Baxter’s Beach, Barbados

The whole of the novel takes place in Baxter’s Beach, Barbados. Mira Whalen frequently refers to it sarcastically as “Paradise” (68). The irony here lies in the fact that Barbados natives have a far different experience there than vacationers. This is due to the island’s rampant poverty and crime. The novel presents Barbados as having two distinct classes: the lower class, which most of the characters belong to, and the upper class, to which Mira belongs. These classes have wildly different standards of living. The only character in the novel that manages to broach the gap between these classes would be Mira. She views marriage as her only option to elevate her status in Baxter’s Beach, showing how difficult it is to escape poverty in this place.

Lala and Adan’s house

Lala and Adan’s house is right on the beach. It...