Port-au-Prince: The Moment

Port-au-Prince: The Moment is a nonfiction essay written by Mischa Berlinski about his experience of the 2010 Haitian earthquake and its direct aftermath. The essay begins on the day of the earthquake, in January. It continues into the following few days as Berlinski takes in the destruction around him. At the time, Berlinski lived in the upper class district of Port-au-Prince, one of the few places in Haiti that was not damaged badly by the quake. Berlinski primarily writes about exploring his and the surrounding districts, juxtaposing the varying degrees of damage in the districts of varying wealth. Berlinski lived in Haiti for two-and-a-half years before the quake because his wife worked for the U.N relief service in Haiti. The knowledge of Haiti that he gained from living there gives him a suitable amount of credibility.

            It seems apparent that Berlinski’s purpose is to share his unique experience of the well-documented earthquake as an unharmed citizen. As he does not describe the larger effect of the quake, this essay is likely intended for an audience who already has knowledge of the Haitian earthquake but who may be looking for a new perspective on it. Compared to many of the other reports of the Haitian earthquake, this essay is emotionally sterile. Berlinski probably intended this, as he writes that in the days immediately after the quake, all that he felt was a curiosity to see the aftermath. He doesn't mention any other emotions. Berlinski mirrors this mental state in his writing, giving the reader only the facts and none of the emotion. This allows the reader to decide what they themselves feel about the earthquake, without any manipulation from the author.

            Berlinski’s clear, precise, and sensory descriptions create a full picture of his experience. Phrases such as “we heard singing and drumming all night long – and high throbbing prayer like chanting, which as the aftershocks came redoubled in intensity to shouting,” give the reader a very clear picture of what it was like to be Berlinski, so close to the center of this devastating event and yet uninjured by it.

The rubble of the Great Sichuan Earthquake -- buildings standing among the wreckage of others.

Provided by WebEcoist <Source>

Image:

Sichuan Earthquake. Digital image. The Queen & Her Bling. Jacelyn Sng, 16 May 2008. Web. 02 Sept. 2013. <http://www.daintyflair.net/archives/2008/05/16/sichuan-earthquake/>.