Discrimination Exposed in I Want to Buy a Vowel by John Welter

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What is the American dream? For everyone, it is different. The old lady walking across the street may dream of getting a new house. The rich man with a big house might dream that he will find a true love. For the Chinese child at school, maybe it is just to fit in with society. There are many things holding people back from their dreams, such as family, age, or culture, their general lifestyle. This story is about an immigrant looking to achieve his dream, but is held back for many reasons. Also, a white man looking to terrorize a town has the dream of being powerful. In his novel, I Want to Buy a Vowel, John Welter demonstrates that the road to the American dream is paved differently for people due to ethnicity and religion. The American lifestyle is often stereotyped to be very easy for everyone. The main character, Alfredo Santayana, is an immigrant from Guatemala that illegally crossed the border into Texas. He grew up with eighteen brothers and sisters, very poor and illiterate. "I want to buy a vowel'. [he] said to the first American he met."(1) He is only seventeen years old and doesn't understand any English. The only English he knows is lines from the television, from shows like Wheel of Fortune and Ford commercials. He just knows that on the show, people buy a vowel and end with a lot of money and a new car. The reason he came to America was because "America is suppose to be the land of opportunity" (141). Alfredo expects everything to be easy and simple, everyone is welcoming and everyone can do whatever they like. People in America are just suppose to be rich and give things away. He arrives in Texas and sees all the cars parked on the street.... ... middle of paper ... ...Eva was appalled. That meant they could punish Kenlow by having him do the same job that was supposed to be a privilege for Alfredo" (311). For Kenlow's punishment, he has to pick up road kill. The same job that Alfredo has to stay in America. The Caucasians definitely have the advantage in this country. In conclusion, everyone has a different dream, but some people are discriminated and have hardships towards achieving their dream. Alfredo the illegal immigrant was discriminated against and blamed for the destruction of a white man. Everyone disliked Alfredo for being the "satanist" even though he wasn't, and when they found out the white man was the satanist, the townspeople didn't care so much. Life is filled with these discriminations and that is why it's important to not judge people by their appearance or background.

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