Haitian Ties
Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat is a great book that gives an insight into Haitian culture that I personally have never seen before. Each short story gives a different aspect of Haitian life and Haitian history. I think one of the best ways this is done is by making it so that certain details of earlier stories return in later stories. It shows how Haitians' strong connection to their heritage and history causes them all to be interlinked. A good example of this is in "Caroline's Wedding", during a funeral for Haitians who lost their lives on a ship the mother begins to cry. "'Did Ma cry?.... 'It's not like she knows these people.' Caroline said. 'Ma says all Haitians know each other.'"
Later on during the funeral the priest starts to speak of a woman who lost her baby on board. Of course if you've read Krik? Krak! you would know that this is referring to Celianne, a character in the short story "Children of the Sea". This is not the only case where characters from previous stories are mentioned. In "A Wall of Fire Rising" we read about a man who is obsessed with a hot air balloon and ends up stealing it and then falling to his death, leaving his wife, Lili, and his son behind. In the following story, "Between the Pool and the Gardenias", we take a look into Lili's goddaughter's life and we also learn that Lili had killed herself in her later years.
Having some connection between stories that at first may seem to be completely separate from each other adds an element to this book that sets it apart from others. Rather than just droning on about how, as the mother in "Caroline's Wedding" said, "all Haitians know each other", Krik? Krak? actually gives details that show the reader how truly connected all Haitians are. It's as though they are all bound together by this invisible tie, formulated by a gloomy history and strong sense of Haitian pride.
-K.D.
Later on during the funeral the priest starts to speak of a woman who lost her baby on board. Of course if you've read Krik? Krak! you would know that this is referring to Celianne, a character in the short story "Children of the Sea". This is not the only case where characters from previous stories are mentioned. In "A Wall of Fire Rising" we read about a man who is obsessed with a hot air balloon and ends up stealing it and then falling to his death, leaving his wife, Lili, and his son behind. In the following story, "Between the Pool and the Gardenias", we take a look into Lili's goddaughter's life and we also learn that Lili had killed herself in her later years.
Having some connection between stories that at first may seem to be completely separate from each other adds an element to this book that sets it apart from others. Rather than just droning on about how, as the mother in "Caroline's Wedding" said, "all Haitians know each other", Krik? Krak? actually gives details that show the reader how truly connected all Haitians are. It's as though they are all bound together by this invisible tie, formulated by a gloomy history and strong sense of Haitian pride.
-K.D.
Kiki, very nice. "Invisible tie" is a perfect metaphor. (Does Celianne appear in "Nineteen Thirty-Seven"? See p. 23)
ReplyDeleteThis was written really well!!!! Good job:) So many connections were made in "Nineteen Thirty-Seven" and I think we also talked about how Lamort from "The Missing Peace" could be the daughter of Marie from "Between the Pool and the Gardenias".
ReplyDeleteDT
Here is a nice quote that further discusses what you've identified.
ReplyDelete“The awfulness of the pain and the tragedy of Haitian poverty are not all Danticat has to tell. She weaves a rich web of remembered rituals and dream fragments that connects the first story to the last. As the stories progress from one to the next, we realize that Danticat is tracing a family lineage, a history of people related by circumstance.” —Kimberly Hébert, Quarterly Black Review
I really like all the points and connections you made from the different short stories in Krik? Krak! Good job!! -MK
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point about the connections between stories. In fact, it is my most favorite part about Krik Krak. As the book progresses, I can see and feel the depth of the relationship between Haitians, and many aspects about their lives that we may not know before. Great job writing this!
ReplyDelete-NH