“Helen. And all the rest followed”: (In)visible Body in Omeros by Derek Walcott

Abstract

In this article, we will analyze the poem Omeros, written by Saint Lucian poet Derek Walcott, taking as a central aspect the figure of Helen. We are interested in reflecting upon her importance in the narrative development as she defies the colonial logic of oppressing those bodies considered as inferior. In order to do so, we will present our analysis by incorporating international as well as national renowned authors of a field of study that has interdisciplinary relevance today. We will see how Helen’s appearance in Walcott’s poem, in spite of not being a hegemonic corporality, provokes various reactions that undoubtedly portray her as the articulating axis of the poem.