LC Meeting #1

Quote: "The words that both my father and I wanted to exchange we never did. These letters were not approved, in his case by him, in my case by my uncle. No matter what the reason, we have always been equally paralyzed by the fear of breaking each other's heart. This is why I could never ask the question Bob did. I also could never tell my father that I'd learned from the doctor that he was dying. Even when they mattered less, there were things he and I were too afraid to say." Page 24, Edwidge Danticat said this quote.

Significance: I have learned a lot more about both Edwidge and her father from this quote. I have learned that they are both too afraid to say what must be said, because they both don't want to make the anyone sad. I also think that because Edwidge and her father were separated for a part of Edwidge's childhood, they don't want to say anything to each other that could make them angry, mad or sad because they want to enjoy the time they have together.

Character Judgment: I think that Edwidge Danticat should tell her father what the doctor told her, which was that her father was dying. I understand that she didn't want to add to her father's pain, but I think that her father has a right to know what the doctor says.

Question: Do you think that it was wrong for Edwidge Danticat not to tell her father, mother or other siblings about her father dying?

Quote 2: "For the family readings, I recited my father's letter in a monotone, honoring what I interpreted as a secret between us, that the impersonal style of his letters was due as much to his lack of faith in words and their ability to accurately reproduce his emotion as to his caution with Bob's and my feelings, avoiding too-happy news that might add to the anguish of separation, too-sad news that might worry us, and any hint of judgment or disapproval for my aunt and uncle which they could have interpreted as suggestion that they were mistreating us. The dispassionate letter were his way of avoiding a minefield, one he could have set off from a distance without being able to comfort the victims." Page 23, Edwidge Danticat said this quote.

Significance: I think that was one of the hardships that Edwidge's father and mother had to face when he left his family back in Haiti, while they left to America. I think that it must have been very hard to write to your family that you left in another country and having to tell them what was going on, while knowing that if you say something too happy or sad, it might hurt your families feelings.

Character Judgment: I feel bad for Edwidge's father and mother because they probably miss their children so badly and they want to tell them how they really feel, but they just can't find the words to tell them. I also think that they shouldn't have left their children behind, and that they should have waited until they had enough money to take everyone to America.

Question 2: Do you think Edwidge's father and mother did the right thing by leaving their children in Haiti while they went to America?