The strategically placed demise of Oscar de Leon in the profound novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, helps illuminate the
importance of accepting oneself in order to become indestructible.
The
first time that the readers are introduced to the concept of Oscar possibly
dying can be seen in chapter four when Oscar attempts to commit suicide at the
train bridge in New Brunswick. He “drank a third bottle of Cisco and …
reviewing his miserable life. Wishing he’d been born in a different body, in
his drunken confusion…missed 18 proper and landed on the divider” (190-191).
Yunior’s diction such as “miserable” and “drunken” depicts Oscar as a
deplorable human being. This in itself evokes pity from the reader which makes
Oscar seem fragile for losing hope in his desire and not accepting himself.
Oscar would have been the victim of Fuku had he dies that day. As the novel
continues, Oscar realizes the “the only way out is in” (209) and becomes
accepting and self-confident. After this transformation, Oscar is finally reacquainted
with death and his final moments, paraphrased by Yunior, were “there he
wouldn’t be no fatboy or dork or kid no girl had ever loved; over there he’d be
a hero, an avenger. Because anything you can dream (he put his hands up) you
can be” (321-322).Oscar actual death is indicative of the role of a tragic hero
who has died a martyr. Furthermore, in this evidence Oscar is stated to “put
his hands up” and though many readers may assume that this is an act of
surrender, Oscar’s action is a gesture of power- Oscar is accepting his fate
which is his way of concurring Fuku. Yet, the most crucial aspect of Oscar’s
demise that contributes to the novel theme can be seen post mortem in the very
last line of the novel said by Oscar, “The beauty! The beauty!” (335). The word
“beauty” that Oscar repeats, emphasizes the beauty of love-love of one self and
of others- in order to achieve happiness. Also, by making the very last line of
the book a direct quote from Oscar, the reader is engulfed with a sense of
eternity- Oscar did not die in vain but achieved a happiness that no fuku nor
person could destroy.
The
most common hubris of human nature is self-doubt. People often dwell on every
flaw instead of acknowledging positive attributes. However, Oscar reveals to the
reader that it does no good to doubt oneself, and that confidence may be the
most attractive characteristic that one can display. With confidence one’s self
prophecy can be full filled making one invincible.
