Krik? Krak!by the Haitian author Edwidge Danticat is a collection of short stories that has received wide recognition on the international book market and in literary circles. Danticat, who has already been awarded many literary prices in her young career, presents her native country Haiti in many facets, thereby conveying an impression of its beauty and cultural richness with all the positive and negative aspects. The title of the collection refers to “the Haitian tradition of the storyteller calling out ‘Krik?’ and willing listeners gathering around and answering ‘Krak’” (Atanasoski), which already suggests the importance of stories in Haitian culture, and furthermore hints at the Haitian way of life.Krik? Krak!offers a fascinating approach to this Haitian culture and the tradition of story-telling. Furthermore, the reader gains an insight into Haitian reality from very different, though mainly female, perspectives; Danticat’s writings emphasize the experience of Haitian women from all social levels.
All short stories inKrik? Krak!present interesting aspects of Haitian culture, but I have decided to refer exclusively to the last short story of the collection, “Caroline’s Wedding.” In contrast to the other short stories, the plot of “Caroline’s Wedding” takes place in the U.S., introducing to the reader a Haitian immigrant family living in New York. Apparently, the immigrant experience is central to many of Danticat’s writings. Beyond this, “Caroline’s Wedding” reflects on Haiti’s culture from a distinct cultural setting, which makes the story very suitable for an examination of cultural identity. Generally, in order to understand why so many Haitians emigrate from their home country, and to understand Danticat’s allusions to incidents of the past, some information about Haiti’s history might be helpful. Moreover, the impact of the immigrant experience on Danticat’s life will be pointed out by giving some information about her biographical background. In “Caroline’s Wedding,” Danticat touches upon many aspects of the immigrants’ situation in a foreign country, but the question of identity is certainly central to it. The story deals with three women who represent different stages of naturalization in the U.S., and different levels of identification with the U.S. and Haiti.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Background Information
- Historical Information on Haiti
- Biographical Information on Edwidge Danticat
- Cultural Identity
- National Identity
- Ethnic Identity
- Tradition: Family Structures and Voodoo Magic
- Language: The Oral Tradition
- The Necessity to Adapt
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to analyze the concept of cultural identity in Edwidge Danticat's short story "Caroline's Wedding" from her collection Krik? Krak!. It explores the various facets of identity formed by both national and ethnic influences, specifically within the context of Haitian immigrant experiences in the United States.
- Cultural Identity in the Immigrant Experience
- Haitian National Identity and its Historical Context
- Ethnic Identity and its Manifestations in Haitian Culture
- The Role of Family Structures and Voodoo Magic in Haitian Culture
- The Importance of Language and the Oral Tradition in Haitian Identity
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This section introduces the collection Krik? Krak! and specifically focuses on the short story "Caroline's Wedding." It highlights the importance of stories in Haitian culture and the diverse perspectives presented in Danticat's work, especially those of Haitian women. The essay will examine the concept of cultural identity through the lens of "Caroline's Wedding," emphasizing its portrayal of Haitian immigrants in the U.S.
- Background Information: This chapter provides historical context for understanding the Haitian immigrant experience in the United States. It briefly summarizes Haitian history, emphasizing its political instability and social struggles. The chapter also introduces Edwidge Danticat's biographical background, explaining how her immigrant experiences inform her writing. This context is crucial for understanding the characters and themes in "Caroline's Wedding."
- Historical Information on Haiti: This section delves into Haiti's historical development, focusing on the influence of colonization, political instability, and social inequity. It highlights the tensions between black Haitians and mulattoes and discusses the impact of the Duvalier regime on the country's economic situation and the subsequent wave of emigration.
Keywords
The primary keywords and focus topics of this essay include cultural identity, immigrant experience, Haitian history, ethnic identity, family structures, voodoo magic, language, and the oral tradition. It explores the complex interplay of these themes within the context of Edwidge Danticat's "Caroline's Wedding," offering insights into the construction of identity within the context of migration and cultural adaptation.
- Quote paper
- Mieke Schüller (Author), 2002, Cultural Identity in "Krik Krak" by Edwidge Danticat, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/44780
