Theme: Cultural differences

The central theme of the short story “Flotsam and Jetsam” by Alan Bissett can be considered the cultural differences. The author focuses on the differences between Kate’s views and those of the locals. These contrasts are expressed in terms of life and society in Britain, and life and society in Zanzibar.

From the very beginning, Kate compares her life in Britain with her tourist experience: “No gloomy meetings at which the main word intoned was ‘cuts’, before – like necromancy – they’d come to pass. No clutched coffee-time huddled over the jobs section of the paper”. (ll. 6-9)

Furthermore, Kate’s behaviour differs from that of the locals. Kate is reserved and prefers to enjoy the scenery by herself. She is polite and then lies to escape the ...