Brother, I'm Dying

Edwidge Danticat uses voice as the most significant symbol in her memoir. She begins with the literal concept of her uncle losing his voice due to throat cancer and develops it into a symbol of power versus powerlessness, presence versus absence, and communication versus silence. Uncle Joseph is a preacher and an educator, and losing his physical voice means that he will not be able to fulfill his mission in life. However, more important is the symbolic value of the loss of his voice. Having a voice means that he can communicate with others, and spread good will and offer comfort. Losing his voice robs him of his power to heal and help and renders him powerless in the face of the forces that threaten his people.

Edwidge’s father leaves for the United States when she is still a toddler, and their communication from then on is rare and superficial. Edwidge misses her father’s spiritual voice—his ability to communicate with his children. This is a profound need; Edwidge has grown up with her father’s physical absence, and she needs the presence of his voice to be able to accept her father as her parent.