Blog Post #6

The theme that appears in all three of the stories by Danticat is gender roles. This theme is extremely apparent and affects all of her stories, and the characters involved. Danticat has used gender roles as an automatic catalyst for the time frame she is working with throughout her stories. Every story involves different relationships and situations for the characters, but no matter what, they are living in a male-dominated world. This affects the decisions they make throughout their story and the kind of situation readers can automatically sense for the characters.

Danticat uses this theme as a tool to drive the characters through their story. Each character has a different goal or idea of life, so living in a male-dominated environment explains why some characters are in their specific situation, or why some of their relationships have certain dynamics. Gender roles are an automatic obstacle for the female characters of the story, and at times put pressure on the male characters to perform. Gender roles also play a part in the biased of some characters, as well as stereotypes put on them as well.

This theme is important because the characters always have to work with it in some way. In the story "Children of the Sea," there is a girl writing letters to her boyfriend who is fleeing on a boat. Her letters are more diary-like and casual, whereas the boy's writing is formal. (Implying that he received education and she did not.) The girl shows hatred towards her father throughout the story for having such large power over her, but in the end realizes that as the male figure in her life, he was obligated to protect her and be strong. The girl lived a secluded and boring life, forced to flee from soldiers who could have raped her.

In the story "Wall of Fire Rising," a troubled man and his family are trying to live their life in poverty. Most of the story shows the man in a state of confusion and depression, fighting with his own mind. The man wants his son to be strong and powerful when he is older, so he can support his family. He wants his son to start working soon, whereas his wife believes their child should stay in school for better opportunities. The man does not see how the boy could be a strong figure if he did not have a strong work ethic. As much as the man wanted to have a different life, he was caught up in what he was stuck with at the moment, letting the little opportunities he had dominate his outlook on his lifetime itself. The man ends up committing suicide to feel like he did something of his own, and to gain power over his life.

Overall in Danticat's stories, readers can see the pressures put on men to perform, and the oppression that women were succumbed to. Her characters all come from different stories, and are passionate about different things. No matter what though, they are faced with the feelings and requirements that come with a male-dominated culture. Danticat successfully portrays what it is like to face such obstacles, and allows her characters to face their issues head-on, and give new perspectives.