Zafa

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In the The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, fukú and zafa are forces depicted as interconnected opposites of each other: fukú is represented as the evils of colonization, and zafa is depicted as the counterspell to fukú. When fukú is first introduced in the book, it is not mentioned without zafa. Throughout the book, fukú is depicted as a faceless man, and zafa is depicted as a golden mongoose. Zafa predates fukú, and continues keeping the de León family safe from harm, whether the family is endangered by the Trujillo regime or not. While at first the novel seems to show them as interconnected forces, the details provided throughout the novel allude to the idea that zafa (good) is more powerful than fukú (evil). Throughout …show more content…

This shows that zafa is actually a powerful Ancient force which does not serve as a protector from colonialism but rather as a savior of humanity. Yunior states that since the Mongoose’s “earliest appearance in the written record–675 B.C.E., in a nameless scribe’s letter to Ashurbanipal’s father, Esarhaddon[1]– the Mongoose has proven itself to be an enemy of kingly chariots chains, and hierarchies. Believed to be an ally of Man.” (Diaz 151). While fukú was not released into the world until 1492 C.E., zafa’s protective watchfulness was first recorded in 675 B.C.E. This shows that the Mongoose’s protective watchfulness has existed long before the creation of fukú. In the letter referenced by Yunior, the Mongoose also serves as a protector of humans. The letter is a response to Esarhaddon when he asks for advice after, while on his way to invade an Arabian village, a mongoose runs beneath his chariot. During that time, there was an omen that misfortune was imminent if a mongoose ran between one’s legs. The letter is a response to Esarhaddon, advising him not to continue with the invasion (Damrosch 154-155). In this way, the Mongoose saved the Arabian people from a very certain demise, protecting them from danger. Furthermore, zafa is not only present when characters’ lives are threatened by Trujillo: it also appears to Oscar when he attempts

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