Swearing at—not by—History: Obscenity, Picong and Irony in Derek Walcott's Poetry

Most critics of Derek Walcott writing focus their praise either on eloquently phrased Standard English or his inventive use of Caribbean vernacular, yet few have considered swearing and obscenity as integral aspects of Walcott's poetics. Though the impulse may be to dismiss the profanity as an aberration of poetic language, these obscenities should not be taken as anomalies. On the contrary, Walcott's use of profane language indicates a negative and ironic poetics at work: by integrating profanity into his poetry, Walcott explores how coarse language can counteract the staidness of "refined" poetic diction, and he also demonstrates how obscenity can inform an innovative poetics that redefines epic poetry and the epic hero through parody. The recognition of Walcott's use of swearing in order to parody the epic tradition, moreover, elucidates Walcott's nuanced understanding of the complexities of Caribbean history, as Walcott refutes those who would view Caribbean history as non-existent.