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Character Growth in Three Parts
The first part of the novel introduces the protagonist, Keita Ali, who has to flee his homeland to earn money for his familys ransom. In this part, the readers learn that he feels alienated from his motherland and tries to fit in. The next section uncovers Kietas resilience and persistence in the face of hardship. Although he struggles with money and tries to escape the seemingly inevitable deportation, the main character still finds strength and pursues his goal. By the end of the novel, it becomes apparent that his dedication was worth it. In the finale, he appears to be confident in his powers and enlightened by his experience as an illegal immigrant.
Biographical and Historical Context
The examination of the historical and bibliographical context can provide an additional dimension to the literary works meaning. It was written by Lawrence Hills, a Canadian author and a son of interracial immigrant parents. His parents work in human rights movements greatly influenced his creative vision. The theme of social justice and racism is prominent in the novel, which is the effect of the authors upbringing. The book itself was written in 2015, the start of the migrant crisis. It narrates the story of a political refugee experiencing the hardship of being in another country illegally, reflecting the experiences of many people of the time. Thus, it can be argued that the current historical events played a significant role in the book.
Resilience
The concept of resilience is prominent in «The Illegal» as it is one of the most significant virtues of the main character. While the government continuously threatens him, he persists in his goal. For instance, during the race, he was insulted by another runner. Hill (2016) writes, So Keita a stranger in a strange land whose only transgression was to exist in a place where his presence was illegal would use speed to break this man (p. 152). Instead of giving in to his emotions, Keita was dedicated to the competition. The author argues that resilience is one of the driving forces behind the protagonists success, indicating that this virtue is essential in times of hardship.
Literary Lens
The historical lens is the most prominent tool in informing readers about the novels themes. Although the literary work is non-fictional, the author continuously alludes to the contemporary issue of immigration. For instance, the Freedom State is an apparent copy of the United States, where the foreign population keeps growing while the travel regulations become stricter. AfricTown, in its turn, is a reference to a black Canadian town, Africville, that was tragically destroyed. Conclusively, it can be argued that «The Illegal» is an attempt to highlight historical events.
Text-To-Text Connections
Another media that I can compare «The Illegal» to in terms of theme is the miniseries Immigration Nation. Both works focus on immigration topics: while Hill describes the individual experiences of the fictional character in a satiric setting of American allusion, the show documents real-life experiences of deportation. Although the book and the series differ dramatically in tone, they allow the audience to see the cruelties and inequalities of migration tyranny.
The Most Unbelievable Part
The most unbelievable part of the book is its resolution. In the modern political landscape flawed by prejudice and corruption, a happy ending seems unrealistic and too optimistic. «The Illegal» serves as a satirical depiction of the immigrant populations challenges in countries like the U.S., Canada, and European states. While it reflects the significant difficulties, it fails to illustrate that the system of corruption is too complex to be solved by a set of characters. Although such an ending expresses hope for the future, at this point, this sort of solution does not seem to be manageable.
Different Characters Point of View
The books central character, Keita Ali, entails the persona of the ultimate good, faithful, and resilient person worthy of being respected and loved by the readers. However, if the novels events were to be told from another persons perspective, the narrative and its themes would change dramatically. For instance, if Lula Distefano would be the protagonist, the author would explore the theme of morality. As an owner of the brothel, Lula has to justify her immoral choices to exploit vulnerable people in a time of hardship. If Lula would have been the protagonist, I believe that the main plotline would focus on her mental dialogue and struggles with her works ethicality.
Sequel
If I would be the author, and I needed to write a sequel, it would focus on the further experience of now legal immigrant Keita. The author developed the topic of political tyranny through the lens of satire; thus, the sequel would employ the same tone and vision. It would cover Keitas life as he would try to navigate his life in the Freedom State as the free man. It would also be ironic to call the sequel The Legal, as a play on words and experiences of immigrants who face institutional prejudice and racism regardless of their legal status. The book would explore the phenomena of societal integration in a foreign country that still feels hostile towards foreigners.
References
Ali, M. (2016, January 17). The Illegal, by Lawrence Hill: Review. The New York Times. Web.
Clusiau, C. (2020). Immigration Nation [Documentary]. Netflix.
Hill, L. (2016). The Illegal. W. W. Norton & Company.
McRae, M. (2018). The story of Africville. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Web.
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