The short story, “A Wall of Fire Rising” is able to bring out the different aspects on fiction. It provides the reader clear details of setting, characterization, theme, and symbol; which help give an outline of the familial experiences, and it applies literary styles to bring out various themes and its motivation to the reader. Since the author provides us with all aspects of fiction, it aids in adding drama to the story and elaborating the author’s pastry of the literary art. The changing moods that are set in the story ensures that the reader remains fully involved.
The story centers around three characters, Guy, his wife Lili, and their seven-year old son Little Guy. The family are describe to be living in a one-roomed structure in Haiti;
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The theme of hope is prominent in the story as shown by Guy and Little Guy. The hot air balloon gives Guy hope that things will be better for him sooner. The lines that Little Guy recites are full of messages of hope, and it gives him the courage to face the future. Freedom is also an important theme in the story. The characters are free in their minds, as shown by their actions and isolating themselves from the community. The long for a better life away from poverty. Guy views the hot air balloon as an inspiration to his freedom, while the lines Little Guy narrates represents freedom although he does not have yet a full idea of what it …show more content…
The hot air balloon represents the dream that Guy has of a better life in the future. Guy mentions to Lili that he will fly it one day and escape to a place where he can start over and “…until I got to really nice place with a nice plot land where I could be something new” (Danticat 236). When Guy jumps off the hot air balloon, its’ left hanging on its own, showing Lili of unattained dreams and to always look up at the sky as a reminder. The author mentions the Haitian revolution about Dutty Bookman, a Haitian slave, who incited the revolution against slavery of the workers. When Guy and Lili hear Little Guy reciting the lines, it breaks them into tears (Danticat 228), it gives a representation of freedom. Fire rising which is also the title of the story is part of Bookman’s speech. It symbolized the Haitian Revolution when the slaves incinerated in the sugar plantation, the same fire also functions the hot air balloon to rise, and it gives Guy a way out like it gave the workers. The fire is be considered in a form of both freedom, and