'Small Island': tracking the events of Act 1 Scene 1

Stella's attitude to the hurricane shows her ignorance - she views it as an exotic experience, neglecting the danger. The hurricane is a powerful natural force that exposes truths about the human relations between characters. The stage directions show Hortense preparing the schoolhouse, whereas the naive Mrs. Ryder looks out from the open door. Hortense’s calmness in the storm suggests she has been shaped by strong forces. Freytag’s pyramid can be used to track events and characters.