Letter to Carpentier

March 15, 2012
                  

Dear Carpentier,
 I was wondering aboutyour last passage in “The Kingdom of This World.” “From that moment Ti Noel wasnever seen again, nor his green cat with the salmon lace cuffs, except perhapsby that wet vulture who turns every death to his own benefit and who sat withoutspread wings, drying himself in the sun, a cross of feathers which finallyfolded itself up and flew off into the thick shade of Bois Caiman.” (180). Whois the vulture? I have a couple guesses, but mostly I think the vulturerepresents death. Death takes the life of everyone, including Ti Noel and“turns every death to his own benefit.” Death turns every death to his ownbenefit because that is his job. Or the Vulture could be the dead king who onceruled over France. I honestly do not know because the novel does not have anyreal evidence on who the vultures identity.   

Thank you,
Iris Cochran