Page on Krik? Krak!

     When I first learned that we would be reading Krik? Krak! a collection of short stories on the various components of the Haitian culture, I thought this would be another depressing and dismal novel about victims of society. It didn't take long however, to be drawn into a complicated and impoverished culture, from the close-up perspectives of various individuals in the novel. I began to see, feel and experience what they were going through. It was shockingly clear, how wide the contrast of my comfortable world is to the poor and heartbreaking world Haitians come from, and I feel very fortunate to be who I am and where I am in this world. It was also evident that in order for the author Edwidge Danticat to convey her message of the suffering that the Haitians faced and provoke emotions from the reader, that her narrative and imagery would include disturbing depictions, sad facts, and not sugar-coat anything. For me, even though the facts of this almost primitive culture was almost hard to believe in this era, learning about them makes me understand how extremely difficult and challenging it must be for other cultures to begin a new life in a new world, while trying to hold onto their own culture.

      The harsh realities of the stories, reminded me how much easier it is growing up in America, compared to growing up in Haiti in a world with so much poverty and instability.  Danticat's short story "Caroline's Wedding" especially resonated with me because the two protagonists Caroline and Grace live anything but a simple life in the modern world of New York City. One of the major themes of this story, is the constant cultural conflicts that exist when people try to start a new life in a new location, so opposite from the world they know.  Caroline and Grace's mother has strong Haitian roots, filled with voodou-like beliefs and traditions. Her differing views on the Haitian culture and the American culture that only her Daughter Caroline is legating a citizen, create obstacles for the girls who are torn between wanting to please their mother, yet also trying to embrace the opportunities that come with living in America.   

     "Caroline's Wedding" depicts the journeys of the sisters Caroline, who was born in the United States, her older sister named Grace, who was born in Haiti, as well as their very traditional Haitian mother. One would think that Caroline's life would be much easier than her sister Grace because she was born in America, however, this is not the case. Since Caroline is engaged to a Bahamian man named Eric, and her mother is a strong Haitian woman not wanting any non-Haitians to enter their family, Caroline is in for a rough ride with her mother as the wedding day rapidly approaches. Her mother, despite knowing about Eric says; "I am afraid she will never find a nice man to marry her" (Danticat, 143). This illustrates how "Ma" does not even consider non-Haitians to be relevant or existing in her family, "no one in our family has ever married outside" (Danticat, 143). Ma's resistance to accepting the concept of marrying outside one's culture is something that sadly takes place, even during this time in history all around the world. It is mind boggling to think that even in 2018, when arranged marriages do not go smoothly or take place, most notably in India, that tragically the Indian brides are either severely punished or their family banishes them. This movingly is the situation in a current movie that is playing, The Big Sick, when an Indian man chooses to marry an American woman and his family disowns him. Like "Caroline's Wedding," it is heartbreaking to witness the old versus new perspectives of intercultural relationships.       

     In "Caroline's Wedding" however, Grace tries to mediate her mothers dismissive attitude by asking her mother to reflect on her own heart and asks her "what would you have done if your father had said no?" (Danticat, 144) Surprisingly Ma replies "I probably would have married anyway" (Danticat, 144). It is here that Grace "for the first time, saw a hint of this realization in Ma's face" (Danticat, 144) in other words, Ma's comment reveals a part of herself that her daughter had never known about her, that her mother was denied choices and Grace is beginning to understand that despite her mother's fierce devotion to her Haitian country, she herself had yearned to have the freedom to follow her heart.

-MK