THE INSCRIPTION OF VIOLENCE ON THE CULTURE BODY: JUNOT DIAZ’S THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

Abstract

The human body becomes the place where historical, cultural, social, political and gender wounds can be inscribed. The fragility of the human body is one of the main topics in Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2008). In this sense, the Dominican past of the main characters and their new lives in the United States are quite important in their physical and psychological growth. The main characters find themselves in a liminal space from where they have to decide whether to change the negative cultural aspects and adapt to their new experiences as a self in-between or to remain as their old selves. The main characters are frustrated because they do not fit into the cultural canons. On the one hand, violence becomes for them the only way to relieve their frustrations. On the other one, the lack of violence becomes the best way to put an end to their past suffering and to achieve a new identity that fits with the new circumstances. Their final outcome will depend on their decisions.