The Dragon Cant Dance

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Pedro Rivera Puig March 19, 2012 Engl. 3229 Prof. Perez Osorio “The dragon can't dance” & Carnival The tradition of carnival was introduced to Trinidad around 1785, as the French settlers began to arrive. Elements like masquerades, costumes, vivid colors and percussion became some of the festive qualities of a carnival, but for African people, carnival became a way to express their power as individuals. Each character in the novel represent a different aspect of a carnival: calypso singers, steel bands, masks and people with different backgrounds. Culture, for individuals in most societies, is defined as the mixture of views, values and personal goals that characterize a group, or a nation, in a specific time frame. The novel “The dragon can't dance” by Earl Lovelance, portraits an example on how groups in the caribbean island of Trinidad have in one way or another unified their traditional backgrounds in a carnival festival. Each character plays an integral role on what is known as a carnival, that is not only in Trinidad, but is a festivity that is practiced in different parts of the world. The novel takes place in Trinidad, on a neighborhood of Alice Street called Calvary Hill. The main character, Aldrick, with his enthusiasm and creativity works on a dragon costume, which he creates a new one each year during the year. Aldrick character represent one of the most important elements on a carnival: the use of creativeness as a tool of self expression. The dragon is a fire beast from hell, that brings destruction and fear; it knows how to recognize the difference between good and evil. Aldrick reflects this characteristics in the novel in different ways. He lives in “hell” (the yard) where he experiences different moments where he knows how to differentiate between what is good and bad. The dragon in a carnival is a character that brings to

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