The Dew Breaker

The Dew Breaker

The Dew Breaker proved to be an interesting read regarding the female and male relationships in different time periods. Though I had difficulty identifying with characters through the multiple stories on a personal level, I was able to comprehend the quiet themes of how every individual has secrets they'd rather keep hidden from the public.

Within the novel, Danticat portrayed a pattern in gender relationships that has been stereotypically linked to society since the dawn of man. Men in her writing often held their masculinity of importance and found their power mainly in their brute strength. Whether this be for the better of their country, their family, or their own pride, it is noted that the men did not have outstanding levels of intelligence, but rather a stubbornness to stick to their own opinions. These thoughts that corrupted their minds for several years would often lead to vengeance.
The women, on the other hand, had a standing in stark contrast with the men. While they mainly kept their behavior was muted, with the exception of the more rebellious Ka, their power was in the knowledge they kept. They were strong in their sense of holding themselves and family together despite their darker views on life. Through their hardships, they often survived through focusing on beliefs, release though art or work.

Though the present day has broken the boundaries that define the specifics of the old housewife roles, women in the novel find similiarities as being seen as the caretakers of families. The females within The Dew Breaker remain somewhat supportive of their family even in hard times, such as Anne does in the case of her husband getting redemption, but the males have difficulty being placed in one set role. After facing obstacles from events in their Haitian government, the males were categorized as the somewhat more violent role. Relationships with fathers are less connected and sometimes hold negative connotations. Finding an identity with loyalty to their nation, the male leadership is viewed as a stern figurehead rather than that of a family caretaker.