Parrot In The Oven Sparknotes

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Mi Vida Victor Martinez’s novel Parrot in the Oven depicts a fourteen year old Manny Hernandez, who’s constantly facing obstacles. Manny is attempting to discover he’s place in society but he’s isn’t certain which direction to follow. Since he’s not receiving any real directions from his family. One thing Manny is certain of is being the one to decide what to do in his life. The main issue that is hindering him is the lack of options he has. Currently, Manny lives in a poor neighborhood, where there’s isn’t any opportunities. In addition in Manny’s neighborhood a way to gain respect is to join a gang. To contrast Bernardo, Manny’s older brother isn’t nothing like Manny. Manny looks up to him since he’s muscular and physically attractive, …show more content…

Manny isn’t sure if joining a gang is the solution to discover who he is. Eventually, Manny joins a gang called Callaway Projects. Manny decides to join a gang because he tells his friend Frankie, that he wants to solve his issue of speaking to girls. His friend says he has the solution but first Manny must pass the initiation. As a result he will be able to kiss a girl. One of the members of the gang called Eddie decides to steal a young’s purse, Manny is bewildered at the act. He’s decides not to follow Eddie instead he heads home. According to the book, when Manny gets home it’s like the best feeling ever. To him it felt like he had come back after a long journey of being …show more content…

Manny’s father lost his job as a translator because he would drink during lunch and slur his words. Since then he hasn’t been working. The day Mr. Hart gave $20 to Manny. Mr. Hernandez was frustrated that Mr.Hart gave money to Manny for school supplies. Mr. Hernandez decided to get the $20 and went to Rico’s Pool Hall, his favorite place in the whole world. This is the place where he drinks and Manny’s mom would drag him to go with his father. She would do that because she wanted Manny to look after his father. The next day, Manny’s mother came to get her husband because he was still in the Rico’s Hall. Manny’s father sees Manny and he says to him, “Ahh, el perico. How are you doing today, Perico?”(51). The reason why Manny’s father calls him Perico because he thinks of Manny being obtuse. The word Perico means an ignorant person who doesn’t know where he is in the world. To me the word Perico isn’t being used correctly by Mr. Hernandez because Manny is completely the contrary. The only thing Manny is trying to do is find himself in the world. In that exact day Manny stands up to his father and he overcomes his father mental

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