Finally we came over a rise and I saw the Caribbean...My first feeling was a wild desire to drive a stake in the sand and claim the place for myself. The beach was white as salt, and cut off from the world by a ring of steep hills that faced the sea. We were on the edge of a large bay and the water was that clear, turquoise color that you get with a white sand bottom. I had never seen such a place. I wanted to take off all my clothes and never wear them again.
The narrator of "The Rum Diary" experiences a profound moment of awe upon seeing the Caribbean for the first time. The beauty of the scene evokes a strong desire to claim it as his own, highlighting the allure of the untouched nature surrounding him. The beach is described vividly, with its bright white sand and the enclosing hills that create a sense of seclusion, making it feel like a personal paradise.
This encounter with the landscape sparks a deep yearning for freedom and a break from the constraints of society. The narrator's wish to shed his clothing symbolizes a wish to embrace a more natural and liberated existence in a place that feels untouched by the outside world. The clarity of the turquoise water further emphasizes the pristine quality of this idyllic setting, making it a memorable and transformative experience for him.
