The Role Of Fire In Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing

Improved Essays
Fire in Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing

Fire brings destruction and despair into Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, but also connects Effia’s family lineage. Fire’s ability to destroy, despair, and link Effia’s family history is seen through a variety of characters that suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally as a result. Effia’s family lineage goes through several trials and tribulations as a result of fire destroying their family. The characters’ in Effia’s family have to go through several moments of destruction, but the moments of destruction ultimately lead to new relationships reconnecting Effia’s family lineage. Therefore, fire personifies an underlying characteristic of an antagonist character, but with the abilities to destroy and reconnect Effia’s
…show more content…
For instance, fire consumed Akua’s life and also “she’d dreamed of it” (1770. Her vivid dreams about fire destroyed her life and led her to “set the hut on fire while [Yaw], still a baby, and his sisters slept” (227). Therefore, Akua’s fear of fire not only affected her, but her fear of fire also affected her son. Besides having a vivid scar on his face, he also had to deal with the different stories about his mother who was referred to as “the Crazy Woman of Edweso” (227). Also, Yaw’s scar is the reason for Akua’s openness urging Yaw to explore his freedom, and chants “Be free, Yaw. Be free”(242). Therefore, Yaw’s scar and reconciliation with Akua encourages characters Marjorie and Marcus to face their fears with fire and water, which also allows for the two to live a life their ancestors …show more content…
For instance, Effia was born on the night that “a fire raged through the woods just outside her father’s compound” (3). Ultimately, the fire that started on Effia’s birth affected her life before she even knew her name. The same fire that “raged through the woods” was the same fire that removed Esi from her immediate family. Again, even though there is no direct correlation with the black stone pendants, Esi and Akua’s mother, Maame, states that she left a stone pendant for each of the sisters “after [she] set the fire” (42). Therefore, the perception that Marjorie and Marcus connecting are symbolic to Esi and Akua’s spirits connecting

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Characters will be introduced throughout, such as our main character Montag, Beatty, and Clarisse. Fire has a huge symbolism in the book, Montag changes his thoughts and views on fire, and phoenix has both destruction and renewal meanings. Initially, fire has a huge symbolism throughout this book because, it’s what this book is based around.…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    These traits of fire represent her father’s drinking problem and its effect on her life. For example, a mirage at the top of the fire “where the snapping yellow flames [dissolve] into a shimmery heat” (61) is “a place where no rules apply.” Similarly, her dad does not follow any rules when alcohol consumes him. He is no more than heat, drying out his family’s money and patience. One example of him breaking the values of his family is on Christmas.…

    • 512 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In Norman Maclean’s text, Young Men and Fire, the reader is revealed an emotional and heart-wrenching tale of 13 smokejumpers that lose their lives on a seemingly ordinary day of wildfire fighting. The choice of recounting this tale in a Greek-story format shows us the academic, intellectual prowess of Maclean and his want to not only talk about the historical facts and testimony, but to meet the reader in his heart and express emotions that fill the empty factual spaces. Maclean says, “A storyteller, unlike a historian, must follow compassion wherever it leads him. He must be able to accompany his characters, even into smoke and fire, and bear witness to what they thought and felt even when they themselves no longer knew.” Throughout the text, we constantly see examples of Maclean’s complete and utter obsession over this event, and how that drives him in a relentless pursuit of the truth about what happened.…

    • 2061 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Where is it? I don’t know where it is. Yes you do. It’s inside you. It was always there.…

    • 1304 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The story of The Love Suicides at Amijama is between the love of Koharu and Jihei. Throughout the three acts of the story, they are faced with conflicting odds from their peers and society. Despite all the hate, they were both finally able to express their love for each other, but at what cost? In this paper, I will be analyzing the relationship of Koharu and Jihei. Specifically, I will be demonstrating instances of when the emotion of love is repressed, it not only affects Koharu and Jihei but the other characters in the story.…

    • 934 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The symbolism of fire can represent knowledge, awareness, rebirth, and destruction. The use of fire was first questioned when Guy Montag first met Clarisse McClellen and she brought up a new thought for what the purpose of fire could be used for; "Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?"(8). Guy Montag could only help but laugh thinking to himself how silly that idea could be but later questioning the possibility because all he knew was fire was meant for the destruction of books but couldn 't think of…

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    English Midterm About Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem Many would rather sit back and follow the government’s rules, than go against the government. Going against the government can be misfortunate for the rebels who are rebelling against the government. Going against the government can result in torture or even death for those revolting. Those who tend rebel, rebel because of their beliefs and the wrongdoing of the government.…

    • 1772 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    The battle someone faces can help in recognizing who he or she truly is. The utilization of the knowledge they discover on their journey will determine the result of their battle. For this battle to even begin, a force of opposition must be present. In John Knowles novel A Separate Peace, he conveys the battle Gene Forrester goes through to discover himself. Gene’s battle occurs at the Devon School, where he discovers the existence of his enemy.…

    • 1408 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Slave Girl Identity

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Research Question In what ways and to what effect have Harriet Ann Jacobs and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie been able to explore the idea of female identity “Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl” and “Purple Hibiscus?” Abstract This essay explores the research question; “In what ways and to what effect have Harriet Ann Jacobs and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie been able to explore the idea of female identity “Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl” and “Purple Hibiscus?”…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imagine, that the future of all books are banned and censored to keep human race from thinking in their own ways. In Ray Bradbury “Fahrenheit 451”, the author uses fire, water, and the Phoenix to as symbols to describe the great importance in Montag's society. Bradbury first portrays fire as a destructive force, starting the novel with Montag burning books. With the brainwashed mind in society, “it was [Montag’s] pleasure to burn” (Bradbury 1).…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Haifa Aljadou 151391 Dec 21,2016 Marxist Theory A Wall of Fire Rising “A Wall of Fire Rising” is a short story in which Edwidge Danticat the author, present the struggling of a man who wants to provaid to his family and accomplish his dreams to a better life for himself with his wife and son, in the short story we are introduced to the main characters Guy is the father and Lili his wife, the last character is the son which is refer to as the little Guy. From the Marxist theory the story is about the class differences in which Guy is searching for a meaning to his life amidst economic turmoil of Haiti. Edwidge Danticat was born in Haiti she comes form a working class where her father and mother we workers , that is some way makes her related to the story, because the setting of the story…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A Medieval Coming Out Party Symbolism, Diction, and Imagery In The Passion of Ss. Perpetua and Felicitas Public humiliation, disownment, and suffering are all pertinent to the road to martyrdom. One must give all of themselves to God to the point that they can not give anymore and only then will they be considered a saint. To live your life for someone other than yourself, someone greater than yourself is how a saint is born.…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Throughout The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, there is a consistent recurrence of the word fire, which is interesting since most of time it is utilized metaphorically. It often emphasizes characters’ passion; however it is also used more literally to signify destruction. Passion plays a key role in the story: characters wholeheartedly take positions for their belief due to powerful emotions, but most of the time their attempts have unintentional ramifications. These decisions appear shortsighted; they do not take into consideration all the logistics, possibly because people are too eager to take action before thinking it all the way through. Such illogical thinking is seen when the commoners attack the conspirators’ homes.…

    • 1423 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Lord Of The Flies Symbolism Analysis

    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited

    The fire also represents the boys’ connection to civilization. During the times they are most distant from their original rules and agreements, i.e. hunting trips, the fire is unlit. These are the times they have been distracted from thoughts of…

    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Conflict will forever be a part of society, greatly influencing it whether for the better or worse. The more positive uses for conflict are often found in literature through novels and plays. Inherit the Wind is a play in which conflicts help drive through and carry on the plot. These conflicts stem from various issues, mainly between the difference in mindsets and past relationships. However, this play addresses society’s three main conflicts; person versus person, person versus self, and person versus society through the use of characters and motifs.…

    • 1337 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays