Island vs. Mainland

 

Destiny Hansen

Professor Harris

African American Lit I

February 28, 2026

Island vs. Mainland

My visual uses a cracked mirror to represent the internal division between island-born 

and mainland Puerto Rican identities depicted in “Now We Will Be Happy” by Amina Gautier. 

The mirror is cracked all over, symbolizing the emotional and cultural fracture that can develop 

when geography separates communities and personal experiences diverge. However, because 

both images exist within the same mirror, the piece ultimately suggests that these identities, 

though divided, reflect a shared origin and enduring cultural connection. 

On the island side, I included symbols such as the Puerto Rican flag, palm trees, the 

Puerto Rican coat of arms, native food, and the coquí frog. These images evoke tradition, 

homeland, and cultural continuity. The bright, warm colors reinforce a sense of vibrancy, 

rootedness, and historical connection. Together, these elements represent Puerto Rico as a place 

of preservation, where customs, memory, and generational identity remain closely tied to the 

land and community life.

On the mainland side, I incorporated an urban skyline, common American symbols (bald 

eagle, liberty bell, burger and fries, apple pie, cowboy boots, etc.), and cooler, more muted tones 

to symbolize adaptation and mobility within the United States. The skyscrapers and money 

suggest opportunity, ambition, and economic advancement, but they also create a visual contrast 

with the natural imagery of the island. This side reflects the realities of migration, where 

adapting to new social environments often leads to assimilation and subtle shifts away from 

traditional cultural practices.

The crack running through the mirror is central to the piece. It represents tension, 

misunderstanding, and the subtle judgments that can arise within marginalized communities 

about belonging and authenticity, which is the running theme in Gautier’s short story collection, 

as she tells tales of various families with members both on the island and the mainland. Yet the 

mirror itself remains intact, suggesting that neither side exists independently of the other. 

Through symbolic contrast, my visual demonstrates how geography shapes identity while emphasizing that both experiences are interconnected reflections of the same complex and 

resilient cultural community.