Children of Heroes by Lyonel Trouillot Essay -- Literary Analysis

In todays society, ones gender is not necessarily a moving-picture show of ones sex, therefore performing ones desired gender is highly pivotal. The idea of performing is very compelling since one has to routinely execute a series of represents designated to define a wo serviceman or a man. Interestingly and clearly enough, the acts attributed to describe a woman and her womanhood varies from those acts that identify a man and his manhood. Presently, men are always expected to perform and confirm their masculinity. Men seeking to prove themselves are sometimes forced to act on the expense of others and their feelings. Other men find the need to simply controller others to again, demonstrate to society their manhood. In a novel titled Children of Heroes by Lyonel Trouillot, violent behaviors are significantly present, forcing some characters to be submissive and repressed all while the aggressor acts on emphasizing his position in the ascendent gender group. Trouillot tells the story of a Haitian family and their troubles with the head of the household named Corazn. Due to his own exposure to abuse and demasculination, Corazn, by nature, desperately felt that as man he had to somehow reestablish his own masculinity by exerting violence against his wife and children. Corazns relationship with his boss and with his mother Mam Yvonne, plus his deprivation of achieving his dreams, became the roots of Corazns desperation. His wife Josphine and his son Colin are characters Corazn uses to be able to perform, enhance and redeem his masculinity. As a young son Corazn had big dreams of becoming a boxer, fighting opponents and reaching fame. However, his father who had preferred to die as not to help him live his dream, (Trouillot 144) and ... ...ough his personal shame. Corazn did not display feelings or pity towards Josphine or Colin simply because they were weak in his perspective, making them the perfect victims. These victims elevated Corazns self- esteem, reinforced his control and power, and finally made him feel manly all over again.Works CitedTrouillot, Lyonel, and Linda Coverdale. Children of Heroes. Lincoln University of Nebraska, 2008. Print.Schrock, Douglas, and Michael Schwalbe. Men, Masculinity, and Manhood Acts. Annual Review of Sociology (2009) 284. Academic Search Complete. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. .