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A Wall of Fire Rising

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A Wall of Fire Rising
“A Wall of Fire Rising” In 1995, Edwidge Danticat wrote “A Wall of Fire Rising” which is a short story from her

book Krik? Krak! It is a story about a Haitain family who endeavors to survive both

emotionally and financially. In “A Wall of Fire Rising,” Guy, Little Guy, and Lili tried to work

through their poverty as best they could. Guy, the father of little Guy and the husband of Lili,

strived to be what he thought was the ideal man and provider. Guys thought of being the ideal

man was working at the sugar mill, putting food on their table, and providing a, “pretty house”

for Lili.

Little Guy was his parents inspiration. Little Guy was given the lead role in a play as

Boukman (Boukman was a rebel in the revolution; the Haitains looked up to Boukman because

he was a strong leader who inspired his followers). When he recited the heroic speech for his

family, they were over-joyed with pride. Little guy strived hard to learn his lines. If the

kerosene lamp ran out and there was no light; he would then go out to the street lights to

continue studying.

Lili is a very motivational, strong, and uplifting woman. She motivates her son and

husband to be the best that they can be. She is a strong woman because she is also dealing with

the everyday struggle of feeding her family. She warned her husband to stay away from the

balloon that he fantasized about daily.

Guy fantasized about stealing the balloon from the sugar mill, where it resided, and flying

away with it. He wanted to fly to a place far away and just start a whole new life. He wanted to

fly away to a land of luxury. As Guy continued to fly farther and farther away, out into the sky,

his wife and child stood watching from the sugar mill. After flying some distance away,

Guy began to climb out of the balloon. Guy’s body splattered onto the sugar mill, the land where

he so desperately wanted to work.

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