March 15, 2012

Dear Alejo,

I just finished reading your book, The Kingdom of this World, for my World Literature class.  I wanted to ask you about something from the very last page of the book, when you write about the vulture.  “From that moment Ti Noel was never seen again, nor his green cat with the salmon lace cuffs, except perhaps by that wet vulture who turns every death to his own benefit and who sat without spread wings, drying himself in the sun, a cross of feathers which finally folded itself up and flew off into the thick shade of Bois Caiman.”  Who is the vulture?  What I’ve been thinking is that the vulture is Macandel.  I think this because from the very beginning Macandel has the magical ability to metamorphose into other animals and beings.  Also it is never actually clear that Macandel dies.  When he is thrown in the fire, the slaves believe that he has been saved by the African gods.  It is possible that he has transformed into the vulture.  Macandel was a Mandigue whom you described as something devilish, and those characteristics can be seen in a creature like the vulture.  Because Macandel was also responsible for the poisoning of Frenchman and others on the plantations this would account for the line, “who turns every death to his own benefit.”  What does the vulture represent and why was it important for you to include this at the very end?

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Throne