Ayiti by Roxane Gay is a series of fifteen short stories that focus on various aspects of Haitian life. The author employs several unique writing styles that separate the text into different sections that tell many stories. Each story details different sets of challenges that Haitian people face both domestically and abroad. In each story, the characters’ descriptions of Haiti are both positive and negative. For example, in the story “All Things Being Relative”, the narrator shares two different perspectives of Haiti from their position in Michigan. Positively, the narrator states, “The sand is always warm. The water is so clear blue bright that it is sometimes painful to behold. The art and music are rich, textured, revelatory, ecstatic.
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She longs for an air conditioned home and an ample amount of food at supper – luxuries which are hard to come by in Haiti. Although she has a loving relationship with her husband Yves, her life is not fully satisfying. She states, “Sex is one of the few pleasures we have left.” (p. 109). This demonstrates the difficulty she faces in surviving in Haiti while still living a satisfying, fulfilling …show more content…
She has key revelations about Haiti and also carries doubts that their risky journey will pay off. For example, as she left her office for the last time, she reflects, stating “It is always when I am leaving work that I realize what an odd country Haiti is, with the Internet, computers, fax machines and photocopiers in offices and the people who use the, living in shacks with the barest of amenities.” (p. 114). Here, Gabrielle clearly describes the politics of her survival. She is a slave to a system that does not provide her with the comfort that she desires. Additionally, she also has doubts about moving to America for a better life. She earnestly longs for a better life, but questions if it could realistically happen, stating “too many have turned back when they realized the many miles between Haiti and Miami are not so few as the space on the map implies.” (p. 111). Given this, it is clear that many politics are involved as Gabrielle yearns for a better life outside of
She longs for an air conditioned home and an ample amount of food at supper – luxuries which are hard to come by in Haiti. Although she has a loving relationship with her husband Yves, her life is not fully satisfying. She states, “Sex is one of the few pleasures we have left.” (p. 109). This demonstrates the difficulty she faces in surviving in Haiti while still living a satisfying, fulfilling …show more content…
She has key revelations about Haiti and also carries doubts that their risky journey will pay off. For example, as she left her office for the last time, she reflects, stating “It is always when I am leaving work that I realize what an odd country Haiti is, with the Internet, computers, fax machines and photocopiers in offices and the people who use the, living in shacks with the barest of amenities.” (p. 114). Here, Gabrielle clearly describes the politics of her survival. She is a slave to a system that does not provide her with the comfort that she desires. Additionally, she also has doubts about moving to America for a better life. She earnestly longs for a better life, but questions if it could realistically happen, stating “too many have turned back when they realized the many miles between Haiti and Miami are not so few as the space on the map implies.” (p. 111). Given this, it is clear that many politics are involved as Gabrielle yearns for a better life outside of