The Caribbean veranda : a study of its function as revealed in Jamaican literature

Abstract

Recognizing literature as ‘social evidence and testimony’, this study focuses on the function of the Caribbean veranda, drawing its data from selected twentieth century Jamaican novels and short stories. The literary works examined portray the lives of people from a wide range of social classes living in different urban and rural environments. On the veranda, shaded from the sun while exposed to the refreshing breeze, they engage in a variety of occupations, such as eating, drinking, relaxing and entertaining, appropriate furniture and fittings being provided for these purposes. Plants on and beside the veranda are commonly used to give additional shade as well as to add beauty. Importantly, the veranda is where one observes the world outside from a place that provides a sense of security and comfort. At the interface of indoors and outdoors, the veranda is where insiders and outsiders meet, only approved members of the latter group being allowed further admittance. Commonly, in addition to a front veranda, there are back and side verandas, and a veranda hierarchy often exists reflecting the social order. A multi-purpose living space, refuge and frontier zone, the veranda meets a variety of physiological, psychological and behavioural needs that architects and others concerned with the designed environment should understand.