The Arts in New York City
Although the visit of Edwidge Danticat was enlightening and interesting, it was not at all surprising. The reason? Danticat reflected both her personality and her mindset throughout the talk on her book, Brother, I’m Dying, as she had dome within the book itself; she included her love for her family, her Haitian culture, for writing as well as her focus on birth and death and her hope for the future generation to live on.
Danticat started with saying that her book was intimate, which is told by the nature of revealing a lot of information on her family. Her hope for the next generation, especially her daughter Mira, to live on, was displayed in both the epigraph and the ending (almost the conclusion) of the book. The love for her family was shown throughout the book, primarily focusing on her father and her uncle as well as in her speech. It was not even necessary for her to read excerpts from Brother, I’m Dying since whether directly or indirectly, everything that Danticat explained in her explanation on her book could have easily been attain by reading the book. Danticat is Brother, I’m Dying and Brother, I’m Dying is Danticat as well.
The most interesting aspect, although still predictable, but unique just the same, was when Edwidge Danticat incorporated Haitian proverbs within the explanation on her ideas on Brother, I’m Dying, in order to incorporate her attachment to Haitian culture and their words of wisdom in creating the memoir, showing that although it was written in English, her memoir, in fact, was more of a Haitian text trying to make a statement to American readers than an American text of itself.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
As much as I enjoyed Danticat’s visit to Brooklyn College, I cannot agree more concerning your thoughts on her predictability. After reading a memoir in which she completely exposed herself and much of her family, there was not much about herself that she could add in person. That she chose to convey her message through proverbs was almost trite. However, their Hatian origin and powerful meanings made them wonderful to hear. In addition, finally seeing the person who went through so much strife established a deeper connection than reading her memoir could provide. Your observation that the memoir is actually a Haitian text, written in English only to reach American readers, is very insightful. I believe this is an issue that many international readers must face.