Disappearing Acts: Marlon James’s Journey to the Margins

Marlon James’s latest novel, The Disappearers, is a searing exploration of the lives of marginalized men in 1980s Jamaica. This work is deeply personal, rooted in James’s own experiences growing up queer and black in Kingston.

James’s decision to return to realism after two novels that explored mythological fantasy marks a significant shift in his work. Brief History of Seven Killings was a sprawling epic that tackled the dark underbelly of Jamaican politics, while A Brief History of Seven Killings’s later companion, The Book One, delved into complex mythology. In contrast, The Disappearers is more intimate and personal.

The novel centers on a group of men who assemble to rehearse a gay play in Kingston. As they navigate their identities and desires, the narrative slowly unravels into a violent confrontation with the harsh realities of Jamaican society. Through this plot, James explores his thesis that those who grow up learning they are bad and don’t deserve to exist often organize their lives around attempts to disappear or escape.

The Disappearers features multiple narrators, each with their own distinct voice and perspective. Eddy, a bookish university student, struggles to reconcile his literary interests with his desire for pornographic escapism. Jordan, on the other hand, is a hustler living on the margins, whose narrative arc becomes increasingly eventful as he tracks down perpetrators.

Through these characters, James raises important questions about power and violence in Jamaica. He shows how even in private spaces – like the rehearsal house where the men gather – there are always those who seek to exert control, often with deadly consequences. The novel’s depiction of the attackers’ thoughts is striking, laying bare the toxic ideologies that fuel their violence.

James’s own experiences as a queer black man growing up in Jamaica clearly inform his writing. He has said that he too felt the need to escape – whether on a plane or in a coffin – and this sense of dislocation and displacement permeates The Disappearers. What’s remarkable is how James uses fiction to create a space for people who, like Eddy and Jordan, “can’t leave but can’t stay.”

The novel’s use of Jamaican English and patois adds another layer of depth to the narrative, drawing readers into the world of Kingston’s marginalized communities. Here, James’s thesis begins to take on a more nuanced meaning – these characters are not just trying to disappear or escape; they’re also fighting for survival in a society that seeks to erase them.

The Disappearers is a powerful exploration of what it means to be seen and heard, particularly in a context where power and violence often silence the marginalized. James’s decision to return to realism marks a significant shift in his work, one that’s both deeply personal and profoundly relevant to our current moment. As we navigate the complexities of identity and belonging, James reminds us that the stories we tell about ourselves – and the people we choose to disappear or ignore – have real-world consequences.

The Disappearers is not just a novel; it’s also a testament to the power of fiction to create spaces for marginalized voices. By exploring the lives of those who feel forced to disappear, James creates a mirror held up to our own society, one that reflects both the beauty and brutality of human experience.