TOWARDS A TRANS-CARIBBEAN POETICS: A NEW AESTHETICS OF POWER AND RESISTANCE BY DAYNALÍ FLORES-RODRIGUEZ DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Comparative Literature in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Professor Emeritus Michael Palencia-Roth, Chair and Director of Research Assistant Professor Nancy Castro Associate Professor Dara Goldman Assistant Professor Luciano Tosta i ABSTRACT This dissertation analyzes how Caribbean-American writers living elsewhere challenge common ideas about power, violence and oppression through the reinterpretation of Caribbean dictatorial regimes in their fiction, and how their stories fare in comparison to other narrative traditions such as the Latin American dictator novel genre. The works of Julia Alvarez (The Dominican Republic), Edwidge Danticat (Haiti) and Junot Díaz (The Dominican Republic) share thematic and biographical similarities and reveal an emerging aesthetic with definite textual and thematic traits that I identify as Trans-Caribbean, a poetics with four main constitutive aspects. First, it addresses the tensions between individualism and collectivism in Caribbean discourse. Second it addresses the implicit role of logo centrism in shaping cultural narratives. Third, it presents fragmentation as a phenomenon that is both discursive and thematic. Finally, it develops the multiple strategies of visual and linguistic disruption in order to suspend normative representations of Caribbean identity. Trans-Caribbean Poetics is trans-continental, fragmentary, personal, relational and multilingual and suggests a plausible model to analyze discursive relations in a transnational context. [ii] Para Mami y Tio Junior [iii] ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Aunque mi investigación se escribió en inglés, debo confesar que en mis agradecimientos, un idioma no es suficiente para transmitir genuinamente lo que siento. En este sentido, no sólo vivo un poco la criollización del lenguaje a la que me refiero en esta investigación, sino que doy testimonio de las muchas personas que enriquecieron y fortalecieron mis experiencias académicas y personales hasta el día de hoy. A mi mamá, le doy las gracias por darme el coraje para seguir mis sueños y por acompañarme, incluso en la lejanía, para que se hicieran realidad. Gracias por tirarte para acá, por acompañar y cuidar de Alani para que me quemara las pestañas en la biblioteca. Por darme animos desde el teléfono y casi casi escribir esta tesis conmigo. A mi tío Yunior, por introducirme, sin saberlo ni él ni yo en ese momento, al mundo maravilloso de los libros, lo que daría inicio a una pasión que hasta hoy me inflama. A mi esposo, Julio, por tratar de escuchar y entender mis disquisiciones teoréticas y literarias, y aderezarlas, de vez en cuando, con un comentario político y social que le diera contexto a todo lo que parece ser, de vez en cuando, tan abstracto. A mi hija Alani, la mejor nena del mundo. Por darme la compañía, el amor y el tiempo que necesitaba para graduarme. Porque me diste la razón y el empujoncito que necesitaba para llegar a la meta. Porque no lo hubiera podido hacer con nadie más que contigo. A mi hermana Darelis, y a papi, muchas gracias por creer en mí, y por prestarme a mami de vez en cuando (sé que fue duro, pero valió la pena, ¿vieron?) Porque esta investigación es el fruto de muchos sueños, ajenos, míos y compartidos. Likewise, I would like to thank and acknowledge the mentorship and support of those professors who believed in me despite all odds and who set the professional and academic standards I hope to achieve one day in my own scholarship. Professor Palencia-Roth, thank you for your patience, encouragement and for the many hours you gifted me with while I was [iv] struggling with my own ideas. It was fun to know that our conversations sparked your forgotten Spanglish, and I will always be proud of being your student. Professor Nancy Castro you are a magnificent scholar whose generous and meticulous reading made my work so much meaningful, precise and clear. I‘m in awe as how much you know regarding all the topics I would like to explore in my own scholarship. Thank you for your honesty regarding all my doubts about academia. You became a friend when I truly needed one. Professor Dara Goldman, how would have I survived if it weren‘t for our meaningful conversations regarding music, books and food? You provided a rinconcito where to go whenever I felt homesick. Your notions and ideas regarding the insular space of the Caribbean as an ideological concept proved very useful to jump-start my own ideas about space in my research. Professor Luciano Tosta, you always had an open door for me despite having such a short time to know me. Our discussions on transnational literature helped me a great deal and I really learned that it was truly possible for me to be a Comparatist thanks to your example. Thank you all for showing me how committed professors can make all the difference in the world of a student. A mis amigos, los que ya se han ido en búsqueda de sus propios sueños, y los que se aprestan a comenzar el mismo camino, gracias por mantenerme alejada de la locura y recordarme que uno es más que palabras sobre papel. A Katia, por los maratones de escritura, los aguacatitos y amarillitos enviados desde el patio de mami y compartidos con ritmos de bachata y batucada. A Kristina por el ping-pong de ideas, por la compañía en la oficina, por ser mi ―sounding board and editor,‖ y sobre todo por ser mi hermanita. A Marcos, por las porras, por los ánimos, y por el jamón serrano con tomatitos sobre pan. Melli, thanks for being my friend, for taking care of the cats, for the summer picnics and winter gatherings and for sharing your family and considering me part of yours. A Sebastian, gracias por los mejurjes de energía (sobre [v] todo el de vinito y miel, Ñumi) por las conversaciones, las empanadas, por jugar con Alani mientras Kristina y yo destrozábamos una oración con veinte más que nunca se escribieron. Maria, you know I‘m going to miss you LOTS, but you still owe me the Chicago trip. You are an amazing friend. Andrea, you are a strong woman who keeps showing me the true meaning of friendship and motherhood in every single second. Gracias por tus palabras de ánimo cuando las necesitaba, por siempre estar pendiente de nosotras, por compartir incluso a tu mami. I would have never known how much I was about to gain when I befriended you at the farmers market. Todos y cada uno de ustedes me dieron amor, apoyo y fuerzas. Siempre serán parte de lo que soy, no importa donde la vida nos lleve a cada uno. [vi] TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................... 1 THE DICTATORSHIP OF WRITING: A CARIBBEAN TRADITION? ....................................................................................3 POWER RELATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THE TRADITION OF RESISTANCE ................................................................9 CHAPTER 2: JULIA ALVAREZ ................................................................................................................. 17 THE NEED FOR TRANS-CARIBBEAN INDIVIDUALISMS ............................................................................................ 17 THE SILENCED IN CARIBBEAN DICTATORIAL NARRATIVES ....................................................................................... 24 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANS-CARIBBEAN CHARACTERS ........................................................................................ 36 AGAINST HEROES AND OTHER FUNDAMENTAL LIES ............................................................................................. 43 FAMILY SAGAS ............................................................................................................................................. 49 INCOMPLETE ANALOGIES: HOUSE IS TO HOME WHAT COUNTRY IS TO… ................................................................... 58 CHAPTER 3: EDWIDGE DANTICAT ........................................................................................................ 63 EMBODYING THE CARIBBEAN .......................................................................................................................... 63 (DYS)FUNCTIONAL FAMILIES ........................................................................................................................... 76 LOCATING THE CARIBBEAN (SUBJECT) ............................................................................................................... 89 STRATEGIES OF RESISTANCE ............................................................................................................................ 94 CHAPTER 4: JUNOT DIAZ ..................................................................................................................... 97 THE FUKÚ IS U.S.: CHALLENGING CARIBBEAN DICTATORIAL TRADITIONS ................................................................. 97 POWERFUL CHARACTERS .............................................................................................................................. 105 MAINSTREAMING FICTION, DISRUPTING FORM ................................................................................................. 113 CREDIBLE FICTIONS: TOWARDS A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE CARIBBEAN ......................................................... 118 CHAPTER