Book Cases: Dominican Republic

Friday, September 02, 2011

What did you think of the way Diaz described the Dominican Republic? Did anything surprise you?

kc said...: Even though I was familiar with the egregious corruption and cruelty of that society, it still surprised me to see how they treated one another. It was almost like no one knew anything different or better, so the prospect of widespread positive change seemed ridiculously daunting — to the point that no one even wanted to try. The path of least resistance was always to keep your head down and try not to be noticed.

I thought the key to the story was when Oscar's sister commented that Dominicans had become a nation of 10 million Trujillos. The dictator was dead, but his evil had been so thoroughly enmeshed in the fabric of that society that it was like he effectively ruled from beyond the grave.; 1:33 PM, September 06, 2011
Erin said...: I was surprised, too, by the depth of the corruption, the way that nobody could escape it, even in everyday life. It's so hard to relate to living that way.

Great point about his sister's remark. That quote really does sum up the experience of all the Dominicans in the story.; 11:17 PM, September 06, 2011

Friday, September 02, 2011