Desire To Survive: An Essay On The Illegal By Lawrence Hill

Desire to survive: An essay on The Illegal by Lawrence Hill

To some, the ability to turn invisible is an unattainable superpower, a power only seen in works of fiction. To others, it’s a means to stay alive. Standing on the soil of a nation that prides itself on freedom despite being hunted, merely for existing. Having to remain invisible whilst shouldering the responsibilities of reality is a challenge faced by many undocumented citizens. This concept is depicted in Lawrence Hill’s novel, The Illegal. The story revolves around a young, prosperous runner, Keita Ali and his journey in Freedom State. Upon his sister’s admission to Harvard University and the subsequent death of his parents, Keita Ali was forced to leave his home and dreams of

One only reaches this point in times of complete desperation, fueled by the desire to stay alive. Hill depicts this desperation by illustrating corruption and racial oppression in fictional Zantoroland. Chapter by chapter, Hill alludes to factors that pertain to an individual's decision to flee their country throughout part one of the book. Racial tension is seen as early as chapter one when a group of men abruptly burn down a Faloo church and murder Deacon Andrews while chanting racial derogatories. Their motive was pure resentment. There was growing unpopularity towards Faloos that did not go unnoticed: as the Deacon put it, “We used to be looked up to in this country. Politicians, business leaders, shopkeepers. But now we’re in danger". (Hill 16). This event introduced the ethnic conflict within the nation and the oppression faced by the Faloos, the ethnic minority. Hill dwells on this further through the events following the coup d’etat initiated by General Randall in chapter 2. The General expressed his resentment towards the Faloos through radio broadcasting and television. He announced that the rightful majority of Kanos would no longer submit to the Faloos. As a testament to his power, the General publicly humiliated the president, Porter Goodson, before ordering his death. His body was found dumped in the symbolic fountain of independence in the main square of Yagawa. This public display of brutality showcased the General’s power and authority. It created a sense of fear among Faloo citizens, giving them a motive to leave. Corruption ensued not long after the General took the presidential office. As the nation had no viable income tax, the government began kidnapping and issuing ransom demands, primarily on dissidents. These demands were for financial purposes, a type of revenue stream. An example of these kidnappings turn ransom demands was that