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The Bridge of Beyond Essay

One of the notable features of both novels is the resilience and strength of their female

characters. Despite the oppressive and violent patriarchal power that they face, the women in

Papi and The Bridge of Beyond assert their autonomy and maintain their dignity. Acilde, in Papi,

challenges her father's authority and eventually leaves her home to pursue her dreams (Indiana

53). At the same time, Télumée, in The Bridge of Beyond, refuses to allow herself to be defined

by her husband's violence and instead asserts her autonomy in subtle but significant ways

(Schwarz-Bart 12). These women represent a powerful voice of resistance against patriarchal

power, and their stories inspire women across the Caribbean region and beyond.

Furthermore, both novels critique the societal norms and expectations perpetuating

patriarchal power. Papi, Indiana, exposes the damaging impact of machismo culture, which

glorifies male dominance and aggression while suppressing women's agency and independence

(Indiana 22). Similarly, in The Bridge of Beyond, Schwarz-Bart exposes the insidious nature of

gender roles and expectations deeply ingrained in colonial society (Schwarz-Bart 33). Through

their characters' experiences, both authors highlight the need for a fundamental shift in societal

attitudes toward gender roles and power dynamics.

Additionally, both novels offer a nuanced portrayal of the complexities of Caribbean

culture. Indiana explores the intersection of Catholicism and Santería and how these two

traditions influence the characters' beliefs and practices (Indiana 23). She also highlights the

richness of Dominican culture, including its music, dance, and folklore. Similarly, Schwarz-Bart

presents the cultural practices and beliefs of the people of Guadeloupe, including the importance

of storytelling, music, and folklore (Schwarz-Bart 11). Through these artistic depictions, both

authors highlight the diversity and vibrancy of the Caribbean culture and the importance of

preserving and celebrating it.

Rita Indiana's Papi and Simone Schwarz-Bart's The Bridge of Beyond offer a powerful

and nuanced portrayal of how patriarchal power functions as a means of domination in the
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Caribbean region. Through their characters, both authors highlight the resilience and strength of

women in the face of oppression and offer a critique of societal norms and expectations that

perpetuate patriarchal power. Additionally, both novels shed light on the complexities of

Caribbean society and culture, highlighting the diversity and vibrancy of the region. Overall,

these novels are essential contributions to the literary canon of the Caribbean and serve as a

testament to the strength and resilience of its people. Patriarchal power functions as a means of

domination in Rita Indiana's post-independence, post-colonial Dominican Republic in Papi and

Simone Schwarz-Bart's post-slavery, colonial Guadeloupe in The Bridge of Beyond. Both novels

showcase how patriarchy shapes and controls women's lives in these societies and how both

narrators survive and challenge this domination.

In Papi, Indiana's protagonist, Acilde, is a trans woman who navigates the world of

prostitution in Santo Domingo (Indiana 31). Throughout the novel, she is subjected to various

forms of patriarchal violence and abuse, from her abusive father to her exploitative clients. Her

experiences highlight how patriarchy intersects with other forms of oppression, such as

transphobia and poverty (Indiana 62). Acilde's experiences are not unique, as many women in the

Dominican Republic are subjected to similar forms of violence and exploitation. Indiana writes,

"In Santo Domingo, you have to be a man or a woman to live. Being a boy or a girl is to be

condemned to misery" (Schwarz-Bart 27). This statement underscores how patriarchal gender

norms are enforced in Dominican society and how those who deviate from these norms are

marginalized and punished.

Similarly, in The Bridge of Beyond, Schwarz-Bart's protagonist, Télumée Lougandor,

faces a life of hardship and oppression due to the patriarchal nature of Guadeloupean society

(Schwarz-Bart 26). As a woman of color, Télumée is subjected to racial and gender-based

discrimination, and the legacy of slavery and colonialism shapes her experiences. Her story

reflects the struggles of many Afro-Caribbean women in the region who are forced to navigate a

world that is hostile to their existence (Schwarz-Bart 29). Schwarz-Bart writes, "For a woman,

the roads of life are difficult. And when that woman is black, they are almost impossible"

(Schwarz-Bart 31). This statement highlights how race and gender intersect to create unique

forms of oppression for Afro-Caribbean women.

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Despite their many challenges, Acilde and Télumée find ways to resist patriarchal

domination. In Papi, Acilde uses her sexuality and femininity as a form of power, reclaiming the

agency that has been denied her (Indiana 68). She takes on the persona of a "femme queen," a

type of trans woman who is highly feminized and who performs hyper-femininity for her clients.

Through this performance, Acilde can exert some control over her own body and her own life.

Indiana writes, "The femme queens are the only ones who manage to get by in Santo Domingo.

They have the secret of the feminine, transmuting pleasure into power" (Indiana 89). This

statement underscores how gender performance can be a form of resistance against patriarchal

oppression.

Similarly, Télumée in The Bridge of Beyond finds ways to assert her agency in a world

that seeks to deny it to her. She refuses to conform to patriarchal gender norms, rejecting the idea

that women must be submissive and obedient (Schwarz-Bart 61). Instead, she asserts her

autonomy, even in the face of violence and oppression. Schwarz-Bart writes, "I have always

been one to do as I please, no matter what others say" (Schwarz-Bart 58). This statement

underscores Télumée's refusal to be controlled by others and her determination to live life on her

terms.

The social contexts in which both narrators live are also essential to consider. In Papi,

Indiana's portrayal of the post-independence, post-colonial Dominican Republic highlights the

legacy of colonialism and its impact on gender relations in the region. The novel depicts a

society in which patriarchal gender norms have been reinforced by centuries of colonialism and

where the legacy of slavery and exploitation continues to shape the lives of its inhabitants. This

legacy is reflected in the experiences of characters like Acilde, who must navigate a world where

their bodies and sexuality are commodified and exploited.

In the Bridge of Beyond, Schwarz-Bart's portrayal of post-slavery, colonial Guadeloupe

underscores the ongoing impact of colonialism and slavery on the lives of Afro-Caribbean

women (Schwarz-Bart 96). The novel depicts a society in which women are expected to be

subservient to men and where their bodies and labor are exploited for the benefit of others. This

exploitation is rooted in the legacy of slavery, which created a system in which Afro-Caribbean

women were seen as little more than property. Schwarz-Bart writes, "For centuries, we had been

nothing but slaves, our bodies the property of white men. We had been bred like cattle, whipped
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like dogs, and forced to bear children like sows" (Schwarz-Bart 64). This statement highlights

the ongoing impact of slavery on Afro-Caribbean women and how it continues to shape their

experiences in the present day.

Despite the many challenges they face, both Acilde and Télumée find ways to resist the

patriarchal power structures that seek to control their lives. Their stories reflect the struggles of

many women in the Caribbean and beyond who are forced to navigate a world that is hostile to

their existence. As such, they serve as important examples of resilience and resistance in the face

of oppression.

In conclusion, Papi and The Bridge of Beyond explore how patriarchal power functions

as a means of domination in post-independence, post-colonial Dominican Republic, and post-

slavery, colonial Guadeloupe, respectively. Despite these challenges, Acilde and Télumée find

ways to resist patriarchal domination and assert their agency, serving as examples of resilience

and resistance in the face of oppression. Additionally, the social contexts in which both narrators

live highlight the ongoing impact of colonialism and slavery on gender relations in the Caribbean

and how these legacies continue to shape the lives of its inhabitants.
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Works Cited

Indiana, Rita. Papi: A Novel. University of Chicago Press, 2016.

Schwarz-Bart, Simone. The Bridge of Beyond (New York Review Books Classics). NYRB

Classics, 2013.