Analysis Of The Book Krik? Krak !

Krik? Krak!, a novel comprised of nine short stories, all of which capture both the brutalities and high standards of Haitian life and history. Edwidge Danticat, the author of the novel, did an outstanding job engulfing readers in Haitian culture through the characters she created. By putting her characters in challenging and tough situations, she displayed a vivid background in which the stories took place. In Krik? Krak!, Danticat mentions historical events and writes about symbols that hold a special significance with Haiti. By learning the background of these historical events and symbols, readers can better understand and appreciate the context of the book.

Haiti, located in the western subtropics of Hispaniola, is the second largest

In 1791, the slaves of Haiti arose in a rebellion, leading to thirteen years of war and deadly disease. With that, the Spanish, English, and French troops began to fight each other for control of the colony. The imperial forces militarized the slaves and trained them. In 1804, the military generals who drove out the French and took custody of the colony, declared independence and adopted the name of Haiti. The people of Haiti attach immense importance to that event which made their country the first independently black-ruled nation in the world, and only the second country in the Western Hemisphere to achieve independence from imperial

Krak!, a tragic and devastating event is discussed. In the short story, a river which separates Haiti from the Spanish-speaking part of Hispaniola is mentioned. The river is called Massacre River, the location of the historical event where many Haitians fled for their lives. In 1937, Dios Trujillo, otherwise known as El Generalissimo, the honorable chief of state, ordered the massacre of every Haitian living in the Dominican Republic. Many Haitians were able to cross the river, but there were also many who could not escape El Generalissimo’s soldiers. Another thing that was brought up in the same short story was a statue of Madonna, otherwise known as the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. This is a Catholic symbol that plays a central role in the story, representing motherhood. Understanding that Haiti’s Constitution in 1807 declared that Roman Catholicism be the state religion of Haiti, gives the reader a deeper appreciation for the