SUMMARY

The play is about the challenge that Ti-Jean and his brothers face from the Devil. If either
Gros-Jean, Mi-Jean, or Ti-Jean get the Devil to show an emotion, they will receive immense
wealth, but if they fail, they will be eaten by the Devil. The brothers are to face the Devil in
descending order; first Gros-Jean, then Mi-Jean, and finally Ti-Jean. The two oldest
brothers, Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean, fail in this endeavor, but Ti-Jean succeeds. It is implied
that part of Ti-Jean's success is grounded in the fact that he listened to the wisdom of his
mother, while Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean ignored the wisdom that she gave them.

SETTING
The story is set in a little house on the forehead of a mountain, the home of Gros Jean, Mi-
Jean, Ti-Jean and their mother.
Prologue
Frog introduces the reader to Gros Jean, the eldest brother, Mi-Jean, the middle brother,
and T-Jean, the youngest brother. They live in a house made of wood and thatch, which is
perched on the forehead of a mountain. The reader then gets a visual of the three brothers
through their actions. Gros Jean is very strong, but also 'very stupid' (Walcott, 26), as
described by Frog, because he refuses to cut wood because his axe will get wet and rusty.
While Mi-Jean is 'half stupid' (Walcott, 26), also as described by Frog, because he can't
catch fish because he, as a fisherman, is always forgetting his bait. Ti-Jean, the youngest
brother, is then introduced as the brother who is, ironically, disliked by his brothers because
he does nothing all day. The family is very poor and the brothers believe that God has
forgotten them. The reader is then introduced to the brothers' mother, who hears a noise in
the wind and recognizes it as evil. Bolom then identifies himself and tells the mother what
the Devil wants: her sons to eat for dinner, in descending order. He therefore issues a
challenge to all three sons. If any of them can make the Devil feel anger, rage and human
weakness, then he will grant them riches, but if any of the sons fail, then his flesh shall be
eaten.

Act One
Gros Jean tries to sneak out of the house, but his mother discovers him. She gives him
advice for his journey and he disregards them. He encounters an old man who he asks for
advice about the shortest path to success and wealth. The old man offers some wisdom, but
Gros Jean rejects this. He threatens violence if he is not given a short cut to success and
wealth. The old man tells him about the estate where harvesters were being hired. He is
hired, but he is also issued a challenge; the person that gets the other one vexed will be
eaten. The Devil, in the form of the planter, gives Gros Jean impossible tasks and irritates
him by constantly referring to him by different names. Gros Jean eventually gets angry and
is eaten.
 Act Two
Mi-Jean cannot believe that the cricket has the nerve to speak to him, but he speaks to him,
as well as the bird and the frog, anyway. He remembers his mother's advice regarding the
idea that no-one can know what the Devil wears. Mi-Jean also encounters Papa Bois (the
Old Man), who tries to give him advice, but he tells him that he does not need it, but he will
listen. He shares how he plans to beat the Devil with the Old Man; he will beat the Devil with
silence and a smile. He meets and starts working for the planter, and endeavors to be
smiling and silent. The planter, however, taunts him with his superior knowledge of basic
things, such as knots. The Devil then finally gets Mi-Jean upset with the argument that a
goat might have more sense than him. Mi-Jean is eaten at the end of this act.

Act Three
The Devil wanders off after his meal of Mi-Jean, and Papa Bois (Old Man) tells the reader
that there is one more meal left. The reader then sees Ti-Jean and his mother in their hut.
She expresses concern for her youngest child, due to his lack of exposure, but advises him
to trust his instincts and use his conscience. He encounters the animals in the forest and
treats them gently. They help him by making him aware of Papa Bois' presence, then leaves
with a promise to help him if they can. Papa Bois tries to discover Ti-Jean's approach to the
challenge and he calls on the animals for help. The Bird then loosens Pap Bois' sticks,
causing him to become distracted. While pretending to help to take up the sticks, Ti-Jean
discovers the Old Man's forked tail. He makes the Devil aware the he knows who he is and
the Devil tells him about the challenge; the one who wastes his temper will be eaten. The
Old Man/ Devil gives Ti-Jean two tasks. He is to catch a wayward goat and tie it good and
hard, and if it gets away, he must attempt to tie it again. The Old Man enjoys watching T-
Jean's attempts to capture the goat, until Ti-Jean, not seeing himself repeating the exercise
of recapturing the goat all night, tied the goat and cut off its seed. The Old Man gets agitated
at this news and Ti-Jean mildly taunts him.

Ti-Jean is then given a third task by the Old Man, which is to go to the cane- fields and
check every blade, count each leaf on the stalk and file them away. Ti-Jean is to complete
this task before night falls, then return to the Old Man. Ti-Jean answers this challenge by
telling the workmen that the Devil wants them to burn down the field. The Devil returns at
dawn, dons the mask of the Old Man, and gets very upset when he is informed of his
burning field. His resulting monologue informs the reader of his origin, as well as his deep
desire to be loved. He then sees Ti-Jean approaching and dons the mask of the planter. Ti-
Jean reports, after being asked by the planter, that he has been drinking and eating curried
goat. The Devil then admits that Ti-Jean nearly had him vexed several times throughout the
day. The Devil admits to having a headache and wanting some sleep. He invites Ti-Jean to
his house, only to realize that it is on fire. The Devil then gets extremely upset. The Devil
reveals that he does not play fairly by admitting that he cannot return Gros Jean and Mi-Jean
to life. Ti-Jean then begs the Devil to pay his mother what is owed to him, because he made
the Devil feel emotion. The Devil's response is that he does not play fairly, but he gives him
the gold, then shows Ti-Jean his mother, dying in the hut. Ti-Jean, prompted by the Frog,
sings a song of thanksgiving while in the depths of despair. This elicits tears from the Devil
and Bolom takes the opportunity to ask Ti-Jean to ask the Devil for his life. The Devil allows
Bolom to be born and leaves with the warning that he will meet Ti-Jean and his new brother
again. Ti-Jean exits with Bolom. The creatures then gather and the Frog closes the scene.

CHARACTERS
Gros Jean
★ He is described, by Frog, as 'very stupid' (Walcott, 26)
★ He is the oldest brother and he is extremely strong.
★ Gros Jean ignored his mother's advice and disregarded her concern for him because
he believed that his physical strength was enough.
★ The Devil tricked Gros Jean and he was eaten in Act 1.

Mi-Jean
★ He is described, by Frog, as the middle brother, the 'second biggest' (Walcott, 26).
★ Frog thinks that he is 'half stupid' (Walcott, 26), yet he is always studying.
★ He is a fisherman by profession.
★ He too ignores his mother's advice and is eaten in Act 2.

Ti-Jean
★ He is described, by Frog, as a hunter, and the youngest brother.
★ Unlike his brothers, Ti-Jean actually listens to his mother and takes her advice, which
allowed to get assistance from the animals.
★ Ti-Jean is the most practical of the brothers and uses simple common sense to
defeat the Devil.

Mother
★ The mother of Gros Jean, Mi-Jean and Ti-Jean.
★ She loves her sons and tries to guide them with wisdom gained from experience.
★ She has a connection with the realm of the supernatural.

Bolom
★ He is an unborn baby who delivers the Devil's message to the mother and the
brothers.
★ Bolom is unborn because a woman did him harm, she is presumed to be his mother,
by placing a cord around his throat.
★ Bolom believes that he was never born.
★ His master is the Devil.
 ★ The Devil literally speaks through Bolom in order to deliver a piece of his message to
mother.

Papa Bois (Old Man)/ Planter /Devil

★ This is the same character that takes the role of many characters.
★ He is incredibly crafty, as seen when he tricks Gros Jean into getting angry so that he
can eat him.
★ He also enjoyed taunting Mi Jean, with the full knowledge that Mi Jean did not
understand that the joke was on him.
★ The only brother that managed to defeat this/ these characters is Ti Jean.

Minor Characters - Cricket, Frog, Firefly, Bird.

Setting
The setting includes both the physical surroundings, giving it ‘local
colour’, and the social ambience, and since the novelist has no stage
or scenery, a sense of place must be created with words.

Note: setting in the novel or short story is not just about physical
location. Setting creates the mood, tells us about the lives of the
characters and prepares us for the themes.