Comparing the Works of Giaconda Belli and Slavenka Drakulic - Essay Example

? Reflective Responses: Belli, Giaconda: The Country Under My Skin VS. Drakulic, Slavenka: How We Survived at Communism and Even Laughed. Gioconda Belli from Nicaragua, Africa and Slavenka Drakulic from erstwhile Yugoslavia, Europe are contemporary women writers and social activists who had been active witness of totalitarianism regimes somewhat different in ideologies: Nicaragua had a right wing dynastic rule from 1936 till 1979 while Yugoslavia under left wing was under communists from 1946 till 1991. In this study, an analysis of observation of two writers regarding their role and experiences under dictatorship will be made keeping in context the book The Country under My Skin: A Memoir of Love written by Belli and How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed written by Drakulic. Gioconda Belli in her work narrates her experience as what it meant for her growing in an upper-class Nicaraguan family that was not approving of the Somoza totalitarianism, but never imagined that their daughter (roughly aged 20) would sign up with the secretive Sandinistas as she continue her day job at a celebrated public relations agency. Anastasio Somoza Garcia imposed a dynastic rule in Nicaragua in 1937. Belli had been a witness to masses of people celebrating end of 45-year dictatorship with the fall of Anastasio Somoza Debayle in 1979. Author Slavenka Drakulic in her book ‘How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed’ recollects that living under a communist rule was not at all a pleasant experience. Drakulic demonstrates how communism has misled its citizens, its mentors, and itself. As evidence, Drakulic cites that 45 years of communist rule in Yugoslavia fell short of producing suitable apartments or providing affordable telephone lines for its citizens, sanitary items for women, or dolls for growing kids (Drakulic 1, 6,99,31,56). Belli mourns how years of dictatorship in Nicaragua has deprived its people of basic necessities despite hard word: “Passing by the exclusive shops where a dining room table costs more than one person in Nicaragua earns in an entire lifetime of hard labor under the hot sun” (Belli 366). According to Drakulic, what unified lifestyle of ordinary people in communist countries in Eastern Europe was suffering:  ‘the shortages’, ‘the distinctive odors’, ‘the shabby clothing’. Drakulic writes whether it was Yugoslavia, her home country, or Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, or Bulgaria, all had all ‘long suffered’ under the ‘same ideology.’ These countries were under communist rule since the end of World War II (Drakulic XIV). Drakulic recounts how under communist regime they were brainwashed not to expect change. “That is how you are trained in this part of the world, not to believe that change is possible.” (Drakulic, xiii) Drakulic reminiscences they could not believe when they were first told that thousands of East Germans were crossing borders. Belli cites democracy as a system under which people can really forge their destinies. Sandinistas, under which Belli fought her campaign to restore democracy in Nicaragua, put forward a particular philosophy that was, according to author, a blend of ‘New Left socialism’, ‘cooperativism’, and ‘popular democracy.’ Somoza’s dynastic regime ended in 1979. Sandinistas never really implemented democracy in a way Belli perhaps had visualized for. Steps such as censor of press amidst alleged US interference led Belli to a comment that restore of a democracy after years of dictatorship cannot be compared with democracy practiced in US. According to Belli, still every day in Nicaragua, more than two hundred million people are trying to find meaning to their lives. Belli recognizes that any model of society must be based on absolute respect for individual freedom, that this alienable right is the foundation of the large and small joys of any people (Belli 44, 323, 368). Drakulic composes her work, looking back to June 1991, the month when provinces of Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence from the rest of Yugoslavia. This was one year after holding first free elections in Yugoslavia since the World War II. It was expected that restore of democracy in erstwhile communist countries in Eastern Europe would provide its citizens with peace and better living conditions. It appears to Drakulic that Europe has not learned its lessons from the horrors of the World War II. Once again, Yugoslavia was in midst of possible holocaust of ethnic Muslims and Croats in Bosnia (Drakulic, 193). Drakulic laments how expectations of women regarding better lifestyle from a democracy turned out to be just a delusion: “At the same time, they deluded themselves that the new democracies would give them the opportunity to stay at home and perhaps rest for a while. There was something else, too: somebody had to take responsibility for finding food and cooking meals, a task made no easier – indeed, in some countries made more difficult – by the political changeover.” (Drakulic, xv) According to Drakulic, after notable women participation in the revolution to overthrow communist regimes in Eastern Europe, they still did not have time to be involved and still distrusted politics. To the author, communism is a state of mind that is yet to be deleted from the group perception of those who have stayed under it: “We may have survived Communism, but we have not yet outlived it.'' (Drakulic, xvii) Belli was no sheer well wisher or courtesan to a radical movement but an operational revolutionary and plotter in her individual merit. She trafficked firearms, led blockades, materialized agreements between rebellious groups, explored tactics with Castro, and spoke for free Nicaragua at Third World summits from Moscow to Tripoli. Belli was encouraged by her family and especially grandfather to read books. Following the significant achievements of the Sandinistan uprising, to Belli and her associates, the fight was no more than partial gained if women were once more reduced in importance to caretaker status. According to Belli, she has been two women and has two lives: “One of these women wanted to do everything according to the classic feminine code: get married, have children, be supportive, docile, and nurturing. The other woman yearned for the privileges men enjoyed: independence, self reliance, a public life, mobility, lovers.” (Belli x) However, an interesting point to note about Belli is that she has evolved from a fighter with arms on her hands to understanding heroism inherent in peace and stability. She writes that life has shown her that not every commitment requires payment in blood, or the heroism of dying in the line of fire (Belli, 367). About women’s state in communist countries, Drakulic opines, “And who should I find down there, most removed from the seats of political power, but women.” According to Drakulic, the biggest burden of everyday pain was borne by them and even if they ‘fully participated’ in ‘revolutionary events,’ they were ‘less active’ and ‘less visible’ in the ‘aftermath’ of those ‘events.’ (Drakulic xv) Drakulic through her writings has tried to raise public opinion against war and communist totalitarian regimes. Before and after the fall of communist regime, Drakulic frequently visited other Eastern European countries, trying to find a common thread in terms of shared history and what could be done to improve the life of its citizens, and especially women. In her work, Drakulic is seen visiting personal homes of other women, enquiring about burning issues they are facing. This personal connection with the audience gives the writing of Drakulic more relevance. Belli from faraway Nicaragua is also too keen to establish a connection with the larger group. As she writes, “it was my destiny to be drawn to the warmth of crowds.” (Belli, ix) Even after being married to her American husband and settled in US with her children, Belli still visits Nicaragua every three or four months to update about the progress made by her countrymen and tries to generate awareness towards democracy through her forceful writings.                                        References 1. Belli, Gioconda. The Country under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War. Anchor, 2003 2. Drakulic, Slavenka. How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed. Harper Perennial, 1993. Read More