Flore Rape Quotes

In the novel Claire of the Sea Light, Edwidge Danticat utilizes Max Ardin Junior and Flore Voltaire’s interactions and relationship to reveal the dominance of wealthy males in Haitian society; however, despite these circumstances, Danticat illuminates the ability for women to empower themselves and find redemption. The consequences of Flore’s rape reflect the sexist nature of society in Haiti that knowingly traps poor and vulnerable women in harmful and violating situations at the favor of rich men. On the other hand, using Flore’s reaction to her rape, Danticat explores the opportunities women have to stand up to the detrimental male power and take their dignity back. Ultimately, the events involving both Max Jr. and Flore allow Danticat to
She conveys the neglect women of lesser rank experience from Haitian society regarding their safety and respect through Flore’s rape and Max Ardin Senior’s beliefs about the event. For example, he questions, “Wasn’t even the girl expecting it?” when looking back on Flore’s rape because “sleeping with the house servant was not an uncommon rite of passage for young men in houses like his” (Danticat 185). As Max Sr. highlights the commonality of situations of rape similar to Max Jr. and Flore’s, Danticat expresses society’s immunity to the horrors of rape and failure to punish the powerful men behind the acts; thus, she depicts society’s disregard for poor women. Furthermore, with Flore’s reaction to her rape, Danticat exposes the harsh reality for low-income women living in Haiti. Flore explains to Louise, “I could not lose my job . . . I am—was—paying . . . the rent for my mother’s house” (175). Danticat exhibits trapping nature of poverty for the workingwomen as having to accept harmful, violating situations due to their desperate need for money to survive. Moreover,
and Flore’s interactions; however, Flore’s action against her injustice shows that women can demand respect and escape mistreatment contrary to the popular belief. Danticat illustrates the sexist society of Haiti by the ease of affluent males to justify and flee their faults and the difficulty of women to find peace and justice for their maltreatments. Furthermore, she contradicts the disadvantage for the women by exhibiting possibility for them to reject their secondary position and take back control from the oppressive males. Ultimately, the complex relationship of Max Jr. and Flore elucidates the harsh but hopeful reality of life for low class, workingwomen living in