Two stories by Tiphanie Yanique, namely “Where Tourists Don’t Go” and “Saving Work,” were selected to identify the inherent conflicts. Religion is a recurring theme in both narratives; race and ethnic identity are at stake. “A church is burning down” begins “Saving Work” (Yanique 41). Both white American ladies, Diedre Thompson and Violet de Flaubert, see the burning church. They moved to St. Thomas, married local black men, and were active community members, particularly in the church. Because Diedre and Violet were deeply committed to the church, they instilled a strong faith in religion in their children.
Unfortunately, neither woman can get along, and as the novel progresses, the writer mentions a relationship between Diedre’s son, Thomas, and Violet’s daughter, Jasmine. Yanique writes in the story that “everyone who is associated with this church will later think my church has burned down” (41). The narrative demonstrates a deep ‘man-versus-self’ conflict. For instance, Violet believes that burning church is “her punishment for marrying a nigger and having a half-nigger children” (Yanique 45). The second woman, Deirdre, also experiences self-conflict because she lies to herself and her students; the conflict is ineffective in her struggle. Deirdre conducts high school religion lessons on Sundays, “she does not tell her students that marriage is challenging and a thing to be careful with – like a baby” (Yanique 42). On the contrary, Deirdre assures them how much Mr. Thompson adores her and how that love fixes the problems. Mrs. Thomson claims that when she met Mr. Thompson, she had blond hair down to her ankles, so he fell madly in love with her.
Despite their children’s relationship, Deirdre Thompson and Violet de Flaubert despise one another. Nonetheless, both women “act, of course, as though they are very good friends” (Yanique 44). Here readers can notice another conflict, man-versus-religion. Deirdre Thompson is so against the love between Jasmine and Thomas that she “hoped that shy Jasmine would disappear into the sewers of the city and from her son’s mind” (45). Deirdre wished the girl would become addicted to drugs or get pregnant, and her son would marry an Ivy League girl with professional aspirations and culinary abilities. Nevertheless, the woman understands her self-conflict, “she does not wish to be so evil” (Yanique 45). Therefore, with a prayer, Deirdre tries to banish these negative emotions. The conflict is ineffective because although she tries to stop thinking negatively, Deirdre continues to hate Jasmine.
While attending colleges in the United States, Thomas and Jasmine gather and share their views regarding their mixed ethnic heritage. For instance, Jasmine asks Thomas: “White or black? What do you feel more?” (Yanique 50). The writer states, “it was a question about being something you were not or becoming something you were not meant to be” (Yanque 50). Thus, children also experience self-conflict; Jasmine and Thomas have spent their entire lives debating the subject of race and identity. In real life, people from mixed backgrounds often face the same questions. This conflict is ongoing because the protagonists are questioning themselves and their experiences.
Consequently, Jasmine and Thomas are hardly the only ones that spend their days debating such issues. In “Where Tourists Don’t Go,” an African-American lady, Robin, and a Jamaican man, Mason, who lives in Houston, Texas, argue about how to redecorate their flat and compromise uncomfortably on a neutral Asian motif to escape having to pick between their two different cultures. This misunderstanding between them foreshadows future conflicts. The story “Where Tourists Don’t Go” revolves around Mason’s interest in the Downtown Little Catholic Chapel and concludes with his journey there. Robin demands that they attend the annual I-Festival, which comes to Houston with a ‘Come Back to Jamaica!’ theme. Cultural contrasts emerge throughout the couple’s vacation, highlighting the identity and religion-versus-man conflicts. Essentially, people often have a genuine connection with their culture in real life, even unconsciously.
Work Cited
Yanique, Tiphanie. How to Escape from a Leper Copony; A Novella and Stories. Graywolf Press, 2010.