The word “outcast”, although not dispersed by name throughout The Woman of Colour, plays a large role in Olivia’s journey and overall experience. This is particularly exemplified in Olivia’s time in England where she is ostracized for being Black. While there, she experiences racism and hate on a level not experienced by the white characters around her. Thus, it is important to understand just how much of an outcast Olivia is and to examine how this affects her experience as a whole. 

The ostracism experienced by Olivia is constantly emphasized through the use of derogatory comments made by other white characters. “‘Oh, I thought that Miss Fairfield—I understood that people of your—I thought that you almost lived upon rice,’ said Mrs. Merton, ‘and so I ordered some to be got,—for my own part, I never tasted it in my life, I believe!’” (TWOC 77). Mrs. Merton is showcasing racist beliefs about Black people in an attempt to make Olivia feel uncomfortable and out of place. In addition, although other characters hear these comments, nobody helps defend Olivia or stands up for her. This casts her off even further and highlights how alone she really is while in England. This solitude and newness reminded me of Mary Seacole in The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, “I shall never forget my first impression of London…I am only a little brown — a few shades duskier than the brunettes whom you all admire so much; but my companion was very dark, and a far (if I can apply the term to her) subject for their rude wit” (Seacole Ch. 1). Both Olivia and Mary Seacole have had to put up with discrimination in this new place that casts them as outsiders. In this we see how they are set aside for the color of their skin and thus, highlights how alone they really are. 

However, not all people of color experienced the same treatment. Some were more ostracized than others, especially if they had darker skin. When looking at The Woman of Colour, we can see this represented with Dido, who is darker than Olivia and thus set even further apart from even Olivia’s standpoint. This fact was discussed in the article titled “Reading Slantwise: Dido in The Woman of Colour (1808)” by Sofia Huggins. In this article, we see the quote, “It is straightforward, perhaps, to make the connections between the mixed-race women and forget about the other Dido, Olivia Fairfield’s enslaved maid, to let her darker skin blend with the shadows in the background and focus instead on the ways in which wealthy, educated women of colour like Olivia Fairfield both disrupted and reinforced the hierarchies of British society built on wealth amassed through transatlantic slavery” (Huggins 27-28). Here we see how the treatment of Dido differs from Olivia. Dido is cast into the background where a shadow is placed over her because of the fact that her skin is too dark to people in England. Thus, while Olivia faces discrimination for being Black, Dido faces it even more so, as she has darker skin than Olivia. This showcases the levels that there are to feeling as an outcast and how this experience can differ for different individuals. 

This is not to say that Olivia does not experience discrimination, it is just at a different level. Olivia is also set as an outcast, even by the person she is intended to marry. We see this pointed out in the article “August Disgust: Distinction, Disinterest, and Race in The Woman of Colour” by Daniel Yu with the quote, “By recounting his recoil at the sight of Olivia, Augustus establishes that his base desires do not incline him toward marrying her; if he does marry her, it will be in obedience to his higher sensibilities” (Yu 104). This quote allows readers to see how Augustus’ previous bias causes him to feel disgust towards her. He is from a society that upholds the idea that individuals who are Black, are lesser than white individuals. However, this does not exclude him from the fault of not realizing why he is wrong in this belief. It also does not excuse him from not standing up for Olivia when she is discriminated against by members of his family. Thus, we can see that Olivia is treated as an outcast by almost everyone in England. 

On another note, because of my particular personal interests in Neuroscience and Psychology, I want to address the science behind racism and the ostracization that it causes. “Being excluded in these ways is emotionally painful, threatening people’s basic psychological needs, such as their needs for belonging, control, meaningful existence, and self-esteem. Individuals who experience chronic forms of exclusion often develop a sense of resignation as well as feelings of alienation, helplessness, depression, and existential meaninglessness” (Kachanoff). Racism is often presented in the form of microaggressions. These can be hard to see or interpret if you have not been at the forefront of experiencing them. This is why it is essential that everyone researches and becomes more educated on this so that people of color are not left to fend for themselves. 

This portrayal of Olivia as an outcast was not just a portrayal, it was fact and often experienced by people of color during this time period, and is disappointingly still prevalent today. Despite the challenges, Olivia refuses to be defined by what others say and instead, maintains her dignity. Within this, she emphasizes perseverance in the face of discrimination and challenges the societal norms that surround being a person of color. Thus, when looking at the word “outcast” we can understand the lasting impact of racial prejudice experienced by Olivia in The Woman of Colour. By further exploring this topic, readers can gain a greater appreciation for people of color during this time and learn how to address systemic racism in society today. 

Works Cited

Anonymous. The Woman of Colour, A Tale. [1808]. Ed. Lyndon J. Dominique. Broadview, 2008. Print.

Huggins, Sofia Prado. “Reading Slantwise: Dido in The Woman of Colour (1808).” Eighteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 35 no. 1, 2023, p. 27-42. Project MUSE muse.jhu.edu/article/880291.

Kachanoff, Frank, and Shira Gabriel. “The Link between Racial Discrimination and Social Exclusion.” SPSP, 22 Sept. 2017, spsp.org/news-center/character-context-blog/link-between-racial-discrimination-and-social-exclusion. 

Seacole, Mary. The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands. London: Penguin Classics, 2005. Print.Yu, Daniel. “August Disgust: Distinction, Disinterest, and Race in The Woman of Colour.” Eighteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 35 no. 1, 2023, p. 103-111. Project MUSEmuse.jhu.edu/article/880272.