Introduction
A keen look at society past the aggression, violence, and colonization era reveals the necessity to speak about social issues that emerge from historical events. This paper will highlight the crucial role outstanding authors played in standing up against issues relating to calamities during the reconstruction of the postcolonial period. An analysis of Carlos Fuentes’ “Aura” and James Baldwin’s “Notes of a Native Son” reveals the significance of speaking out about the injustices that can exist in society.
Carlos Fuentas
Carlos Fuentes was the most well-known Mexican delegate of the Latin American Boom novelist who lived between 1928 and 2012. The author spent his childhood in diverse Latin American countries and the United States (DePalma). While young, he went back to Mexico to study law at the University of Mexico and became engaged in politics and writing. Fuentes contested the customs and perceptions of customary Latin American literature alongside South American compatriots such as Julio Cortázar, Mario Llosa, and Gabriel Marquez.
Jeff Baldwin
Baldwin’s work is deeply rooted in his encounters, which were customary and peculiar for a black individual in mid-century America. He grew up in poverty in Harlem, surrounded by many of the significant heritage central to New York City’s black neighborhood (Ahmed and Gulnaz 150). Whereas most Black people could not become artists, Baldwin managed to follow his passion, emulating the footsteps of a few Black artists and authors from centuries before him. All his writings are tales on race and resonances on the continuing consequences of slavery for social connection presently.
Thesis Statement
There is power in speaking out against the evils of society to safeguard a serene environment for future generations.
Narrator’s Perspectives and Bias
In Aura, the narrator shows bias in describing the widow’s house. It is described as a structure that looks like a dry cave (Ziegler 8). The narrator brings in some elements of mystic creatures, which gives the audience a different perspective on the story’s plot. Baldwin shows bias in how his father treated white people, ensuring that the character is depicted as an individual who did not want anything related to whites (Baldwin 5). His bitterness towards the continuous state of anarchy, malice, and aggression continued even as they sent off the father (Ahmed and Gulnaz 152). Hence, the audience is introduced to a chaotic world filled with injustices.
Narrator’s Reliability
James Baldwin opens up with a form of regret about the nature of his relationship with his late father. He reveals not having established a serene connection with the father, as the differences in perception castigated the situation (Ahmed and Gulnaz 156). Hence this demonstrates how the author was unreliable since the two had long talked to one another. Baldwin attributes the case to being spearheaded by generational differences, which he seemed unwilling to break customs. On the other hand, once Felipe saw the job advertisement, he instantly knew he was the man for the job. He believed he had the necessary qualities, and despite the tales associated with the ancient location of the house, he still proceeded with the application and eventually got the job (Ziegler 36). It shows Felipe was determined to change the dynamics of his life and in the quest for new endeavors, such as love.
False Character Impression
As Felipe approaches the darkroom, he encounters a woman kneeling in prayer. He believes the woman to be Aura; however, there is a plot twist as it turns out to be Consuelo. Earlier descriptions portray her as a gothic lady filled with dark magic and sorcery. However, the room appeared to have religious relics, and the woman was engrossed in prayers calling out to God. James Baldwin describes his father as a figure worthy of being emulated in the eyes of the public. Baldwin claims that the father never played a big part of actively involved in their upbringing. Sadly he had lived a demystifying life, and thus, even upon his death, it brought an array of condemnations. It left him with a big gap while trying to fill up the void that his father had left him, consequently doing his best to ensure that he became a better version of his father.
Overall Impact
In Aura, the narrator highlights the element of freedom and new beginnings. The narrator describes how Felipe tries to bring sense to Aura to defend herself and fight for her freedom. He volunteers to take Aura away from the house so that she can have a life outside and make his intentions known to her. Aura reveals that the old lady would be away and that they should use that as an opportunity. Baldwin takes us back to the injustices that existed in his neighborhood. In particular, he was left with unsolved questions about some aspects of spirituality concerning the unprecedented instability and aggression. The narrator leaves us with the need for a family to safeguard, provide comfort, and create a better future.
Conclusion
It is crucial to establish an avenue where people can freely exercise their rights and freedoms. Unorthodox means of leadership and victimization still prevail in society, with little change seen in communities. Today, society provides an opportunity for everyone to develop and feel part and parcel of a growing community through mediums like social media. It is an advancement from the previous years of Baldwin and Fuentas when authors were limited in mediums to share their works.
Works Cited
Ahmed, Farooq, and Gulnaz Sayed. “Critical Analysis of a Non-Fiction Essay: ‘Notes of a Native Son’ by James Baldwin.” Agathos, vol. 10, no. 2, 2019, pp. 149-159. ProQuest. Web.
Baldwin, James. “From Notes of a Native Son – What so Proudly We Hail.” What So Proudly We Hail. 2013. Web.
Ziegler, Adrien. Traducción al Inglés de La Novela Aura Por Carlos Fuentes. California Polytechnic State University, 2018. Web.