Write a critical analysis of the story Rosena on the Mountain Free Essay Example, 2500 words

How Can Something So Wrong Feel So Right All Along? A Critical Analysis of Rene Depestre’s â€Å"Rosena on the Mountain† Rene Depestre’s short story â€Å"Rosena on the Mountain† is one of a kind. A lack of knowledge about the culture and background of the author and the Haitian people could affect one’s interpretation of the story. For a moralist, it could be considered very sensual and unfit for general readership. However, a deeper understanding of the background of the people and the author could lead to a greater appreciation of this piece of work which makes it unique and worth reading. Personally, reading â€Å"Rosena on the Mountain† enhanced and enriched my experience ad understanding of the Haitian culture and human nature. Alain is a round character, a true-to-life figure that faces real life struggles. He is at the same time dynamic in the sense that the character has evolved into a more aggressive and mature individual. Rosena, on the other hand, can be considered a round character because of her convincing personality that is consistent throughout the story. Father James Mulligan may be considered a flat character because he is a stereotype of orthodox priests who assume an appearance of holiness and are prejudiced though they are also humans and are tempted to yield to what they consider evil – sex. If Alain is the protagonist, then the antagonists could either be the priest or Rosena, since he is torn between the two. We will write a custom essay sample on Write a critical analysis of the story 'Rosena on the Mountain' or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now One is pulling him to the religious/Roman Catholic priesthood, and the other towards sensual freedom and back to pagan practices. The use of the first person point of view is effective in showing the inner conflict of the main character. The reader can easily empathise with the struggles Alain went through and share with his struggles and triumphs. Symbolism is also present in the story. Mountain may be redundant because Haiti is actually an Indian term for mountains (â€Å"Haiti†. Infoplease). Rosena is a Haitian and in the title she is on the mountain. The term could have several meanings, like a literal mountain, an obstacle, a challenge, something remote or insurmountable. The name Rosena from the word rose could stand for a flower, beautiful but thorny, desirable and challenging. Moreover, irony is evident in the whole story. Alain’s pursuit for holiness is not achieved in the priestly vocation but in acknowledging his own self w ith all his physical and psychological longings. The priest, on the other hand, projects an image of holiness but in reality a weak person of sensual desires too.