The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao By Junot Diaz

What a Dictator Wants vs. What a Dictator Does Not Want

What silence is to a reigning dictator, corruption is to government officials. When citizens are in fear they tend to be silent and never lash out at their rulers as great or fatal consequences can result. On the other hand, silence can stir up resistance to the power of a dictator ending their rule.

In the book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, the setting takes place in the Dominican Republic where the crude dictator Trujillo rules and installs fear in his people. Trujillo does as he pleases and has many personal "eye witnesses" to back him up if needed. The ''eye witnesses'' report back to Trujillo if anything unacceptable was said about him. Dr. Abelard,

Dr. Abelard suspects Trujillo's intentions once word gets around about the attractive young lady. "Young Women have no opportunity to develop unmolested in this country, he complained.'' page 220. Dr. Abelard tries his best to hide his daughter by not taking her to Trujillo's parties and keeping her in the house, so the repulsive leader could not touch her. Dr. Abelard succeeded by resisting the perseverance of Trujillo but ultimately ended up paying for his decision on suppressing his daughter away from Trujillo. Later in the book, Dr. Abelard comes into an encounter with one of the secret spies Trujillo has so he can sustain power and supposedly says something that is unlawful. What DR. Abelard said one night out drinking landed him in prison. Abelard mentioned to his friends about possibly having a full trunk of dead bodies since Trujillo killed a mass number of Dominicans in the same car model Abelard had. When Abelard opened his trunk, it was clear of mess and bodies he then said, "Trujillo must have cleaned them out for me." All of Abelard's words are according to an ''eye witness'' of

Silence is a major part of keeping a regime afloat and the key action to destroying that power is to defy it. In the article, "Resistance to Authority'' by Michael Schrekiner, Schrekiner brings forth a very important detail in the balance of people and their autocratic leaders. "Those in power view obedience as a virtue and disobedience as a vise since obedience is absolutely essential for maintaining that power.'' Once a successful resistance occurs, the silence dims to a roar of anger fueled by the received cruel treatment. Voices raise, petitions are signed, pickers raise their posters and signs high because they can no longer remain in the self-torturing silence. Even Leonardo da Vinci, who painted the Mona Lisa, understands that "If you remain silent then others will take your silence as acceptance". Cited from "Nothing Strengthens authority Such as Silence." Fear creates the silence which when drawn out too long creates