The theme of “Love” is present in each story we have read so far, but I could write 1000 words on love in each story - so I chose to highlight love between partners, not family. This is most present in “Children of the Sea” and “A Wall of Fire Rising.” Both of these stories portray love between partners, impacted in by tragedy. The results are drastically different.
The love between the two narrators in “Children of the Sea” is strong. It keeps them writing to each other even when they know it won’t be read. The girl keeps sane through hearing his voice, and he remembers their dreams together. Their love is never lost, despite being so far away. Danticat’s choice to open Krik? Krak! with this story established the theme of “love” as a major aspect of this book. I really enjoy the way Danticat allows the two characters to interact without communicating. To me, it shows that love is more than just a feeling we have for another - it’s a genuine connection, that ties two people. These are just teenagers, barely 20 years old, and yet they have such strong feelings towards each other. I think it says something about the way tragedy influences our love for others. In some cases, like this one, it strengthens it.
However, tragedy harms the love between Lili and Guy. It’s interesting to picture this couple the same age as the characters from the first story. Were they as connected? I believe Guy once loved her more than anything, and Lili is still reluctant to give up on him. Guy’s self esteem is clearly harmed by tragedy and poverty, driving a wedge between him and Lili. When Guy speaks of the past, he speaks with regret. Lili, on the other hand, tries to reach out to him. Even when he dies in the end, she doesn’t let the man close his eyes - because she knows he loves the sky. This is not the reaction of a woman not in love. Lili desperately wishes that they could have grown closer together through their shared struggle.
Through these portrayals two stories, we can see two very different ways struggle and tragedy impacts love. In “Children of the Sea,” their love prevails over distance, and through tragedy. Perhaps this is in part due to their ages, and their resilience. “A Wall of Fire Rising” paints a very different couple. They are older, and tragedy drives them away from each other. Another interesting difference between the two couples is distance - in the first story, being apart makes their love stronger. This is a unique trait of partners, and shows the strong side of Haitians. I also believe that “strong side” is present in Lili. She can tell she is losing her husband, but stays with him until the very end. I believe the theme of “love” says a lot about Haiti, and Edwidge Danticat. She is unafraid to tell both sides of the story, and wants her readers to understand that the unrest in Haiti brings people together, but can also drive them apart.
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