Bringing to the Focus Multiple Inspirations



Bringin to the Focus Multiple Inspirations

When there are more than one inspirations and sources which an author would like to incorporate into the fabric of their story, a sense of focus is key. Edwidge Danticat crafts the story of Giselle Sandrine Boyer in Untwine A Novel with focus on multiple inspirations, yet the narrative--with it's many facets--flows with great clarity. The reading is not cumbersome and the story of Giselle remains ever present, despite the flashbacks and movement from time and space, outside bodily sensations, inner thoughts and emotions.

Edwidge incorporates inspiration from fairy tales, folklore, family, the grasp of the hands, memories, faith and religion, feelings in the body, the climatic crash, the operating room, water, the abyss, the "under," and light and darkness. All of these motifs are worked seamlessly and interchangeably within each scene. It is hard to pinpoint just where one symbol stops and another begins, for Edwidge includes multiple ideas even at the sentence level, and not just in paragraphs or entire scenes.

"Then the star explodes, A streak of red and orange bursts in a Russia doll series of fires before my eyes...The beep continues as the exploding star fades into darkness...I cough up what seems like rivers, fishes, sea glass. I feel like I have been underwater...I sink under again...someone unclenthces one of my fists. If I could, to stay on top, I would hold on to the side of the hospital bed, like an anchor, like a boat" (30).

"Late to an important date...It is as if my memory has become the inside of our father's car, Stravinsky, the flute box, the red light shattering through glass, and the voice that says over and over again, urgently at first, then in a lulling whisper, "I think we're going to be late" (16).

"Then their lives flash before their eyes, until they meet a comforting angel, their own firebird, or grey wolf, or beautiful princess, or dead relative who encourages them to float back into their skin and remain amoung the living. The bright light I see is my sister" (14).

These are just a few instances where Danticat demonstrates how she seamlessly integrates multiple themes, ideas, and inspirations into the dialogue or stream of consciousness of Giselle. The urgency of the situation, the impulsive and innocence of the character's age, and the character moving in and out of consciousness, all justify the interweaving of these various ideas. It all works together to create a voice worth listening to, and relating too; Giselle's thoughts and inner voice are captivating because the focus moves throughout the various pieces of the fabric of who she is. Danticat uses memories and stream of consciousness to incoroporate many facets into the focus of the protagonist, and by proxy, the reader.

Courtney Cannon


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