Brother Juniper, a young missionary in eighteenth century Peru, is the main narrator in Thornton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey. Juniper was responsible for the conversion of the immense Native American populations of South America into Christianity. While enjoying this success, he made his way to the Bridge of San Luis Rey in order to finish his missionary trip. As he walked toward the bridge, it collapsed. He witnessed five individuals fall to their death. Being a strong believer in divine intervention, he sought explanations in why these five victims suffered the ultimate punishment. He asked questions about each victim’s lives to all of their relatives and eventually formulated conclusions for each and every tragic death. …show more content…
Even though Pepita was much more understanding and polite to her caretaker, the Marquesa did not give Pepita quality time. The only happiness the Marquesa could find satisfying was the love and kindness from her beloved daughter, Doña Clara. Eventually, the Marquesa learned of her biological daughter’s pregnancy. She subsequently went into a mode of superstition and “became a mine of medical knowledge and suggestion” (p. 31). For instance, she “refused to allow a knot in the house” and “the stairs even steps were marked with red chalk and a maid who accidentally stepped upon an even step was driven from the house with tears and screams.” (p. 31). The Marquesa even made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Santa María de Cluxambuqua, where “The ground had been holy through three religions” (p. 32). As Pepita and the Marquesa crossed the Bridge of San Luis Rey for their pilgrimage to Cluxambuqua, Marquesa’s focal point was her love for her daughter. The Marquesa made her way to the shrine as she left Pepita alone for their stay at the inn. Meanwhile, as Pepita was alone, she began to write a loving letter to her former and loyal
There was an encounter with the sister in law of a Lima merchant, a misunderstanding with Catalina’s brother over his mistress and other occasions being betrothed to women in the New World. At one point in her travels she comes very close to dying on the way to Tucman from Concepcion. Two men on horseback save her and they take her back to their mistress’ ranch. As gratitude for saving her life she helps tend to the ranch for about two weeks. The mistress is so overwhelming thankful to Catalina that she offers her daughter for her to marry. “And a couple of days later, she let me know it would be fine by her if I married her daughter—a girl as black and ugly as the devil himself, quite the opposite of my taste, which has always run to pretty faces.” (28) These instances happened a lot, where because of her hard work throughout her life she was offered many women to marry. Those engagements, however, ended after she exploited the situation and rode off with gifts and dowry
Seemingly religious, this has turned in a way to a type of action that feels occult, and like the corruption of religious practice, as mentioned before. Though she has religious artifacts all through the house, the reader is left with the distinct feeling that all is not quite right here. The is a mention of a large “black Christ” hanging in one of the bedrooms, as well as the religious shrine like area in Consuelo’s bedroom that seems twisted- it depicts demons and torture instead of assumed and idyllic religious themes or traditional prints. While this plot structure feels as if it may be motivated by a fear on Consuelo’s behalf of death, and a deep desire to resurrect her husband, the novel does make it clear that this is not the first time she has acted bizarrely. Felipe learns in the General’s papers that he once caught her crushing cats in some form of bizarre practice between her
To keep her daughter’s “virtue” intact Macaria beats her. In this way the mother establishes complete control over Marcela’s sexuali...
“Donde esta mi mami?” Enrique cries, over and over where is my mom?” (Nazario 5). Enrique repeats these words again and again as his mother leaves headed for the U.S. These words represent the depth of abandonment Enrique felt and shows the effect Lourdes's choice had on her family. This one, difficult decision to leave her family for money, will destroy her family. As readers, we witness how this hard decision could have been the wrong one as the helpless, five-year-old would have to live without her. Lourdes starts to feel guilty about her decision and just reminds herself, that this sacrifice was necessary and her children will understand this. Tragically, Enrique doesn't understand what he did to make his mother leave. Enrique and Lourdes both suffer from this decision, as Lourdes greatly misses her children, and Enrique desperately misses his
... gives insight into Junpero Serra’s world, his views, and how he changed New Spain and California. He inspired to spread Catholicism, the suppression of natives’ individualism, and the rejection of materialism. The books helps to show Juniper Serra in the good and bad. He had faults like any human being. Apart from seeing Junipero Serra in his life the world around him was also on display. It shows how New Spain and California was with the influence of Junipero Serra and how has drastically changed over time to what it is today. Now here in California there are various religions not just Catholicism anymore. California society is now individualistic something Serra had fought against; furthermore in society materialism is even more important than ever before. There changes have provided us the people a picture of the California of the past. One we should not forget.
The Heath Anthology of American Literature. 3rd.ed., v.1. "The History of the Miraculous Apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531.Ed. Paul Lauter. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Sitting there it is difficult not to listen in on the many conversations that people are engaging in, while waiting. So many different voices all whispering because in the next room everyone knows that the curandera is healing; using her spiritual tools (prayer) to cure. Two women sitting to the right of us were having a detailed conversation about their reasons for coming to the curandera. The younger women with skin the color of “canela” (cinnamon) as is typical among Latinas was sharing her story with an elderly women that seemed to be in her early sixties, she had so many laugh wrinkles around her eyes and mouth that it was easy to diverge into another train of thought about the type of life that the old women might have lead. The younger girl was telling the older women that she works at the United Postal Service (U.P.S.) unloading boxes from the back of semi-trucks. This is where she was injured, in an attempt to pick a box she hurt her shoulder. The elderly woman asked her a series of questions such as why she worked at a place that seemed so labor intensive and if see complained to her supervisor. What was
It all began with a young hidalgo (a member of the minor nobility in Spain) falling in love with a beautiful but lowly girl, María. Some years ago, the young hidalgo fell in love with María. María had a casita--a little house--where the young hidalgo would visit and bring his friends. In almost every way, they shared a happy life together. Eventually, María bore him two or three children. Everything was well except that their marriage was not blessed by the church, as his parents knew nothing about the arrangement. When his parents found out about María, they would not allow him to marry her and would not accept her as his wife nor her children as their grandchildren. They went on and urged him to marry a more suitable lady to give them grandchildren; this "suitable lady" was also a member of the minor nobility in Spain, also very beautiful. At some point in time, he ga...
To understand fully the implicit meaning and cultural challenges the film presents, a general knowledge of the film’s contents must be presented. The protagonist, Tita, suffers from typical Hispanic cultural oppression. The family rule, a common rule in this culture, was that the youngest daughter is to remain unwed for the duration of her mother’s life, and remain home to care for her. Mama Elena offers her daughter, Tita’s older sister Rosaura, to wed a man named Pedro, who is unknowingly in mutual love with Tita. Tita is forced to bake the cake for the wedding, which contains many tears that she cried during the process. Tita’s bitter tears cause all the wedding guests to become ill after consuming the cake, and Tita discovers she can influence others through her cooking. Throughout the film, Tita’s cooking plays an important role in all the events that transpire.
Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard” is a 1950’s film about famous, but forgotten, Norma Desmond, a silent film star, who has been living in exile, in her gloomy rundown mansion. William Holden stars as Joe Gillis, a struggling Hollywood screenwriter looking for work with no success. During a car chase between Joe Gillis, and the repo men who are after his car, his tires blow out leaving him stranded in Desmond’s deserted mansion. Desmond spends her time watching her old films, dreaming of the day when she makes her grand comeback. Gillis agrees to help Desmond edit her script, that she’s been working on, soon their relationship goes through twist and turns. Swanson, who plays Norma Desmond, gives a great performance with stellar acting; her theatrical mannerisms were perfectly executed. Holden also does a great job counteracting Desmond’s delusional rants. His character is well balanced, and at times is the voice of reason. The film is not only a love story, but also a story about redemption. Overall, the film has beautiful cinematography, great dialogue, and amazing a...
Her mother's rejection is subtle yet potent. When Pecola tells her mother about the molestation, Mrs. Breedlove does not believe her own flesh and blood. Pecola calls Pauline Mrs. Breedlove...
In James Baldwin’s 1952 novel “Go Tell It On The Mountain” the characters in the novel each embark on a spiritual journey. Baldwin has dedicated a chapter to each member of the Grimes family, detailing their trails and tribulations, hopes and aspirations, as each one’s quest to get closer to God becomes a battle. I have chosen the character John because I admire the fierce struggle he endured to find his spirituality. I will examine how he’s embarked on his quest and prove that he has done it with integrity and dignity.
Between Vega’s “The Story of Pedro Serrano” and Saer’s The Witness, each character discovered their own truths and purpose in life. For Serrano, his was the journey to achieve the balance between nature and civilization and twisting it for his own benefit much like he did with the resources on the island. For the nameless narrator, his journey was to gain the identity of what would end up a lost civilization and share their story with the world, ensuring that they would live on and be understood.
A well-kept woman in early Andalusia is marked by her devotion to the family, elaborating particularly on her ability to provide shelter and affection. Similarly, in Mother's worldview, a woman's priorities lie with her family, and should cater to the shared family marriage is “a man and his children, and a thick stone wall to keep the rest of the world out” (51). This family-oriented outlook equates the duty of homemaking with a sense of fear, underlying Moth...
Steven W. Hackel, the author of Junipero Serra, offers a very descriptive biography of Miquel Josephs who would later become Junipero Serra. Hackel, provides vivid and organized information to his readers by introducing the birthplace of Serra and the hardships many faced living in Mallorca. As a result, this caused Serra and his parents to allow him to commit himself to god, however, as mentioned by Hackel his parents would have never imagined the goals and accomplishment their son would fulfill in New Spain. Serra was excited and determined to introduce the Catholic religion to the natives and bring them under his protection to guide these natives into the correct and civilized life. Hackel, spends a significant amount of time describing