Fly

                               Fly

Hundreds of years before, human always dreamed about flying to sky, so in many areas like scientific studies and literary works, people were trying hard to reach this goal through different aspects.  Focusing on the literary features, flying has many meanings such as chasing dream, desire of freedom and even death. And actually, in the book Krik? Krak! this action also helps to pass some complicate implications. 

The theme of flying appears in both 1937 and A Wall of Fire Rising. One is the narrator’s mother has fire wings and can fly; the other one is Guy rids the hot-air balloon flying and finally dies. It is interesting that in the book there are many separated little stories, but we can still find many unexpected connections between them. 

In 1937 and A Wall of Fire Rising, fly themes both symbolize some deep spiritual expressions. In 1937, voodoo practicers (women) were massacred, and in the story the narrator’s mother was described as one of those group of women who survived from that disaster. They got out of the blood river, which seems like they were on fire. And flying symbolizes that they escaped from the massacre. And because they practiced voodoo, some of those women were arrested in the prison till they die. “And before the women went to sleep, the guards made them throw tin cups of cold water at one another so that their bodies would not be able to muster up enough heat to grow those wings made of flames, fly away in the middle of night, slip into the slumber of innocent children and steal their breath.”(p32) Because those women in the prison practiced voodoo which is seemed as evil magic, the guards were actually afraid of them. This shows that those women were powerful in others’ eyes  who caught and tortured them. Flying symbolizes their power and the ability to free themselves and fight against their destiny. And fly also represents a spirit passing through generations. “Our mothers were the ashes and we were the light. Our mothers were the embers and we were the sparks. Our mothers were the flames and we were the blaze.” (35) Over decades, those women were persistent for their religion, their identity and their rights. If they do not get what they want, they will keep fighting for their goal, so as their following generation. This has already become a belief in their spirits and existed as long as any one of them alive. The sentence “ ‘Let your flight be joyful’, she said, ‘and mine too.’” (36) are mentioned twice. “‘Let her flight be joyful,’ I said to Jacqueline. ‘And mine and yours too.’”(42) The first time is said by manman, and I believe she means that she wishes her daughter’s life journey could be free and happy. As a mother, seeing her own daughter becomes strong and mature day by day is a kind of pleasure. And in my opinion, she also wants her daughter to remember the heavy historical mission on their shoulders and to be a strong woman in the future.  Also for herself, she knew about her ending when she was caught, but she was not afraid because she has done with hers mission. And death is one a way to free herself. The second time the narrator said that sentence means that she understands her mother’s wish and becomes determined about what she should do in the future which shows this faith passes through generation successfully. The author does not tell the meaning of fly directly, but we still could understand it according to the historical content of that time period which is really impressive that this story has very strong spirit of the times. 

Also in A Wall of Fire Rising, fly represents freedom, but it is just an unreachable wish. Poor people in low status could not gain truly free even though they find (steal) way to “fly”. Guy is a very typical example. He is a representative of poor people at that time. Although he is a man, he is inferior and aimless. He could not feed his family, so he is angry about rich people, angry about his family and even angry about himself. Sadly, the situation could not be changed regardless the efforts he paid. It seems like he will be a worker, a looser, forever, so he wants to escape. He always wants to ride the hot-air balloon because he wants to fly above others heads and to be remembered.  He thinks flying could give him joys and fulfills his dream. But finally he dies as he jumps out of the basket which indicates that the reality could not be changed when you try to escape from it. Flying still could not give you what you want. 

At that time period and that region, pressure from racism and social status were suppressing poor people. And they were suffering of the inequality. Both stories have flying theme, but they have partial same and partial different meanings. Overall, flying is a way of chasing freedom in both stories. The difference is whether it is the right way to reach the goal. And the author tries to express this common spiritual faith of those people for not only their rebellion but also their suicide.