Brianna Urena Prof. Enmar Latino Lit. & Culture 26 September 2016 Reading Response #1 Like every other novel, Pocho by Jose Antonio Villarreal, contains characters that undergo change. Change is inevitable but even for Consuelo, Richard Rubio’s mother, the bullet was hard to dodge. Consuelo is a typical Mexican mother, who tends to the care of her husband and kids, but struggles to adapt to American roles and is still managing to find a balance with her prior held roles as a Mexican woman. Ultimately, this becomes an important issue because Consuelo is the glue that keeps the family together; which can determine the future of her family and their progression as Mexican-Americans. In Pocho, Consuelo seeks to be an honorable Mexican …show more content…
wife and mother. Aside from making sure everyone in the house is well fed and has proper clothing on their back, her main priority is holding tight to Mexican tradition.
She makes sure the family attends mass, keeps up with prayer, and communicates with each other in their native language. When the Rubios move out of Mexico into the United States, Consuelo has to adapt to a whole new way of life. As readers we watch her struggle through fights with not only her husband, but fights with her daughters, her son, and with herself. At the beginning of chapter three, we start to see the effects assimilation has on the Rubio family. As Richard gains more knowledge through his reading, his parents fall further away from being able to relate and understand him. This was the moment I realized their communication was going to change. When Richard asks his parents questions they feel inferior to him and even embarrassed. In the book, Consuelo says, “We cannot teach you the things that you want us to teach you. And I am deeply ashamed that we are going to fail in a great responsibility-we cannot guide you, we cannot select your reading for you, we cannot even talk to you in your own language” (Villarreal 61). As Richard becomes assimilated into the American culture, his parents can no …show more content…
longer relate to him. As a mother, your goal is to nurture and raise your child in the care and methods you wish. Unfortunately, Consuelo felt she no longer had that connection with Richard and was ashamed. Due to the language barrier and Richard’s knowledge, Consuelo felt like she didn’t know how to keep Richard rooted to Mexican tradition and his faith in catholicism. Since Consuelo and Juan grew up in a different environment and living standards, education enabled Richard to fit into American society. As their children continue to develop and progress toward American ideals, Consuelo and Juan are at a disadvantage because of their age and difficulty to adapt as quickly as their children have. Since the Rubios moved to America, again, they were all exposed to change.
Juan Rubio was not feeling the same about his wife anymore, Richard and his sisters had to deal with the separation of his parents, and Consuelo no longer wanted to be submissive to her husband. After the move, Consuelo was exposed to a different lifestyle for women and how they handled certain situations in America. Her American friends often questioned her level of importance. Once she married Juan Rubio, Consuelo knew she would become “the anchor” of her husband and the house. Because of this, she is stuck in an internal battle with herself. She wants to be the support system her husband demands while living up to Mexican values, but desires to have the new freedoms American women have. Juan’s infidelity and the downfall of their marriage was the push that helped change Consuelo. Although she did not want to lose the affection of her husband and children, she did not want to fall victim of the stereotypical housewife. Consuelo was not finding joy in merely serving her family but wanted recognition for who she is as a woman. “But all such scenes did not end with laughter, for Richard’s mother was a different person altogether now, and constantly interfered when her husband was in the act of disciplining a child, and these interferences grew until they flared into violent quarrels” (Villarreal 134). At this point, Counselo shows us she has developed a voice of her own. She was acting and saying
things in a manner where she was pleased without the fear of being reprimanded. As all characters evolve and show their “true colors” throughout various novels, Consuelo made changes that were empowering to her self-esteem. Her character is a good representation of what happens when women from other countries migrate to the United States and get accustomed to America’s society.
Cleofilas, must endure the hard labor of her husband’s temper and if she doesn’t take on both gender roles for example: housework, caring for her children, and the outside duties of the home, she suffers the consequences of her husband and the beatings. Juan Pedro, Cleofilas husband is just like society in this situation, he doesn’t think twice about laying a hand on his wife. Whereas, in Cleofilas situation, society doesn’t want to get involved and will place the incident “under the rug” they don’t want to be asked questions, by the husband or the
It is influenced by her grandmother, Esperanza Ortega’s life story and her experience from when she fled from Mexico to California. While it may be a fictional story, it is personally inspired by a close family member who lived through similar challenges. In addition, I appreciate how the author has done extensive historically based social research to allow the story to be as authentic as possible. Moreover, I chose this novel because it takes place during the Great Depression period focusing on the agricultural labor camps. I have no previous knowledge specifically in this area, and would like to learn and understand how this certain place and era affected people’s lives, society, environment, and
In Pocho, Rubio could not identify with any group because he didn’t want to be categorized. In fact, Rubio didn’t have a hard time fitting in with the Pachucos or queers. Although, Rubio seemed understanding about other peoples chooses he ultimately decided to identify as American. This was seen when Rubio joined the Army, as a means to escape his reality. Another theme presented was in regards to fighting social inequalities. This ultimately led to Chicano protest, which became essential to the Civil Rights Movements. The strong will of these Chicano/a activists were similar to Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzalez and his “Crusade for Justice”. The film “Quest for Homeland” acknowledged Gonzalez as an important figure for the Chicano Movement because he inspired people to demand for equality. Even though the Chicano Movement had a tragic ending with the death of Ruben Salazar, Chicanos made their voices heard. Similarly, the Chicano walkouts were the beginning of “consciousness”. For instance Castro mentions, “Chicano’s have long been sleeping giants” he continues by stating looks like we woke up”. This shows that students living in these areas were oblivious to their ability of obtaining a higher
it is unmistakable that life situations inspired Juan Rulfo to write this story. He like no other person had a greater understanding of how to portray the theme of family especially missing a father as a role model, death, survival and revenge. Moreover, through the use of local Mexican language it furthermore developed the society in which peasants had to live during the post-revolution. Additionally Juan Rulfo tries to add all five senses in the story forming magical realism and a vivid picture that the readers can understand. Overall, the readers learn a lot about peasant’s approach to life after revolution that the main drive was
Symbolism is the key to understanding Sandra Cisneros’ novel, “The House on Mango Street”. By unraveling the symbolism, the reader truly exposes the role of not only Latina women but women of any background. Esperanza, a girl from a Mexican background living in Chicago, writes down what she witnesses while growing up. As a result of her sheltered upbringing, Esperanza hardly comprehends the actions that take place around her, but what she did understand she wrote in her journal. Cisneros used this technique of the point of view of a child, to her advantage by giving the readers enough information of what is taking place on Mango Street so that they can gather the pieces of the puzzle a get the big picture.
Reyna Grande 's novel, Across a Hundred Mountains, focuses on the dynamic of the development and rethinking of the concept of a traditional Latino patriarchal family built up around male dominance. In low income and uneducated cultures, there are set of roles that throughout time have been passed by from generation to generation. These gender roles most often consist of the men being the breadwinner for the family. While the women stay home to cook, clean, and raise the children. Women are treated as possessions with limited rights and resources. Throughout the novel, Grandes challenges gender roles in the story of a young woman named Juana who, despite all adversity, fights stereotypes and is able to rewrite her own ending.
Pre-Revolution, women were expected to work “in the home and in the fields with their men and wielding little political, economic, or social clout” (Minster). During the Mexican Revolution, women typically chose to either fight in the conflicts to advance their rights or to take a submissive role and accept status quo. Azuela portrays her as an innocent, sweet girl, who would lower her eyes when addressing the men. The author also portrays Camila as the cultural norm provided by Gloria Anzaldua. In Borderlands La Frontera, Gloria Anzaldua states, “The [Mexican] culture and Church insist that women are subservient to males” (39). Camila, like many other women within the conflict, took the role as a support figure with her refusal to join the battles. These women typically were submissive to their male counterparts and provided medical attention to soldiers, carried equipment for them, cooked meals, and gathered supplies for the missions (Fernandez 56). Azuela portrays Camila as an easily manipulated character who is forced to become Demetrio’s woman and to bed with him. She eventually accepts her fate and plays her role as Demetrio’s woman. Eventually Cervantes convinces Camila to join him in going back to the rebel forces
Demetria Martínez’s Mother Tongue is divided into five sections and an epilogue. The first three parts of the text present Mary/ María’s, the narrator, recollection of the time when she was nineteen and met José Luis, a refuge from El Salvador, for the first time. The forth and fifth parts, chronologically, go back to her tragic experience when she was seven years old and then her trip to El Salvador with her son, the fruit of her romance with José Luis, twenty years after she met José Luis. And finally the epilogue consists a letter from José Luis to Mary/ María after her trip to El Salvador. The essay traces the development of Mother Tongue’s principal protagonists, María/ Mary. With a close reading of the text, I argue how the forth chapter, namely the domestic abuse scene, functions as a pivotal point in the Mother Tongue as it helps her to define herself.
This novel is a story of a Chicano family. Sofi, her husband Domingo together with their four daughters – Esperanza, Fe, Caridad, and Loca live in the little town of Tome, New Mexico. The story focuses on the struggles of Sofi, the death of her daughters and the problems of their town. Sofi endures all the hardships and problems that come her way. Her marriage is deteriorating; her daughters are dying one by one. But, she endures it all and comes out stronger and more enlightened than ever. Sofi is a woman that never gives up no matter how poorly life treats her. The author- Ana Castillo mixes religion, super natural occurrences, sex, laughter and heartbreak in this novel. The novel is tragic, with no happy ending but at the same time funny and inspiring. It is full of the victory of the human spirit. The names of Sofi’s first three daughters denote the three major Christian ideals (Hope, Faith and Charity).
At the beginning of the story, the protagonist, Cleofilas, had an illusion that all romances are like the ones she has seen on television. However, she soon realizes that her relationship with Juan Pedro was nothing like what she had dreamed it would be. Cisneros wants to emphasize the idea that when men bring home the primary source of income in the family, they feel they have power over their wives. Cisneros uses Juan Pedro in the story to portray this idea. For instance, Cleofilas often tells herself that if she had any brains in her, she would realize that Juan Pedro wakes up before the rooster to earn his living to pay for the food in her belly and a roof over her head (Cisneros, 1991, p.249). Cisneros wants to make a point that when men feel that they have power over their wives, women begin to feel a sense of low self-worth.
The novel Dreaming in Cuban, written by Cristina Garcia, is a novel following the lives of a Cuban family during La Revolución Cubana. Garcia develops her story in great detail, particularly through the struggles this family faces and how each of them attempts to find their own identity. Although the novel has many characters, Cristina Garcia primarily develops the story through the eyes of Pilar Puente. Even though she is one of the youngest characters, Pilar endures a plethora of struggles with her life and her identity. Her mother, Lourdes Puente, moved the family away to New York in order to shield Pilar from what Lourdes deemed to be an unfavorable past in Cuba. The main source of Pilar’s frustration is her internal conflict between her Cuban heritage and her American identity. This struggle stems from the relationship with her grandmother, Celia del Pino, contrasting with her life in America. Along with her struggle with her Cuban heritage, Pilar Puente has many experiences that shape her self-identity throughout the novel Dreaming in Cuban.
In this short story Sandra uncover the tension between Mexican heritage and demands of the American culture. Cleofilas life consisted of never ending chorus, no good brothers, and a complaining father. She is so excited when the day come for her to become married so she can move away from her town where she grew up, were there isn’t much to do except accompany the aunts and godmothers to the house of one or the other to play cards. She was excited to be far away, all she could think about was to have a lovely house and to wear outfits like the women on the tele. Her picture of the ideal Mexican wife soon became a nightmare when she finally arrived to Texas, where she
In the Book women are looked upon as objects by men whether they are boyfriends, friends fathers or husbands. The girls in the novel grow up with the mentality that looks and appearance are the most important things to a woman. Cisneros also shows how Latino women are expected to be loyal to their husbands, and that a husband should have complete control of the relationship. Yet on the other hand, Cisneros describes the character Esperanza as being different. Even though she is born and raised in the same culture as the women around her, she is not happy with it, and knows that someday she will break free from its ties, because she is mentally strong and has a talent for telling stories. She comes back through her stories by showing the women that they can be independent and live their own lives. In a way this is Cinceros' way of coming back and giving back to the women in her community.
The struggle to find a place inside an un-welcoming America has forced the Latino to recreate one. The Latino feels out of place, torn from the womb inside of America's reality because she would rather use it than know it (Paz 226-227). In response, the Mexican women planted the seeds of home inside the corral*. These tended and potted plants became her burrow of solace and place of acceptance. In the comfort of the suns slices and underneath the orange scents, the women were free. Still the questions pounded in the rhythm of street side whispers. The outside stare thundered in pulses, you are different it said. Instead of listening she tried to instill within her children the pride of language, song, and culture. Her roots weave soul into the stubborn soil and strength grew with each blossom of the fig tree (Goldsmith).
Casilda was brought into the marriage without knowing what she was getting herself into. She was repressed, forced into the marriage by her family and learned to accept it for what it was. Casilda never went against her husband, Judge Hidalgo. In fact, her motherly ways softened his harsh outlook on life, “So slight an impression she did make that the changes noticeable in the judge were all the more remarkable,” (284). The Judge’s decisions in court were altered dramatically, seemingly he wasn’t so harsh as before when deciding on punishment for crimes committed in the town, but when it came to his enemy Nicolas Vidal he lost his sense of control. He locked the outlaw’s mother in a cage in a sense of hope Vidal would come and save her. When he never came to his mother’s rescue, The Judge still kept the old woman in a cage with no water. The townspeople turned to Casilda since they knew she was the reason of his change in heart prior to this incident. Casilda was aware of what she was to do, still upholding her traditional ways, “she dressed her children in their Sunday best, tied a black ribbon around their arms as a token of mourning,” (287) she walked with her children to the square, with water in tow, to set the old woman free. “Until this moment, Casilda has focused only on her own family and life. Now, she decides to defy her husband’s orders for the first time,” (http://www.hsu.edu). Casilda breaks out of her obedient role and defies her husband, leaving behind the stereotypical role she was assigned to. The Judge is responsive to her actions and releases the woman. The Judge then takes his family and leaves town to escape the townspeople’s’ judgment of his actions and Vidal’s revenge seeking gang of