Angelique Anne-Marie Cespedes
December 5, 2024
English 3038
Blog Post #3
Erzulie’s Skirt Option 2
The novel Erzulie’s Skirt explores themes of dreams and spirituality through the character Yealidad Her dreams are like a vivid portal that calls for her to step inside of it. Beyond the portal is another world full of ancestral wisdom, guiding Yealidad onto her spiritual path. And these dreams do range. They are overflowing with symbolism—sometimes unsettling like a nightmare, sometimes comforting like a sweet dream. For instance, one recurring symbol is water, representing both danger and purification. This symbol reflects the duality of her struggles and aspirations. Yealidad’s visions not only reflect her personal struggles but also carry messages from the past that help her to understand herself and to understand her spiritual legacy. The journey starts off as one of disconnect. Especially and specifically from the spirituality of Yealidad’s community. She does not know how to squeeze her too-big feet into the roles expected of her. “I do not know if I am a woman or a spirit, if I belong to the earth or the sky” (Lara) Yealidad thinks. This quote captures her deep and existential questioning. Yealidad fortunately learns to love the duality of her existence. Her dreams morph from scaring her with their messages into a source of strength. They are a bridge between her past and present, weaving together the threads of her identity and heritage. They also connect her to specific characteristics shared between herself and her ancestors. Those include wisdom, resilience, responsibility, creativity, and empowerment. Her dreams illuminate the sacrifices and struggles endured by her ancestors. Her dreams initially disappointed her because they told the ugly truth about her community. For example, Yealidad dreams of her ancestors generally being forced to sacrifice a lot in their lives. She also dreams of her own community suffering from poverty, a reality that she cannot escape from even in her dreams. At the same time, Yealidad’s dreams come true in several ways. Her reoccurring dreams of the river were because of the ritual that she eventually needed to perform. This one dream in particular is pivotal because it is when she first and officially accepts her role as a spiritual leader. In this way, some of Yealidad’s dreams tell the future. The act of a sacred bowl being given to her in a dream by an ancestor happens later on in real life. Yealidad’s dreams also trigger mental stimulation. Her dreams inspired her to start up her communal project. Her dreams play a transformative role in who she becomes. She goes from doubting herself to having confidence. She does not simply back down and run away from her fears even though it is the easier thing to do. Her dreams motivate her to push through harsh realities. She is able to reflect on the generational pain and resilience within her bloodline. Her dreams not only connect her to the spiritual world but also empower her in the physical one. They become blueprints for her empowerment and growth. Ultimately, her dreams guide her to take charge of her destiny.
Works Cited
Lara, Ana-Maurine. Erzulie’s Skirt. RedBone Press, 2006
Angelique, I liked your reading of the character of Yealidad and her relationship with spirituality. So often, women–especially those from poor communities–are taught that their dreams will never amount to anything, or that it is better to dream “small” or not at all. Yet you highlight that Yealidad’s dreams helped her get closer to her destiny, as well as her ancestry.