Marie Vieux-Chauvet: Haiti, duvalier, voces ventrilocuas

Abstract

The narrative of Marie Vieux-Chauvet in Amour, Colère et folie presents a polyphony of voices echoing the struggles and challenges faced by the characters amidst François Duvalier's dictatorship. This narrative phenomenon not only enriches the texture of the work but also offers a profound analysis of the social and political complexities of the country under authoritarian rule. The different narrative perspectives reveal not only the individual dilemmas of the protagonists but also the complexity of social and political relations in Haitian society.

The narrative structure proposed by Vieux-Chauvet allows for a multifaceted exploration of the characters' voices, highlighting their individual struggles for freedom, justice, and dignity amid adversity. In "Love," Claire Clamont's voice resonates through the pages of her intimate diary, revealing profound reflections on the role of women in society and the tension between conformity and rebellion. In "Anger," the voices of Paul and Rose Normil emerge amidst family crisis and military oppression, reflecting powerlessness and despair in the face of an implacable system of oppression. Finally, in "Madness," the narrative takes on a theatrical form, providing a multifaceted view of a poet confronting the violence of military soldiers.

Vieux-Chauvet's work not only invites us to reflect on Haiti's past but also raises universal questions of power, resistance, and identity. Her use of narrative polyphony allows us to delve into the depths of the Haitian experience under dictatorship, revealing the interconnections and contradictions within society. This study, embedded in a broader context of research on women's writing in the Caribbean, seeks to contribute to the recognition and appreciation of an author whose work has been neglected by the academy but whose legacy is of undeniable importance for understanding Haitian history and culture.