They
Who Use Their Imaginations
Similar to the first half of They
Who Do Not Grieve, Figiel continues to interweave the histories of several
generations: working to remove the confining elements of time. By doing this,
Figiel is able to show us that the past, present, and future actually all exist
within the same frame; she is suggesting that history defies the dimensions of
time. Through this rather nebulous depiction of time, Figiel allows the
characters within her text the ability to travel through their histories. In
addition, these characters are given the opportunity to travel along side and even
through the other characters that exist within different generations. On page
173, Figiel allows her narrator to distinguish herself from her
mother—establishing herself as a “separate entity”. However, despite their
physical separation, “the invisible cord [is] still there”(173). Here Figiel
demonstrates that dealing with the past may not always be easy, nor desired, but
that it must be confronted. More specifically, she believes that an
individual’s past—an individual’s history-- is also equally their present. This
“invisible cord” serves as a reminder that-- whether we like it or not—we are
tied and even rooted in our history.
I also found it interesting that
Figiel puts emphasis on the relationship between imagination and reality.
Similar to the other authors we have studied this semester (i.e. Wendt, Lewis,
etc.) Figiel believes in the power of imagination. More specifically, we see
this through her character Panapa. In his story, he explains: “my life was
nothing…it wasn’t what I expected out of life. So I dreamt. I had dream that I
would come to this country. That I would find a job. That I would live a
different life from the life in store for me…It’s been a little rough…It hasn’t
been a joyride at all. But still… I’m in my dream. And I hope…that my children
will dream another kind of dream”(208). In this moment, Figiel demonstrates that
dreams have the potential to become realities. Similarly, on the last page of
the text Figiel writes: “That’s what draws her to continue. To move forward…To
live in all the confusion of the present, knowing that there are still dreams
to be dreamt”(270). I think that Figiel is also speaking to her audience here.
She is encouraging her reader to embrace the complexity of their history
regardless of if it is restrictive or burdensome. According to Figiel, it is the
individual that is in control of their imagination and once they dream it, that
dream becomes their reality, their future.
No comments:
Post a Comment