On his journey to the New World, Bartolome de Las Casas encounters the “Indians” of the New World, in which he describes as an innocent, undeveloped, people. As a first observation, Las Casas pays close attention to the Indians social appearance and clothing. He notices, “as to their dress, they are generally naked,” usually with minimal clothing worn and, instead of traditional European customs , “ they have no beds, but sleep on a kind of matting or else in a kind of suspended net called hamacas.” Specifically within this quote is the emphasis of the rhetorical device pathos. Las Casas’ diction is written in such a way that portrays the feeling of empathy toward the reader, and because an individual is more likely to help another individual
Within her painting, the audience gets a feel of what it was like to grow-up or be a part of the artist’s life. The artist’s images speak of memory and of hope. She is considered a folk Chicana artist and is widely celebrated as one of the best known Chicana artists. Garza’s images incorporate religion, tradition, and political struggle in the
In the altar’s center is “a plaster image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, quarter-life size, its brown Indian face staring down on the woman” (Paredes 23). The implication of the stare is of criticism as the Virgin, symbolic of an ideal Mexican womanhood, looks down on Marcela, whose Anglo features starkly contrast with the Virgin’s, and whose actions are in opposition to the values that she represents. This carefully constructed scene is meaningful. Marcela’s lifeless body lies between the bed and the altar, and opposite to the altar is Marcela’s shrine dedicated to Hollywood movie stars. These are the visual images of the opposing forces that characterize the Mexican-American struggle for resistance against American cultural hegemony.
I was also able to understand Esperanza’s life more clearly in The House on Mango Street by learning more about her culture. In addition, I reflected on the gender roles in my own culture and gained more knowledge on how it affects my daily life. By exploring the reasons behind the several similarities and differences, it allowed me to make connections between my culture and Esperanza’s culture. In conclusion, learning more about gender roles in the Hispanic and Indian cultures has helped me become more internationally minded and knowledgeable on my own culture as well as another
In the story, “The Myth of a Latin Woman” is about the author Judith Ortiz Cofer talking about her life and growing up as a Puerto Rican girl. She talks about the struggles she had to go through, like always being under heavy surveillance by her family. She would be under their watch because she was a girl and was expected to protect her family’s honor and to behave like in her family’s terms “proper senorita”. I agree that she was forced to mature fast just at her teenage years; a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe Cofer could never act her age.
Throughout the book Braided Lives many cultural clashes are brought forth and developed. The roots for these clashes are deep within the differences of religion, language and race in others and in oneself. Examples of cultural clash can be found within Native American, Spanish and English cultures, and developed as many of these different cultures find themselves in contact with each other and things they don’t understand. In the story “Man to Send Rainclouds” two Indian men plan to bury their grandfather in the old ways of their ancestors.
Culture identity is something many young people struggle with, especially teens as they go through discovering themselves. Esperanza is the kind of girl who struggles with her cultural background. She envies everyone else she sees as they fit in with the place they are at. Even if the life of others isn’t necessarily amazing she is still jealous for what they do get. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros a very touching story about how a young girl tries to fit in an American society being a Latino.
The narrative “Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit” written by Leslie Marmon Silko develops the central ideas of beauty and cultural inheritance by using three structural elements: reflection a voice in first person point of view and vivid flashbacks. She accepts her differences as a Laguna Pueblo and being part white through interactions with different individuals in her life. Silko relies heavily on her strong memories with the use of these structural elements as she makes her story about beauty and cultural inheritance clear, convincing and engaging. Silko also uses reflection to bring up an important event from when she was a child.
My Literacy Narrative I was never truly an avid reader when I was younger. I was the oldest of five siblings and left in charge of taking care of my younger brothers and sister. I was more prone to spending time outside than reading a book. Of course, I did find myself enjoying a good mystery novel, but playing ball would always trump even a good book.
In Drink Cultura, Jose Antonio Burciaga gives a brief tour through Chicano history, food, mythology, and politics. It is a book about the Chicano experience of living between, within, and sometimes outside of two cultures. Each chapter is a brief discourse on its chosen topic with personal observation, family stories, and humor, these essays feed the reader with a bit of Chicanismo that are set up for the reader to breeze through quickly and then think about it for as much time as required. Burciaga incorporates a title in every story with a hint of what the writing will be about : Con Safos, Pendejismo, The Joy of Jalapeños, The Great Taco War, All The Things I Learned in School Weren't Necessarily True, Piñatas, and The Last Supper of Chicano Heroes.
Esperanza is often humiliated not only by where she lives, but also by her physical appearance, hence causing a restriction in her climb to a higher social class. Esperanza is frequently ashamed of her family’s broken-down house in an urban, poor
They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger. This is how they keep.” (Cisneros 93) Esperanza deduces that she must follow their example, and make her way into the world, and for that, she’ll have to move away to, hopefully she wishes, her dream house – her soil for embedding her
Every person has the right to be and feel free. They have the right to be independent and live happily. Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour,” focuses on sixty minutes in the life of a young Mrs. Mallard. Upon learning of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard experiences a revelation about her future without a husband. Her life, due to heart problems, suddenly ends after she unexpectedly finds out her husband is actually alive.
Hour of Freedom “The Story of an Hour” is a short story written by Kate Chopin. It details a wife named Mrs. Louise Mallard, who struggles with a heart condition. After learning of her husband, Brentley Mallard’s death in a railroad accident, Mrs. Mallard deals with grief in many stages. Chopin incorporates many literary devices throughout “The Story of an Hour,” but imagery is the most evident.
As a young child, after being told of how poor her houseboy Fido was, Adichie did not believe his family could also be hardworking. “Their poverty was my single story of them. ”(Adichie) She also details how later, on a trip to Guadalajara she was overwhelmed with shame because her only image of Mexicans was the “abject immigrant” due to the “…endless stories of Mexicans as people who were fleecing the healthcare system, sneaking across the border, being arrested at the border, that sort of thing.” (Adichie)a She was caught by surprise when she saw Mexicans happy and at work in the marketplace.
