Krik? Krak!, by Edwidge Danticat, is a novel written to depict the hardship and turmoil of the main characters, and everyday people living in Haiti during their time of war and ongoing corruption and conflict. In this novel, Danticat captures the strong emotion and struggle of ordinary people, with families and children, and what they do to survive in a society that has fallen under its dictatorial regime. It is because of unjust rights and freedoms that the Haitian people felt as if they needed to leave Haiti for America. Leaving the country was the only way to find peace and solace in a war torn society. Haiti has been the example of many governments who have failed their people. It has been the epitome of unjust rulers who stole power from…show more content… Krak!’s sixth chapter, “The Missing Peace”. In this chapter, Emilie Gallant, who is present throughout the chapter, asks her friend Lamort to take her to the mass grave where she believes her mother would have been buried. As they walk to the burial site, Emilie tells of her dreams about her mother sinking into a river, while calling out Emilie’s name. They pass loud gunshot noises, and they reach the churchyard. They hear a security guard ask who was present, and Emilie introduces herself as an American journalist. The guard tells them they are outside past their curfew, and threatens to shoot them if they do not leave. Emilie spots two guards dragging a dead man by the legs to the graveyard. As she follows their trail, the guard, whose name is then stated to be Toto, stops her, then repeatedly insists that she sees “nothing”. Emelie, in an angry and frustrated state, yells, “Under God’s sky, you do this to people!” As they argue and fight, Toto aims the rifle directly at her head, ready to kill her. As Lamort tries the best she can to stop them, she realizes that her password, “Peace”, has worn out, and changed. They are escorted out the churchyard, and sent back home. This short scene says a lot about Haiti’s political state. It describes the punishment for all people who did not follow the commands set forth by the dictatorial regime. Death and torture was inevitable for those who were stubborn against authority. This scene is important because it demonstrates the extent of the restrictions and hostility on the Haitian people. Visiting dead loved ones, especially ones killed by the government, was punishable. Those were the laws put into effect by their dictator, and enforced by the
