Conflict and Reconciliation of the Perception in Return Narratives of Cuban Americans: A Little Something to Ease the Pain and I Was Always Afraid (쿠바계 미국인의 귀향 내러티브에 나타난 인식의 충돌과 화해: A Little Something to Ease the Pain과 I Was Always Afraid를 중심으로)

Yon-hee Chun (전연희)

Conflict and Reconciliation of the Perception in Return Narratives of Cuban Americans: A Little Something to Ease the Pain and I Was Always Afraid

Journal of Modern English Drama
Abbr : JMBARD
2022, 35(3), pp.119-140
Publisher : 한국현대영미드라마학회
Research Area : Humanities > English Language and Literature > English Literature > Contemporary English Drama
Received : November 11, 2022
Accepted : December 8, 2022
Published : December 31, 2022

Yon-hee Chun ¹

¹성신여자대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper is a comparative study of two plays A Little Something to Ease the Pain by Rene R, Alomá and We were Always Afraid by Leopold Hernández, which deal with “return narratives” of exile and diasporic experiences of Cuban Americans. It explores the motivation of 1.5 generation Cuban immigrants, who are called Cubabia, to return to Cuba, aspects of their reunion with homeland and confliction, and reconciliation between memories and reality they are expected to face. Specifically whether the returning homeland which have been displayed in the imaginary representation by two protagonists can be a realization of utopian zeal or dystopian recognition can be an important agenda for discussion, This study also captures commonness of return narratives in A Little Something to Ease the Pain and We were Always Afraid which display existential crisis from the conflicts between utopian and dystopian experience with dynamic intertextuality of home, homeland, and return. Delicate concern to the journey of protagonists who have struggled to preserve Cuban identity in the mist of opposite perspectives, exile and unification provides perspectives of the future of Cubania. The experience of 1.5 generation Cuban Americans displayed in these two plays is not only an indicator of solidarity which strengthens ethnic identity and commonness with Latinos but revolts against marginalisation of immigrants or diaspora.

KEYWORDS

Cuban American Literature, Diaspora, Return Narratives, Renée R. Alomá, Leopold Hernández, A Little Something to Ease the Pain, We were Always Afraid

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

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Journal of Modern English Drama 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.11