Selena Quintanilla Perez: Character Analysis

The author Jane Yolen said, “Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood.” This disease she referenced I never seemed to contract. My experiences with literature, both reading, and writing, have been dull, to say the least. There was never anything that stuck out to me or had a changing impact on my perception of literature. Literature was a job that I had to show up to and pay attention to when I was told This was true until I began reading a biography about one of my favorite artists. It was a book about Selena, who's full name is Selena Quintanilla Perez, and was written by her husband, Chris Perez. As I was reading this book, I experienced the first time that a piece of literature can have an impact on

My first knowledge of her came from the movie that was produced about her life. This movie included her childhood, her rise to fame, her relationships with her family and her husband, and her untimely death. She was a stunning flower that bloomed very young and kept growing with no sight on stopping. She had a gorgeous appearance. She had big brown eyes, ever changing hair styles, and a petite figure. Her husband was just as cute. A smaller guy but not too small. Selena and Chris fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. I developed a deep admiration for these two people and the things they experienced in their youth. I was always looking to learn more about their lives and what happened in Selena's tragic end that shook the world. After finding out that her widow wrote a book about her life, I was excited to get it and begin reading. I wondered if the movie had been completely valid. What did the movie leave out? How did Chris felt about her death? How does he feel now about all that transpired after Selena's death since this was not a perspective that the audience got to clearly see the movie? So, I went immediately, to buy the

I knew that these chapters of the book were going to be almost unbearable because of the cruelty of the content but never expected the reaction I had. As I began reading the section about her death, Chris describes when she left the house that morning and how he regrets not asking where she was going. My mind began a battle against itself, arguing about how I felt about Chris' feelings of regret. Chris talked about getting the phone call that Selena had been shot. There was now a few small holes creating imperfection on the surface of Chris' perfect wife. She was at the hospital and to come right away. As I read this, my heart sank into the bottom of my stomach. I knew exactly what was coming. I could picture this scene of the movie in my mind. Chris falling onto the floor in devastation and heartbreak. He then tells the audience about how he was after Selena died and at her visitation. This content I was not expecting him to share. He describes being at her visitation. He was completely drained, mentally and physically. He hadn't eaten in two days. He had no fuel left in his tank and no juice left in his battery. He describes focusing on a spot on the floor because that was all that he could bear to look at in the moment. After everyone was cleared from the room, Chris was taken up to the casket. He was so weak he needed help to do so. He was being