Always Writing In Spanish Marjorie Agosin Analysis

In her essay “Always Living in Spanish,” Marjorie Agosin justifies her preference for writing in Spanish as surviving to culture shock, a reminder of her childhood, and a vivid experience of her senses. As a member of an immigrant family, Marjorie Agosin deals with the sorrow and pain of leaving behind her native land to migrate from Chile to United States. She illustrates the frustrations of “...one who writes in Spanish and lives in translation” (167). During her teenage years, Agosin discovers writing in Spanish as the only getaway to escape from constant discrimination, because “... [her] poor English and [her] accent were the cause of ridicule and insult” (167). For this reason, in such times of emotional turmoil, the author decides that

is better to write in her primary language with no restrains, just like her grandmother used to sing songs in her first language with passion and zeal. Likewise, Agosin uses her Spanish words to recall her growing years and bring back to life the memories of her infancy.

Agosin illustrates that by writing in spanish is “[t]he only way [she] could recover [her]... Chilean childhood…” (167). Consequently, writing in her mother tongue fully conveys her feelings and emotions, allowing her to live in the present her experiences as a child. Similarly, Agosin acknowledges that her nostalgies are better addressed when writing in Spanish because she is able to “... recover fragrances, spoken rhythms, and the passion of [her] own identity” (167). Specifically, she complains that the English words does not allow her to explicitly communicate her stories. As a result, she perceives the English language to be abstract, formal and somber which contradicts the tone and joy of her hispanic heritage. For that reason, once more, Agosin explains that her poems are designed to connect with all those individuals who share her roots. To this end, she insists that “... to write in Spanish is to always be in an active pursuit of memory” (168). Thus, her consistency in maintaining her first language is not a failure of proper cultural adaptation, but an endeavor in preserving her origin, her hispanic culture and her memories

alive.
Agosin’s essay illustrates the daily reality of thousands of hispanics who migrate to the United States seeking the American Dream. After leaving their families and homeland behind, most latinos must cope with the process that takes to assimilate the new American culture. However, moving into a different country does not separate them from their native language. For instance, Miami is nicknamed the “Capital of Latin America” because it is home of a diversity of Spanish-speakers. Every place in the city reflects the combination of the hispanic heritage brought from different nations. From the cuban Congri and the venezuelan Arepas to street names like Calle Ocho, the city is a collection of customs for those who strive to preserve their home roots. Moreover, one of the most notable characteristics of Miami is the preference for its citizens to speak Spanish. Although, some learn the English language, for Latin Americans speaking and writing in Spanish represent their home. British artist Edmund de Waal agrees with this when he writes, “[w]ith languages, you can move from one social situation to another. With languages you are at home anywhere (31). In this way, the hispanic community relies in their native tongue to better deal with the cultural adaptation, and to carry with them the memories of their homeland. Just as Marjorie Agosin, the Latin community proudly speaks and writes in Spanish for “...the sense of being and feeling that Spanish gives [them]” (168). For latinos, Spanish is what makes them latinos.