The Truth About Awiti is a fictitious piece of literature which
recounts horrific stories about the slave trade by following the main character
through different lenses or periods in her immortal life. The Athenian
political thesis can fit into this novel if we understand that revenge is
actually Awiti’s version of justice. She is never able to come to peace because
she does not think justice has been served for her people.
In the book the characters
who would most likely agree with power being of the utmost importance and then
justice following behind would be the Nephilim or other immortals. Already in spiritual
literature references to angelic beings are made in many novels so the concept
of the Nephilim is not a new one. However, these Nephilim have a strong social
hierarchy that revolves around power not necessarily what is right. A reader
could almost feel the power coming from a Watcher because of the description given,
“[even] though He had heard me enter and could feel my presence, the Watcher
did not acknowledge me” (104). The fact that the author capitalized the
pronouns is alone enough to know that the “Watcher” is in charge, he is the
leader. The word coven is also used on page 104 which also gives the reader a
sense of the dynamic within the Nephilim community. When speaking to the
Watcher the lesser Nephilim refers to him as, “Most Honorable One”, the amount
of respect and power one must have in order to ensure they are referred to by
such a title is astounding. This particular community within the novel revolves
around power and who has the most. Similar to the Athenians, Watcher’s know
they are the most powerful and they showcase it in the hopes that others will
listen, obey, respect, and follow them. Awiti’s first encounter with the
watcher is one filled with unbearable pain, “…He exerted His powers without
apology” (105). The demonstration of power is his way of convincing Awiti to
bend to his will. There is no thought of justice or whether the method he is
using is right, to him and the Nephilim as a whole power is their driving
factor.
Awiti seemed to
be the only character whose primary purpose was to bring justice to her people.
Unfortunately, she never achieved this goal, but her though process and reason
for acting as she did was not for power, but rather to serve justice in a way
that gave her people peace. This goal Awiti determined for herself is hinted at
after the obliteration of Isle Derniére, “…other lands [existed] where my
people suffered… [the destruction of Isle Derniére] helped me come to
understand my destiny. I realized a new purpose with those in the spiritual
realm. And together, we continued the wrath of our retribution” (135). Her
destiny is to bring about justice for her people. This new path is the most
important and sole occupation that matters to her in life. Her power helps her
down the road she has submitted to, but she has help along the way as well. In
certain chapters she speaks to spirits about what they specifically want now
that they are free and at the end of chapter 15 on page 166 all the little boy
wants, is to clean the world of hate. He desires justice for what was done to
him and in his understanding of the world God’s tears could not accomplish his
goal but trusting Awiti would. Awiti was willing to use her power so this
abused, murdered boy could find some peace in his afterlife. The justice she
provided may not be the conventional kind or what one considers as justice, but
to the characters in the novel justice is what Awiti delivered. In order to
bring about justice Awiti did not always have to use her storm powers. She as
an immortal was able to accomplish her goal and version of justice, in these
cases she often left a calling card. One particular case “[the] words were
written in red ink to remind them of the blood of her people…and of their
children” (207), Awiti served justice in ways that the greater public may not
agree with, but her primary goal was to balance the scales of damage done to
her people. Justice was her reason for continuing on, whether it was to deliver
retribution for her family, help lost souls find peace, or try and create a
world without hate.
Hello well…hmm,
ReplyDeleteI do agree that Awiti’s primary purpose was to bring justice to her people, although I would say that she was the paramount advocate of retributive justice in the novel rather than the only character whose primary purpose was to bring justice to her people. I think that other characters such as Barbury wanted to witness a world of justice for black and brown people too, but through more reconciliatory means.
I think your observation of the hierarchical role of the Nephilim is intriguing. I think that C. P. Patrick masterfully incorporated these elusive figures from the Book of Genesis into her novel. Why do you think she did that? I am curious to read your response, as I feel
that the incorporation of biblical imagery in this instance in the novel served an ambiguous purpose that was open to interpretation (as the theological interpretation of the Nephilim is in real life).
Yes Oghosa Cosmopolitan you are right, Awiti was not the sole character seeking justice for her people. She was never able to be at peace with the retributive justice she brought and therefore continued to destroy those she believed had hurt her people. Others who sought justice did so in a different and less devastating manner.
ReplyDeleteThe presence of the Nephilim in the novel was in my opinion unnecessary. The author's incorporation of them truly detracted from the serious tone felt throughout every chapter. My idea for why she wanted them there was to show more of the spiritual side of the novel. The term Nephilim, what they represent, and how they fit into the religious version of heaven or hell is up to interpretation. Maybe the author wanted us to take a moment to reflect on encountering a higher being and to realize though they may symbolize good it is blind loyalty that brings them power. Along with that, the Immortals portrayed are cold hearted and compassionless, they do not seem to care about Awiti's plight or pain. Overall I think the Nephilim are there to make the readers think in a more spiritual sense, but the novel would have been the same if they were not included.
Dear well…hmm,
ReplyDeleteI do concur that the invocation of the Nephilim is questionable. You have a great perspective on the role of the Nephilim. Notwithstanding, I appreciated the Christian imagery and symbolism that was incorporated. It added a deeper meaning to the novel.