do to the many wars and epidemics that were established in the country. Throughout her

novel Krik? Krak!, Edwidge Danticat depicts the violence, brutality and cruelty her

people suffered during that time. In her first two stories, we get a glimpse of the horror in

which the Haitian culture had to endure. Whether it was a group of protesting students

getting gunned down, a young women being gang raped, or an innocent women being

sentenced to life in prison because she was believed to be a witch, the terror and horror

seemed endless. How could a human being treat another in such a manner? How could a

Haitian treat another Haitian with so much cruelty and have that kind of malice for his

own people? Danticat shows us the pain of her people through her words and

demonstrates their healing power through her various short stories.

In her first short story, "Children of the Sea" we are introduced to two young

adults who are in love with one another but who are separated because of the terror which

existed in their Haitian society. Because they feared for the

do the same thing" (p.12). If they resisted they would shoot them. "The soldiers held a

macoutes by the house were laughing at her. they asked her if it was her dinner" (p.7).

to the head of young man and make him sleep with his mother. . "they have this thing

up enough heat to grow wings" (p.37). The guards wanted to make her and the rest of the

gun to Lionel's head and ordered him... to become intimate with his mother. Lionel

Some common words found in the essay are:
Madan Roger, Thirty-Seven Danticat, Children Sea, Edwidge Danticat, Life Haiti, Cruel World, mascoutes stop, head sleep, madan roger, hold gun, gun head sleep, terror mascoutes stop, hold gun head, mother told, terror mascoutes, innocent women, lionel mother, haitian society, short story,
Approximate Word count = 1087
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)