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Let It Rain Coffee Character Analysis

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The “I” in Cultural Identity
While reading the texts throughout the quarter, I began to notice a pattern. Each character had a unique Cultural Identity that shaped their perspective on their experiences and the experiences of those around them. For each of these characters though, Cultural Identity seemed to be defined by something different. For some it was communal practices and for others it was family. In some instances language played a role. Certain characters, such as Tayo from Ceremony and Ichiro from NoNo Boy, changed based on their desire to assimilate to the culture they were present in. The only commonality between each of the individual characters was their association with their community affecting their Cultural Identity. This …show more content…

This is linked to her differing Cultural Identity. When they are in the Dominican Republic they are living life to survive each day but in America, they are living for the sake of success for the future of being Americans in Dallas that Esperanza wants so much. In the Dominican Republic, it was okay for Esperanza’s husband to be violent to protect his life and livelihood. “I’m just saying it doesn’t matter how good we are, you go out into the world and people will try to beat you up and take everything you got. I want them to learn how to defend themselves.” (57). This mentality was acceptable to Esperanza in the Dominican Republic. But when they are in New York, it is no longer okay for her family to act this way. “What have we talked about? To be different, to be decent, to have children who will grow up to be good people and get good jobs. We don’t want them to become tigres, fighting like cats on the street.” (56). Esperanza believes that the values of America are superior to the street-smart ways of the DR. As such, she wants her family to be better, so she chooses to identify with the American value systems she has witnessed, resulting in conflict between her and her husband, who became reminiscent of his Dominican Identity when his father Don Chan came to live with the

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