Research: The Kingdom of This World
Focus Article/ Scholarly Article
Other Literary Critiques & Interview with Carpentier
Haitian Revolution Background
Insights/Questions
Carpentier fascination with Haiti
magic realism as a cultural resistence
Ti Noel
Magic grows out of the real
revolution- oppression cycle
The real is just as real as the magic is magical
magic as something that is possible (this occurs when it is paired with realism)
Questions official history
time is not linear in terms of magical realism
fictionalization of history and implications that history may be formed from fiction
"magic coupled with a strong sense of realism (Yu 297)
Carpentier calls Haiti by its name throughout the novel instead of referring it to its technical colonial name: Hispaniola
Show bias for the Haitian revolution
Relation to Cuban revolution? Knew Cuba as Cuba, not its colonial name
suggests a possible notion that Carpentier is for the revolution-oppression cycle and believes that it is everlasting, especially due to people forever wanting to prosper
Magical realism is the Third World's consciousness
a mediator of truths and beliefs between history (realism) and personal experiences (magic)
Is he a symbol for Magical Realism?
slave becomes ruler, to stern of a ruler, becomes unpopular, people revolt, rule commits
Heroism
multiple instances of hero in this novel
endless process of renewal
people always want to better their condition = causes revolution
connects people through experiences, advances culture, unifies
Mag. Real. leaves us with multiple alternatives
relates to how time is not linear
Carpentier was born in Switzerland but moved to Cuba
bi-racial/ bi-cultural confusion = Ti Noel being used as a mediator between the real and the magical aspects
Post colonial view points vs colonial view points sprinkled throughout the book, takes sides with the slaves who revolted though
Carpentier and Cuba
Carpentier moved to Cuba to join the Cuban Revolution
How might his experience affect the themes of the novel?
Magical realism
Is Ti Noel Alejo Carpentier but in the Haitian revolution?
Once occupied by the Spanish, during the time of revolution they were occupied by the French.
Spanish were pushing for revolution
Spanish promised slaves freedom if they escaped and fought alongside them
Haiti and its people were devastated by the European diseases
Social hierarcy
Mulattoes even were slave owners because they were seen as higher
social status by race, class, and gender were well established
caused for increased societal oppression
total dehumanization of a race of people, slaves were the majority by a landslide
this majority is one of the reasons why it was so easy for the slaves to revolt against the French
Toussaint L'Ouverture
Slave and revolt leader
basically the leader of the revolution, there are some comparisons between him and Mackandal
How might I...
How might I organize and integrate my insights into my main themes of discussion?
How might I develop a thesis that connects all of these themes and insights?
How might I relate my research to the themes of the book that I have found? Are there any overlapping themes? Should I include other insights from other authors even if they contradict what I am talking about?
"I was moved to compare the marvelous reality... with that exhausting attempt to invoke the marvelous" - Carpentier
This was the beginning of Magical realism. He was fascinated that during a time of turmoil that the slaves continued to keep hope and that hope was mainly out of the belief of the spiritual/ magical
wanted to know more about the origins of culture before colonization. he was for the rebirth of such origins in post colonial times
Atemporality
The novel is written chronologically in terms of the story. but time is often lost or ignored. Time is not linear in this novel. The past is always integrating the present and implications of the future reside in the past