"A Wall of Rising Fire" by Edwidge Danticat

This blog post about Edwidge Danticat's "A Wall of Rising Fire" is going to take a look at the meaning and significance of the title.

Through out the story there is a conflict that grows from start to finish. It is a struggle between doing what is right for your family and living life in order to make yourself happy and feel complete and right. The idea of freedom comes up with little Guy's speech and Guy's outlook on life. The idea of the wall of fire may be significant in that it stands for looming downfall, or having feelings, emotions, or conflicts pile up inside of a person to the point of breaking.

The main character, Guy, has lived a life he did not feel was enough for him or for his family. He wants more for his son but at the same time cannot live with himself for not being about to provide for his family. So much of his life was run by the decisions of others, what work would come and when, that I feel that the title really has a significance when it comes to letting all negatives pile up until it becomes too much. The "rising fire" was maybe a metaphor for the build up of emotion and frustration within his life.

Also, at the end of the short story Guy finally takes a hot air balloon on a journey. This is the other part of the story that relates to the title. In order for a hot air balloon to even get off the ground, a fire must be lit and as the flames rise, the air heats up to raise the balloon off the ground. Guy then takes his last breath and jumps out of the balloon leading to his death. At the same time, this act shows the literal fire rising in the balloon and the metaphorical idea of things becoming too much, building up to the point of destruction.