Drown By Junot Diaz Summary

In the first short story of Drown by Junot Diaz, the reader follows a nine year old and his twelve year old brother, Rafa, as they stay with their uncle in Ocoa for the summer. Throughout their brief journey to unmask Ysreal, who wears a mask to hide his disfigured face caused by a pig when he was a baby, there is a very evident portrayal of the brothers’ family dynamic. Through their relationship, the reader is able to get an understanding of how machismo, their environment, and how their absent father play a role in their life. The first chapter of Ysreal opens up with the narrator telling us about the day his brother decided they were going to visit Ysreal. The narrator then goes on to tell the reader a bit of his back story. The reader learns that the reason him and his brother have to stay with their uncle is due to his mother’s “long hours at the chocolate factor” (Diaz 3). The narrator also goes on to describe

While on the bus the narrator says, “Rafa crossed his arms and watched the fields and roadside shacks scroll past, the dust and smoke and people almost frozen by our speed” (Diaz 19). The imagery here and the words are alluring and needs more time to be deciphered. The narrator then begins a conversation with Rafa concerning Ysreal: “Ysreal will be ok, I said. Don’t bet on it. They’re going to fix him. A muscle fluttered between his jawbone and his ear. Yunior, he said tiredly. They aren’t going to do shit to him.

How do you know?

I know, he said.” (Diaz 19)

Through the conversation, not only does the reader learn the narrators name, but also sees the difference in character. Yunior is young and optimistic. He believes that Ysreal will get the help he need. On the contrary, Rafa had to grow up fast which ultimately jaded him. It is as if he sees the world through a filter and does not believe that there is any good in the