Plot & Characters
Who is the young man dreaming of leaving Trinidad for a better life?
Ephraim
What theme is represented by Ephraim’s desire to move to England?
Ambition and the search for a better life.
What is one example of Trinidadian dialect used in the play?
Words like “Ent?”, “You tink I care?”, or “Chile” (for “child”).
In which country is Moon on a Rainbow Shawl set?
Trinidad, in the Caribbean.
What job does Ephraim do at the beginning of the play?
He works as a bus conductor.
How does the play explore the idea of hope and disillusionment?
The characters dream of escape and success, but poverty and circumstance destroy many of those hopes.
How does Errol John use light and darkness to suggest emotion or hope?
The moonlight often represents hope or fleeting beauty, while darkness suggests despair or confinement.
What type of living environment do the characters share?
A crowded, run-down yard where several poor families live close together.
What happens to Rosa and Ephraim’s relationship by the end of the play?
Ephraim leaves for England, abandoning Rosa, who is left heartbroken.
What does Rosa’s situation say about gender roles in post-war Trinidad?
It shows that women often had few choices and were dependent on men for survival.
What does the rainbow shawl symbolize for Rosa?
It symbolizes her dreams, femininity, and hope, which fade as her life becomes more constrained.
How does the social setting reflect Trinidad in the 1950s?
It reflects economic hardship, colonial influence, and social inequality during the pre-independence period.
What major event leads Rosa to make a painful decision about her future?
Rosa becomes pregnant, forcing her to rely on Old Mack for financial support.
In what ways does Errol John depict the effects of poverty on the characters’ choices?
Poverty forces characters into moral compromises — Rosa turns to Old Mack, and Ephraim leaves others behind.
Identify one moment where stage directions add to the emotional impact of a scene.
In the final scene, stage directions describe Rosa’s quiet acceptance as Ephraim leaves — emphasizing loss and endurance.
Why was migration to Britain a major topic for Caribbean writers of this time?
Many people were part of the Windrush generation, migrating in search of better jobs and a new start after WWII.
The play ends with a symbolic gesture involving a shawl — what does it represent?
The rainbow shawl represents Rosa’s lost dreams and fading hope, as well as her enduring dignity despite hardship.
How does the play highlight colonial influence and migration through its characters’ dreams and frustrations?
Britain represents opportunity and colonial promise, but migration also exposes disillusionment and inequality rooted in empire.
How does John’s use of dialogue and silence deepen the realism of the characters’ struggles?
The natural dialect and pauses show emotional restraint, frustration, and the unspoken pain of daily survival.
How does the title Moon on a Rainbow Shawl connect to the atmosphere and symbolism of the setting?
It evokes beauty amidst struggle — light and colour appearing briefly in a world of hardship and dreams.