Summary Of Hunger Of Memory Richard Rodriguez

In the autobiography ‘Hunger of Memory’, Richard Rodriguez offers a nostalgic portrayal of his past and an evocative analysis of his life through his words. ‘Ricardo’ Rodriguez, the child of Mexican immigrants who relocated to America for a better life, was quick in analyzing the effects the cultural change brought on him. He recounts the memories of his youth and digs into his childhood on how his education in America impacted him as a person. Although his experiences are his own; the message of this book is rather universal, highlighting the synergistic relationship of culture and education. To be an ethnic American is a culture all on its own. Richard Rodriguez offers a rare glimpse of the world of a racialized American – one that belongs neither in their homeland nor in the American community. Born into a family of Mexican immigrants who had received only basic education, Rodriguez was an early bird in realizing the changes education had brought on him. On numerous occasions, he

It was the sound of his family speaking their mother tongue. It was the sound of his childhood. Unfortunately for him, it was also the sound of his lineage and ‘minority’ status. He sees himself as a boy, trying to cut himself from his roots in order to move on to better things. He struggled between the emotional attachment he had with his family and the progression his education would give him. This conflict resulted in him idealizing his teachers and their methods, their vocabulary, their ways, and in this way he Americanized himself and ‘Ricardo’ became Richard. The author puts much emphasis on his educational career being the stepping stone of this assimilation. He did not form his own opinion, rather memorized the thoughts of others, especially of the teachers he so immensely idolized. He highlights the effect one’s academic background has on a person multiple times. It shapes a person’s thought, actions, desires and