The Ocean

 

The ocean is a key artifact and symbol for so much in Caribbean literature. As island nations, Caribbean countries are surrounded by the sea and they show how prevalent this is by writing about it so often. In "Dream Haiti", it tells a short story about a dream of a refugee. He dreams of his journey to the U.S.A.. he dreams of being imprisoned, even though he is imprisoned basically to himself, and the trip is only a one way journey with no opportunity to turn back. I found that the story shows the same Caribbean idea of hopelessness that we have read about multiple times before. While he was floating along, he escapes his land of culture, but leaves behind his sense of being stuck in post-colonial Haiti. However, he, himself is stuck and dreams give a false senes of reality. He is stuck floating along in the sea, and the waves also show a sense of being cast and stuck, flowing along with what the world throws his way.

    Th ocean for many is both an area that represents opportunity but also blockage. It is a land of opportunity for the Caribbean writers because most Caribbean nations are second and third world countries that are still developing. Many of the people in the Caribbean dream of going to a land of more promise, like the USA in "Dream Haiti". The authors write and try to encompass the viewpoint of a larger majority of their society. In this case the ocean in Caribbean literature shows how the people long for more opportunities, and see the ocean as their pathway to a better future. 

    In addition, the ocean is also a blockade to many. While many people dream of a better future and going to a land with more opportunity, it is not quite possible. Economically it can be challenging to leave to get to a place with more chances of success. Also, many have also started too much in their native land to just forget everything and move somewhere new. This feeling of being stuck, and this desperation can make people feel hopeless or desolate. This ties back to the general theme in this literature and throughout my exhibit of these stories being dark and not really having a happy ending.