The Tragedy of Fidel Castro (Book) - 12/20/2013 4:46:14 PM
Joao Cerqueria’s The Tragedy of Fidel Castro is at times cynical, at times hopeful, always satirical and never boring. In this book he recounts a fictionalized confrontation between the forces of Communism and the free world.
Fidel Castro is cast as a man obsessed with the fear of being betrayed by those he trusts, but also highly concerned about how he will be judged by historians. Convinced that the American President, referred to only as JFK, is trying to have him assassinated, Castro decides on a pre-emptive strike: Cuba invades the United States! In the meantime God tries to convince Jesus to go back to Earth to make peace between the combatants, although Jesus has strong doubts about whether his time has come and gone.
Writing in a prose that is almost lyrical, with magical, often dreamlike imagery that borrows from the Bible, mythology and classical literature, Cerqueria’s fable takes the reader on a wildly imaginative ride. Like all good satire, there are serious ideas behind the humour and the sarcasm. The novel delves into Castro’s tortured psyche, explores what makes some people willing to give their lives for a revolutionary idea, and even listens in on existential arguments between God and Jesus.
There is never a dull moment in this highly imaginative, and highly satisfying, tale.
The Tragedy of Fidel Castro (Book) - 3/10/2013 8:50:05 AM
BOOK REVIEW
BY
MAISAH B. ROBINSON, PH.D.
CONTEMPORARY LITERARY INDIA REVIEW
Cerqueira , JoĂŁo. (2013). The Tragedy of Fidel Castro. [Translated from the Portuguese by Karen Bennett and Chris Mingay 2008]. River Grove Books.
João Cerqueira’s The Tragedy of Fidel Castro is a humorous political satire, which depicts social issues and human behavior in an absurd manner, creating an entertaining work that has wide audience appeal. Like other authors who write in this genre, he is protected from culpability or undue criticism, because the descriptions of the characters being portrayed are implied and not overtly stated. The novel is about a socialist country (Cuba) and capitalist country (America) and their imminent military conflict. The novel highlights the pervasive conflicts and tribulations that plague humans. It is an altered reality that mocks religion, and humanity and provides a caricature of Cuba, America, communism and capitalism.
In the book’s preface, João Cerqueira provides a disclaimer stating that the characters are fictional, although the average reader can easily identify the famous political figures he has named, such as Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro and American president John F. Kennedy, “Hence Christ has nothing to do with Jesus Christ…God does not represent God…JFK is someone other than an American president…Fátima has no connection whatsoever with a particular site in Portugal…Fidel Castro perhaps has some similarities with the revolutionary leader and dictator.” All characters, in principle, never existed. The actions and antics that the characters go through in the book are not supposed to be historical. However, the reader may be inclined to recall the real-life actions of the characters’ namesakes while reading about the fictional versions.
The novel’s themes are an intertwining of: (1) the 1917 miracle of Fátima when the Virgin Mary was said to have prophesized the end of Communism, (2) Fidel Castro’s dictatorship, and (3) divine existence. Similar to the novels The Infinities by John Banville and The Second Coming by John Niven, The Tragedy of Fidel Castro uses divine intervention. João Cerqueira begins by revealing a poignant event in which Fatima, a loyal disciple of Jesus Christ, calls God to alert him to the impending war between Castro’s socialist country and JFK’s capitalist country. Subsequent to this warning, God confers with Jesus to come up with solutions to the conflict. Jesus first observes what the people are doing about the impending conflict and then returns to Earth.
With regard to the impending conflict, JFK was not afraid of Castro’s army, “What he feared most was the subversive message: emancipation of the masses, their awakening from lethargy, growing awareness of their own power” (p. 7). JFK, with the aid of his counselor, eagerly searches for a solution to the problem and does not want to destroy any lives, and thus, is desperate to avoid any conflict with Castro, “Nonetheless, the unending conflict with Fidel was exhausting him, leaving him lost in a labyrinth of strategies doomed to failure. As soon as a new idea occurred to him, he would ruthlessly reject it, unmasking some blocked reasoning. Wherever his mind led him, he would come to a dead end and have to start over” (pp. 7-8). In an effort to diffuse the conflict, JFK interrogates Varadero who is one of Castro’s spies that his country’s government has captured. After meeting with JFK and hearing his persuasive, heartfelt comments, Varadero’s views and beliefs about capitalism have changed, as well as his views about Castro. JFK sends Varadero back to his home.
Meanwhile, Castro is diligently working to improve his country’s struggling economy and diffuse irate citizens’ revolts. He uses his charisma and political prowess to control his followers. Castro imprisons Vardero who he thinks betrayed him. To get revenge, Castro’s army invaded JFK’s country, “On deck of a ship in the Invincible Armada, Fidel Castro looked through an eyeglass at the azure swath of ocean, his gaze locked on the horizon at the moment in which his imagination provided him a triumphal preview of the battle against JFK. After a seven-hour-long oration, he thus began the voyage of invasion” (p. 90). However, Castro’s army was unable to persuade the people to accept Marxism. After this, Castro seeks advice from Varadero who accuses him of betraying the revolution and causing the turmoil and despair in Cuba.
Forlorn and depressed, Castro redraws from society and finds refuge in an unknown land. He suffers a fall and is left amnesiac. Monks find him in this state and take him to a convent were insane people are enslaved by the friars who “considered the madmen pure souls, beings God had freed from sin who were worthy of compassion. As such, they charitably incorporated them into their religious community, making them take part in prayers and religious services, while also charging them with the hardest farm work and most difficult tasks” (p. 98). Seeing, this, Castro ignites a revolt against the friars, which restores his memory. He reunites with his army and is visited by the Devil and enters a pact with him. He sells his soul to the Devil so that he can be remembered as a hero who tried to make the world a better place. Castro requested that, “In the future I want to be remembered as the man who confronted the tyranny of Capitalism and rescued the people from exploitation. I want schoolbooks to describe the new society I built and for it to be compared to the previous one. I want my life to be studied, and without hiding my mistakes, conclude that I did everything possible to give the men and women of this world a more worthy existence” (151). With these words Castro made the pact, and thus, he would never be called a dictator in the future.
When JFK and Castro meet in battle, JFK suggests a duel to save other human lives. The duel is watched by Christ, Varadero and Fatima. JFK gets the better of Castro by striking him with a stone and grabbing his knife. This battle reflects the biblical account of David and Goliath. Without spoiling the suspense, suffice it to say the book ends with a glorious miracle. This is ultimately the story of Castro, although JFK is the primary player. João Cerqueira provides an extensive description of Castro’s life experiences, revealing his vulnerability that is an aspect of human frailty. Castro is a monomaniacal character, obsessed with one interest at the exclusion of all others. His passion is for power. He is a shrewd, unscrupulous dictator who will stop at nothing to maintain his position as El Commandante. In contrast, JFK is portrayed as being strong, courageous and honorable. He is an idealized figure who combines courage with passion and simple kindness. However, after self- reflection and introspection, Castro discovers his own human frailties and insecurities about his leadership abilities and mission. This self-discovery reveals that Castro and JFK are more alike than different.
Cerqueira’s novel highlights the characteristics of humans in that there is both good and bad in each one, and that all have frailties. He offers bizarre shenanigans to illustrate the dark side of human nature, such as Castro dressing in drag during an espionage mission, “ a well-dressed, middle aged woman (who was, in fact, Fidel Castro in disguise) was shaking herself frenetically, spreading the aroma of expensive perfume” (47). Although some of the events in the novel are absurd, Cerqueira has written an instructive story of the perils which befall a frail humanity preserved by divine intervention. His political insight is made up of concrete perception and accurate psychology. He presents a meeting of odd characters and gives each of them an innocent whimsicality that lends to them an air of sympathetic truth. Cerqueira’s racy flavor, use of lively dialogue, the expressive power of his style and his humor are titillating. An example of his humor occurs when Fatima asks a question about Castro: “He was always a crook, a hypocrite. Why does he have a beard in that tropical climate?” (p. 162). Cerqueira’s language is cadenced, obeying a desire for proportion, dignity and harmony, represented by sharp-edged sentences. He uses figurative language to evoke emotion and imagery as illustrated in the following passage:
Suffocating in the stifling atmosphere, the room seemed to pant with the effort and dripped beads of sweat from its ceiling. Insects on the verge of incineration fled from the bowels of the earth into the performance, ending up crushed by bare feet. The theater then seemed like an obsolete boiler about to burst, having been forced to work beyond its capacities. The passion was reaching boiling point. (p. 13)
Indeed, The Tragedy of Fidel Castro has market appeal. Cerqueira has effectively combined compelling drama and quirky humor, which evokes readers’ emotions. In his work, he portrays the whole spectrum of life in all of its colorful diversity—rich and poor, city and country, male and female, good and evil. He uses effusive details to highlight the myriad aspects of human nature, which enables his writing to appeal to varied audiences. In 2009, Os Meus Livros magazine awarded The Tragedy of Fidel Castro "Book of the Year" in Portugal. Excerpts are published in The Liberator Magazine, Literary Lunes, Contemporary Literary Review India, All Right Magazine, and Danse Macabre and Anastomo. The novel’s continued exposure will ensure its popularity.
Cerqueira shows potential to be a big name in the future. He has already published seven books, including Blame It on Too Much Freedom and Devil's Observations. While his style is primarily compact in its precision, direct and compelling, it is also vehement and ironical. His images are always striking. He is capable of the shrewdest and deepest views and has a strong knowledge of humankind and the complex reactions through which various social interests clash, adapt themselves, and are reconciled. Thus, he has an instinctive sense of the devices by which the attention of the reader can be sustained.
The Cuban doctor and the American Taxi (Article) - 6/5/2013 8:06:08 AM
Very interesting to read what I thought about all along. We American tourists are a powerful force both for good and bad. I think most Americans traveling operate like the Ugly American, and therefore offend their hosts often without their even knowing it. While we indulge in other cultures as being “quaint”, we turn our noses down when it comes to living like that culture.
It's interesting how Manuel decided to share with you his feelings about the regime. When I was in Manila, alone, walking the streets in 1968, not only did a cab driver give me his frank opinion of the Marcos regime, I was approached on the street three times by people who claimed they had been oppressed by Marcos. They assumed that I had direct contact with my government and could do something about it.
Finally, the Cuban populace awakening by tourism probably pales when compared with what will happen when North Koreans finally learn the difference between their society and the one in the South where people speak the same language but lead entirely different lives.
Ron
PS. Brazil is an example of a two-tier society, very rich and very poor, that is what the United States is rapidly becoming because of unbridled capitalism and deregulation. The fear of Cuban like socialism is driving us in that direction.
