"A Wall of Fire Rising" by Edwidge Danticat tells the saddening story of a Haitian family struggling to make ends meet. The father, Guy, dreams of leaving his life of suffering and fly away to somewhere new on a hot air balloon a rich family owned. His son, Little Guy, is in a play as the lead character, Boukman, who gives a very hope-inspiring speech about living freely or dying in the process. Through out the story, every time Guy dreams of living a happier life, the son is reciting his lines as Boukman, as if inspiring his father to chase his dreams.
One day, Guy is fed up with his miserable existence and steals the hot air balloon so he can at least have one happy day, and commits suicide by jumping off the balloon. The boy recites his lines one last time for his deceased father in a state of grief while his mother refuses to close her husband's eyes, as he "likes to look at the sky".
The style and pace of the story is somewhat hopeless throughout the plot, as Guy just feels so helpless thanks to his life and surroundings. The only signs of hope in the beginning of the story is whenever his son recites the lines of his Boukman character. The style seems to be dependent on Guy's mood at the time. There is build up whenever the son recites his lines, as if representing signs of hope in Guy's heart, only to be shot down Guy's mind is brought back to reality.
The story feels so slow, empty and sad when Guy's character is in a depressed mood until the climax, when Guy steals the hot air balloon. There is anxiety and suspense when Guy is seen is the hot air balloon, and the reader wants to believe he'll make it and fly away. But of course, this is not the case. He had his happiness, and cannot go back to his old life, so he kills himself.
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