krik krak notes

Post some reading notes on your blog, specifically 1) identifying characters, 2) summarizing the plot, and 3) offering some personal repsonse/ideas about the story

1) Two anonymous characters: A male letter writer and a female letter writer

2) The story starts with a male writer writing a letter to his lover. He is currently at a sea on a boat with other people, and noting his endless love toward his lover. Back in Haiti, the female writer writes a letter about her despair life without a male writer. She worries if the male writer is in danger at a sea, so she listens to radio tapes all the time from the male writer, but her father keeps trying to destroy them. Both female and male writer share their despair stories happening in Haiti and on the boat, which showing their hopelessness life controlled by the government and military. For example, the male writer shares a story of a woman called Celianne, who pregnanted a baby by the force of a group of macoutes. She ended up committing suicide, which showing their discouraged life. Back in Haiti, the female writer escapes from being accused, since she is the member of the youth federation. However, she could save her life since her father sells all of his land and property; therefore, she later finds words thank his father for saving her life. Back on the boat, the male writer is in big danger since the boat almost sinks below the waves and the female writer intuitively feels that through seeing his father making a black butterfly shape while moving his hand quickly. 

3) I think the story shows the miserable lives of Haitians by showing two characters sending letters to each other. The letters show their controlled and restricted lives held by the government, and they often get raped and cruelly beaten up if they act uncontrollably. The story is also very related to death since the female writer used a term black butterfly to show a death. It further tells the audience that Haitians that time were afraid of getting killed by the macoutes and government without any proper reasons. The letters basically show their miserable and hopeless lives and their tries to get freedom.