Whispers of the Past: Examining the Role of Memory and Ghostly Presence in Nilo Cruz's Sotto Voce

Muhi, Maysoon Taher

doi:10.25130/Lang.9.2.8

	Whispers of the Past: Examining the Role of Memory and Ghostly Presence in Nilo Cruz's Sotto Voce
Journal of Language Studies
Volume 9, Issue 2, Part 1, June 2025, Pages 125-143 PDF (499.15 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.25130/Lang.9.2.8
Author
Maysoon Taher Muhi
University of Baghdad, College of Education for Women
Abstract
This paper investigates the role of memory and ghostly presence in the play Sotto Voce (2016) by Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz. Set against the historical tragedy of the 1939 voyage of the MS St. Louis, a ship that carried Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution only to be denied entry to Cuba, the United States, and Canada, Cruz's play probes into the psychological and emotional consequences of this historical event. Sotto Voce explores the individual and shared recollections of its protagonists. It is centred on Bemadette Kahn, an old and reclusive writer haunted by her past. She is faced by Saquiel, a young Cuban-Jewish man who becomes like a reminder of the unforgotten old past. He is determined to reunite her with the memories of her lost lover, a passenger aboard the MS St. Louis. This interaction between the characters and the memories allows Cruz to skillfully intertwine the personal histories of the individuals with the larger historical story, evoking a profound and poignant contemplation on the lasting influence of historical events and demonstrating the layers of cultural memory that inform their experiences. Through the lens of cultural memory, Sotto Voce emerges as a profound commentary on how the past continues to resonate in the present, inviting audiences to reflect on their narratives of loss and remembrance and encouraging viewers to contemplate their own experiences of grief and commemoration.
Keywords
Cultural Memory; history; Holocaust; Nilo Cruz; Sotto Voce

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