effect an epilogue."

Foster is different from Selvon's first protagonist, Tiger, in "A Brighter Sun" who had an intimate relationship with the land. Tiger is of peasant background whereas Foster belongs to the "thought-burdened middle-class." Foster, like the author...