314 French Toczyski
4/6/09
Truth
In Maryse Conde's novel Crossing the Mangrove, the truth about Francis Sancher's identity
is skewed and complicated. Through many different characters' perspectives, Conde allows her
readers to decide the truth behind Francis Sancher and how his life and death portray her view of
Caribbean culture. As the story progresses, the reader gets more of an insight into the personalities
of the vast number of characters. As the reader learns more about each character, he learns more
about the Caribbean culture. Francis Sacher's true identity becomes revealed through the
characters' relationships with him. The truth is what the body can physically process with reasoning
through our eyes see and what our hearts feel. We cannot based truth simply by appearance of what
we hear. The truth is a very powerful concept, and is even said that it possesses the power to set
you free. Conde explains through her characters that the truth has the power to change either in
oneself or in a society as a whole. Without knowing or seeking the truth, we remain at a standstill
with no way to progress. Those who seek the truth may find happiness and satisfaction, but those
who don't will find frustration and misunderstanding.
Through this novel, Conde uses a range of characters from writers/historians to a vast
number of intertwined and intermingled family members. By understanding each character's views,
the reader can grasp a more understanding of how people are portrayed in Caribbean culture. For
instance, the fatherly figure represents strong, emotionless men. The fathers are very close-minded
and selfish people who have no cares for their wives. They sleep around with other women and do
not pay any attention to their wives. Conde sets a negative connotation of them. The death of
Francis symbolizes the truth, and the people will either change because of it and some will
continue to go on with their lives. Through the life of Francis Sancher, the reader gets a perspective
of how the Caribbean needs a change. The men need to be more open-minded and loving to their
wives. The women in Caribbean culture need a voice and need to be heard and appreciated. Their
lack of attention explains why they are so vulnerable to find independence and love. Through this
novel, Conde in a complicated way, aims to explain to her readers the truth of the downfalls of
Caribbean culture. truth The is hidden in so many ways and changed through gossip or prejudice
by the way one looks or where they are from. In a way, she explains that appearance may deceive
people into making false accusations. For instance, Mira is a beautiful girl, but many fear her and
depict her life.
While reading this novel, I could not help but think of the many similarities/parallels to the
film 12 Angry Men. This film is about a latino boy who is on sentence for murder, and if
convicted, will face the death sentence. His life is in the hands of twelve jurors and many of them
make preconceptions of the boy based of his ethnicity and background. There are even testimonies
of witnesses that see the boy flee the murder scene. How ever, there is only one man who seeks the
truth for himself by remaining patient, open-minded to all circumstances and does not prejudge.
What Conde is trying to say is that we cannot be like the characters in her novel, and that we must
not be quick to set on decisions or make preconceptions based on other's opinions or gossip. In the
beginning of the story, I had some preconceptions that Francis Sancher was not a well-liked or
respected man based on many of the people who disliked him such as Loulou and Aristide. As the
story progresses, the image of Francis Sacher begins to evolve and change with each character's
perspective of him. There begins to be a sense of pity or sympathy towards him because of his
family's past. Many of the decisions and actions that he makes may not be completely justifiable
but his intentions are understandable. When he gets Mira pregnant, he attempts to force an abortion
on the child. His reasoning is that his family died at young ages and thinks that his children will
also be cursed. This shows the superstition in their culture.
Maryse Conde uses a complex and complicated story line and complicated family tree as a
metaphor not only for a mangrove, hence the title, but also as a metaphor for Caribbean culture. In
a way, she is saying that Caribbean culture is very complex and we need to look at his roots
(history) to better understand why it is the way it is. Once the reader is able to cross the
mangrove of the complexity of the story, then he will have a better understanding of not only the
story as a whole but also that the Caribbean culture upholds many preconceptions based on the
events that have happened in the past.