To be!

The Human being is always in constant search of transcending mere physical existence. From Greek philosophers to the latest academic trends of thought, death has been a prevailing topic in literature, and in English this was no exception. Fear of death has driven Man to ponder on human existence turning Man towards philosophy, religion. The struggle humans go through finding themselves in the world, beseeching identity and purpose in life has been, still is and will continue to be an important issue for writers to develop in their literary works. Thus, finding sense to the question "what are we here for", attaining a fulfilling existence, feeling that we belong to one or more cultures that may or may not share ideas and/or religious beliefs is a universal issue that may appeal to anyone in the world.

As it has been mentioned in previous posts, Caribbean writers share the struggle of having a mixture of customs, languages and other cultural aspects as a substantial part of their heritage. Their literature reflects their search towards understanding their incidental cultural identity and what is to be their purpose of existence. In his poem Patriot, Cyril Dabydeen writes about what could be interpreted as a cultural encounter between North America and his own Caribbean culture, specifically the Guyanese. He addresses the need to stay true to his roots as he invites the Canadian to join him in a practice that could be more likely theirs than his own, playing with the snow. Martin Carter, also from Guyana, deals with aspects of the nature of existence in his poem Being Always as a compound of aspects that the speaker may take into his or her own hands and those that fall out of them. On the other hand, the Jamaican Mervyn Morris has preferred to Give T'anks for what has been granted to the speaker, celebrating another year of grateful existence.

But not only Caribbean writers tackle the existential dilemma humanity is going through. Jack G. Shaheen calls attention towards the fact that religious and political leaders, people in power who are in control of the media may sometimes inflict a false image of people who do not share the same ideas or beliefs as their own. In his essay The Media's Image of Arabs, he points out the difficulties that Arab Americans face due to the stereotyping they have undergone in films, TV programs and the media in general. Another Jamaican, Christine Craig addresses the issue relating it to that which has consistently been discussed in previous posts: choice. In her short sotry In the Hills, the political and ecomomic situation of a city affects the life of its inhabbitants making them desperarate to "find a way out"; it shows how leaders may influence masses of people who want to make changes in their life, or how ideas may change people. A growing interest in issues related to existential aspects in a world that, if not already such, tends to be globalized is taking over many contemporary writers who address this matter in their literary works. The universality of the topic allows for an enormous amount of possibilities in this area that will surely attract readers attention, granting the authors of today's literature what could be an infallible deal for effectiveness, given that they have mastered the crafts of developing a distinct writing style.