Why Is Camacho's Beat So Important To A More Americanized Society?

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This section of Macho Camacho’s Beat continues to explore the cultural and social shift in Puerto Rico towards a more Americanized society. This shift is portrayed as a negative one; a society filled with sexism, racism and classism. Each character in the book continues to represent an aspect of the decline of Puerto Rico – throughout the social hierarchy. This section takes the characters to a new level of depravity, especially the character of Benny. As a reader, it seems that the author intends Benny to symbolize the worst of young, privileged Puerto Rican culture. Only Doña Chon remains as a symbol of hope as she clings to traditional values. Although, the reader increasingly realizes that Doña Chon lives by her own religious and moral …show more content…

The poor are getting poorer and more exploited. This is symbolized, for example, by our new understanding that the Mother is repulsed by the Senator but has to engage in prostitution to support her disabled child while she clings to the dream of being the next big star like Iris Chacon. It is interesting though, that the mother idolizes Iris Chacon who has become a star by exploiting her sexuality rather than finding success through skills and education. This idolization demonstrates the deep cycle of oppression in this new society. The Mother is buying into the dream of Americanization, believing it stands for wealth/fame and a type of freedom while really standing for more …show more content…

Benny’s only love affair is with his car. Benny is racist (as demonstrated by his membership in a club that excludes blacks), is rich and above the law. He has inherited this position and lifestyle from his father. The Father/Senator is also privileged and is free to indulge in promiscuity and unsavory activities (like following a schoolgirl and considering whether he will attack her) with no repercussions. In this section, Benny runs over the “imbecile” child and Benny is shown to only worry about his car. He shows no remorse, and no responsibility for the accident. It seems that the death of this voiceless child symbolizes the death of Puerto Rican traditional culture and the rise of American

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