A Wall Of Fire Rising By Edwidge Danticat

883 Words2 Pages

Frustrating False Sense of Freedom Edwidge Danticat, the author of “A Wall of Fire Rising,” was raised in Haiti and used experiences from her own childhood to recreate a short story which symbolizes her time spent in Haiti. Even though Haiti is an independent nation, Danticat has a constant theme of freedom in her short story, "A Wall of Fire Rising" which is represented through symbols in the unique and distinct culture. The major instances of symbolism are found throughout the story with the main character, Guy, the hot air balloon, and the play “A Wall of Fire Rising.” The first theme of symbolism is the main character, Guy, who represents the theme of freedom by being enslaved to his family. He claws at freedom by working odd jobs and …show more content…

The Assad family owns the sugar mill which is the primary place of work for the small Haitian town. The hot air balloon represents a luxury lifestyle that should be available to everyone, but instead is simply available for elite members of society. This is frustrating to Guy because Haiti is now independent but he cannot even afford food much less to be able to explore the sky. He is also fascinated by the sky which represents endless opportunity as well as freedom from everyday life. Danticat explains Guy’s sense of wonder and desire to break his symbolic shackles, “Can’t you see yourself up there? Up in the clouds somewhere like some kind of bird” (242). He wants to escape his current circumstances and he sees the hot air balloon as his way out to a better life of opportunity. The chain fence around the hot air balloon is also symbolic to the village. They can see freedom but the concept of freedom is not quite in reach. Danticat also shows how proud the rest of the village is that Guy has escaped his shackles and is free, “From a field behind the sugar mill a group of workers were watching the balloon float up into the air. Many were clapping and cheering and calling out Guys name” (246). Guy had accomplished his goal and he is free, he wanted to die in the hot air balloon to accomplish his goal of becoming free and to be

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