Fukú Vs. Zafa

While reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, I was curious as to the author’s purpose in demanding that the reader constantly choose between the ideas of fukú and zafa. Throughout the novel, Diaz juxtaposes good and bad events to present this choice, such as near the beginning of the novel when Oscar has some luck with girls that is described as having “only lasted a beautiful week,” (14). Occasionally, the author directly advises the reader to make a decision, such as in the portion of the novel entitled “FUKÚ VS. ZAFA” (152). At the end of the novel, the author presents the two possible outcomes for the family, one that ends well and one that ends negatively, again contrasting the ideas of fukú and zafa.

            One reason Diaz juxtaposes these two ideas and demands that the reader reach their own decisions about whether fukú or zafa is more valid is to present the idea that neither actually is. For instance, he states through Yunior, “The only answer I can give you is the least satisfying: you’ll have to decide for yourself. What’s certain is that nothing’s certain.” (243). If the reader has to decide for themselves, then any possible answer must be legitimate. If nothing is certain, then there really is not any solid evidence to support either case, so neither is entirely true. 

            The two possible outcomes for the family presented at the end, one where the fukú is ended and the other where it continues because “Nothing ever ends,” (331) leave the reader with the concept that the future is uncertain. This contributes to the uncertainty throughout the novel about zafa and fukú. Diaz seems to be stating that anyone who actually decides between fukú and zafa is wrong, because there is no possible way to know. He may be demanding that the reader make their own decision to assert that he will not be presenting his own opinion, because he does not believe there is a correct answer. In this, the ideas of fukú and zafa directly relate to the theme that there are not correct or easy answers to difficult questions in life. It seems likely that this comparison to life is one purpose in Diaz’s juxtaposition of fukú and zafa.