The most striking differences between What is the What, Of Beetles and Angels, and God Grew Tired of Us is the selection of tone. In God Grew Tired of Us, there is a
humorous atmosphere. The directors chose to include moments such as the
refugees learning to eat potato chips for the first time, which inspired
light-hearted laughter and a sense of innocence into the film. The film found a
nice balance between addressing the emotional voids felt by the featured
refugees and illuminating the optimism present in their every day actions. Of Beetles and Angels, in contrast, contains
a sweet sentiment. Its overall message is that ‘angels’ can be found in the
most unusual of places and that recognizing angels in one’s life can be a
powerful motivator toward life success. Of
Beetles and Angels focuses largely on the people in Mawi’s life rather than
Mawi himself; throughout the novel, Mawi describes how the work and words of
his father and brother helped him strive to reach a better life. Finally, in What is the What, there is a large aura
of resentment, prejudice, and hate. During the first pages, Valentino tells the
story of his life to a boy named Michael, the boy holding him hostage in his
own home. Throughout the story of Valentino’s suffering in Sudan, he makes jabs
at Michael; he notes that Michael must have experienced pain in his life but
that that pain will never equate the suffering of the lost boys because at
least Michael had clothes, food, and shelter during his hardship. The tone of
resentment present in What is the What
was surprising and unnerving because it hadn’t been prevalent in the other two
refugee stories; however, this tone was also refreshing because in my opinion,
it made Valentino seem more human. His flaws and his prejudices, specifically
against the Arab people, made him relatable because he openly showed how he was
far from perfect- far from an ideal manifestation of the America Dream. Through
this tone, Valentino was able to drive his story away from the mold of a
‘universal suffering’ account; his raw honesty revealed an edge of darkness
that hadn’t been approached in the other stories.
While the tones between these stories may have differed, the
goal of each story remained the same: to reveal a truth. By reading these
stories, I have adjusted my definition of truth. Truth is not merely the
accuracy of historical events, facts, or even, emotions; it is the dedication
to making a point greater than one’s self. It is a devotion to exploring
impossible wonders and unfathomable pain while remaining loyal to one’s duty to
paint the larger picture. This is what truth is to me, and the stories of these
refugees constantly warp and expand this new interpretation.
Aly,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your point about truth. It is such a tricky linguistic struggle to present the wholehearted truth while "painting the larger picture." I think, at times, truth becomes this nebulous concept which is really untouchable and unapproachable.
We, as students of literary fiction, become very keen to the world of fiction and the wonders of the "impossible." However, it is grounding and edifying to learn of the nature of something which is true and unchanging. It is from this reality that I think we gain the ultimate ability to empathize, to build a "refuge," and to help.
Best,
Jaser