The Leopard (Reid novel)

The Leopard, however, distinct from any other novel of its kind, mainly focuses on the controversies of human nature with respect to the co-existence of violence and hatred between Africans and Europeans.

As a result of committing this crime, Nebu feels especially obligated to repay the boss, for having previously slept with his white wife.

As Nebu carries his son through the bush, the boy, who was raised with mixed emotions towards blacks and whites, continually taunts him.

Critic Kenneth Ramchand once said, “The West Indian Negro is a descendent of the Africans, and more recently the idea of Africa has been a phase of West-Indian political thinking.”[3] Upon analysis of The Leopard, Ramchand posed a point of contention as to why the beautiful poetry of the novel included so much violence, and also why the violence is discussed in such “loving terms.” Ramchand concluded that this clash was intended to make the reader aware of the “savage, twisted inhumanity of the men” in the novel.

Morris contends that Reid employs the son as a symbol of the cultures produced by a meeting of black and white civilizations.