A Wall Of Fire Rising Redo
Zeanna Buchanan
Professor Hall
English 1102
3 March 2014 “A Wall of Fire Rising”-Reading Response
Edwidge Danticat illustrated freedom throughout her short story, “A Wall of Fire Rising”. Freedom has a different meaning for everyone and can be attained many ways. Two ways were portrayed by the characters: Guy, Lili, and Lil Guy. They are a Haitian family in the 1990’s.
Lili, the mother and wife, saw that freedom from their shantytown lifestyle could be gained for Lil Guy if he worked hard to attain a decent education. Lil Guy must have agreed with his mother’s perception because he did just that and got a part in the play of Boukman, a Haitian revolutionary.
Guy, the father and husband, always felt the need to break free but when Lil Guy recited a part of Boukman’s speech Guy began to open up about his desire to operate the hot air balloon that the Asaad family owns. Guy wanted to feel free and when he stole that hot air balloon, he did but he also wanted to keep that feeling. The words of his son’s lines rang in his head, “I call on everyone and anyone so that we shall all let out one piercing cry that we may either live freely or we should die."(Danticat,154) So in return he jumped which gave him his last physical feeling of freedom, the moments before his death is when he lived the most. In this circumstance being completely free means to have nothing.
Lili’s reaction to Guy’s death was not how a typical wife would react when witnessing her husband’s death. She did not run towards her husband’s body but instead slowly walked towards him and just examined the body in deep thought. Lili lacked shock as if she understood why he did it or was even expecting it Guy’s actions. Her last words when asked if she wanted Guy’s eyes closed she replied “No, leave them open. My husband, he likes to look at the sky” (Danticat,157). Lili realized that Guy had finally found his freedom and that living did not mean he was alive.
Professor Hall
English 1102
3 March 2014 “A Wall of Fire Rising”-Reading Response
Edwidge Danticat illustrated freedom throughout her short story, “A Wall of Fire Rising”. Freedom has a different meaning for everyone and can be attained many ways. Two ways were portrayed by the characters: Guy, Lili, and Lil Guy. They are a Haitian family in the 1990’s.
Lili, the mother and wife, saw that freedom from their shantytown lifestyle could be gained for Lil Guy if he worked hard to attain a decent education. Lil Guy must have agreed with his mother’s perception because he did just that and got a part in the play of Boukman, a Haitian revolutionary.
Guy, the father and husband, always felt the need to break free but when Lil Guy recited a part of Boukman’s speech Guy began to open up about his desire to operate the hot air balloon that the Asaad family owns. Guy wanted to feel free and when he stole that hot air balloon, he did but he also wanted to keep that feeling. The words of his son’s lines rang in his head, “I call on everyone and anyone so that we shall all let out one piercing cry that we may either live freely or we should die."(Danticat,154) So in return he jumped which gave him his last physical feeling of freedom, the moments before his death is when he lived the most. In this circumstance being completely free means to have nothing.
Lili’s reaction to Guy’s death was not how a typical wife would react when witnessing her husband’s death. She did not run towards her husband’s body but instead slowly walked towards him and just examined the body in deep thought. Lili lacked shock as if she understood why he did it or was even expecting it Guy’s actions. Her last words when asked if she wanted Guy’s eyes closed she replied “No, leave them open. My husband, he likes to look at the sky” (Danticat,157). Lili realized that Guy had finally found his freedom and that living did not mean he was alive.