Theme Of Masculinity In The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

Sci-fi Is the New Masculinity In the novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz writes Yunior's narrative on Oscar, his family and their struggles of living as Dominicans in New Jersey in the time of the Trujillo regime. There is a strong emphasis on male gender role and extreme machismo attitude that is expected of Dominican men through out the book. The word machismo derives from the Spanish word macho meaning male or masculine. Diaz brings out the struggles of each character trying to live up to cultural standards. Some of the many manlike attributes Diaz utilizes is Yunior and Oscar's relationship to show how a contrast of identity and masculinity can alienate a person by the society. He uses their relationship to explore dueling

From childhood to college, he doesn’t fit into the cultural expectations of his family, society, or culture as a Dominican. Dominican men are stereo typed for being strong, good looking, smooth with the ladies, play sports, stay fit, etc. Usually it’s true for the way they carry themselves easily through self-confidence. Oscar does not fit under that criteria. He doesn't have friends, girls over look him and he doesn't take care of himself physically. Certainly it’s difficult to live up to the expectations of masculinity when raised in a family of females. Who will teach him about the male code? Usually when there’s a male presence in the family, they keep a close watch on their loved one to make sure they carry themselves to fit the expectations of male identity. Oscar is on a different level on the masculinity criterion than of Yunior's macho-ness, which is addressed in Marysol Asencio's book, Sex and Sexuality Among New York's Puerto Rican Youth, that is linked to “dignity and respect” (Asencio 17). If you don’t live up to the expectations you’re out casted as a disgrace and shown no respect which is imperative to the Dominican male role. Yunior is a jock and a player which is opposite to Oscar who is a nerd who loves to write fantasy novels. He is respected for being a 'manly man' where-as Oscar is constantly pounded on for not conforming to the ideal of being masculine because of his lifestyle. Diaz uses the theme of culture to

Everyone goes through phases to find out who they are. Oscar goes through the sci-fi phase. Sci-fi is fiction that is imagined science or an actual science that impacts an individual or society. For Oscar, sci-fi are his lenses. He sees and applies imagined science in his life, and makes it his identity. For example, Yunior and Oscar are roommates in college, and Yunior notes every nerdy thing that Oscar does like putting up a “speak, friend, and enter” sign up on their “dorm door.” (Diaz 172). Yunior sees him as a "fool" for the way he shows his passion for sci-fi and fantasy movies such as Lord of the Rings. Diaz uses words like “fool” to show the imagery of how stupid or uncool it is to put up a sign that no one understands. Also his choice of language gets his point across of how different Oscar is from other men. Since it's not easy for him to make friends, he comforts himself with Sci-fi just as how some people use food for comfort. Applying imagined science to his life comforts him from the harsh judgment of others for being himself. That’s his safe zone. “Speak, friend, and enter” is like having a 'welcome' door matt and his way of welcoming people. Junot Diaz has a different style of writing. For instance, he italicized “Speak, friend, and enter” to put emphasis on Oscar not just being a fan of sci-fi but he lives by it too. It’s like air to him. The author raises the point that his life is way