Brief And Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao Analysis

381 Words1 Page

The Hispanic culture is a rich and diverse element that occupies a large amount of the United States of America. Throughout history, we can see the way this culture branches out to create different lifestyles. The novel, The Brief and Wondrous life of Oscar Wao, derives its story from the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo (El Jefe) in the Dominican Republic; it shows how Trujillo affects the individual lives and culture of an entire country. To outsiders, it may seem like simple politics, but to the citizens of the DR, it changes their lives in ways they might not even notice. In the novel, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz, the author creates a double narrative by strategically placing footnotes throughout the novel. The

Show More
Related

  • Theme Of Love In The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

    1941 Words  | 4 Pages

    Without the force of love, conflict would cease to exist in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Love specifically seems to be the foundation for misfortune to occur because of how obsessed characters become with reaching for what they cannot have. Unfortunately, love or even lust at times seems to drive the plot and lead to action, most of which are disastrous. It all began with Abelard when he tried to save his daughter Jacquelyn from the wrath of Trujillo and ended up dying anyway. The theme of calamity continues nearly fifteen years later when Belicia throws away family and friends over a man. The man she loved, The Gangster, turned out to be married into the almighty Trujillo family and well, that doesn’t end so well for Beli since she

    Read More

  • Summary Of Chulito By Charles Rice-Gonzalez

    143 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the novel Chulito author Charles Rice-Gonzalez creates a familiar world seen through the eyes of a young, gay Latino from New York to strip the reconstructed masculinity that is inherent to the urban Latin communities' sense of machismo and expose the realities of outdated views on gender roles and sexual orientation, and the internal power struggle against the machismo aspects that entrap its members in a cycle of poverty and violence. The majority of young Latinos growing up in impoverished areas of urban society think machismo is necessary for survival and acceptance within the community. Rice-Gonzalez reveals this to be an oversimplification by the members of the community of the social dynamics that are at work behind the scenes and,

    Read More

  • Analysis of "Zoot Suit"

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    Through analyzing the underlying themes of Zoot Suit it is clear that Pacheco isn't real because sometimes he is really there and other times only Henry can hear him. The press is shown to have a lot of digression and influences on public views but this freedom has allowed a door to open and for something or someone to stand up and fight for their beliefs and make them heard. If the true goal is to have equal treatment of all people no matter color they are, what sex god made them, or what style they choose wear on the outside then this goal will be achieved. The author gives a good representation of true Mexican American beliefs and brings Pacheco to life.

    Read More

  • Junot Diaz's The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

    1952 Words  | 4 Pages

    Love and Violence The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz covers the issue of Love and Violence thoroughly throughout the book, and shows how anger and love influence the impulsive and reckless decisions the characters make. Searching for Zion, by Emily Raboteau on the other hand, shows that love comes in different forms and may be easily misunderstood. Abelard, Belicia, Lola, and Emily show love can be a devastating force if not handled carefully and, can be very dangerous. As others commonly have, Oscar confuses passion or lust with love, which in many ways can be critical when conveyed in violence.

    Read More

  • Oscar Wao Themes

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao focuses on gender and the role gender has on the characters lives. The characters of this book are also one way or another impacted by the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. The major themes of this book were topics we have focused in class. The themes of machismo and the effects of Rafael Trujillo affected the latino population even in the United States.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Chromosomal Imperialism In 'Spoils' By Carlos Fuentes

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Crystal Frontier, Carlos Fuentes presents two of his main characters in much a similar fashion; in Spoils, we find Dionisio is a world-renowned chef and cuisine connoisseur, and also a fervent critic of American cuisine and culture. Dionisio believes that through his country’s chromosomal imperialism, Mexico will be able to solidify its sphere of influence in America; however, when he travels to the United States, he indulges in the same institutions that he ridicules when he lives in Mexico. Similarly, in Pain we encounter the young and aspiring doctor, Juan Zamora. Zamora is an ambitious student who travels to the United States to further his education and learns that successful networking is the way to get ahead in American society. Zamora and Dionisio are both functions of their environment. When they are living in America, they are exhibit an innate interconnectedness with society, and when they live in Mexico—quite the opposite; Zamora and Dionisio display traditional attributes which are stereotypical to that of the Mexican who lives in solitude. This essay will seek to discuss each character utilizes his own

    Read More

  • Love In The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

    1383 Words  | 3 Pages

    Love is a powerful force of nature. It is a feeling of passionate and deep affection. It is patient, kind, and honest. It has the ability to consume someone’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It serves as the foundation for numerous songs, poems, shows, and novels. However, the attributes of love in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao are depicted as a curse preying on the insecurities of relationships and a blessing embodying its beauty. Fukú, a curse, strikes the Dominican Republic and its inhabitants through violent acts of revenge, rage, and jealousy. The source of fukú’s power, nonetheless, is derived from the infamous dictator of the Dominican Republic, Trujillo. The dictator not only presided over all political, economic, and social

    Read More

  • The Political Performance of Motherhood: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo

    3443 Words  | 7 Pages

    Navarro, Marysa. "The Personal is Political: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo." Power and Popular Protest. Latin American Social Movements. Ed. Susan Eckstein. 1989.

    Read More

  • The Mother Tongue by Demetria Martinez

    2546 Words  | 6 Pages

    Torres, Hector Avalos. 2007. Conversations with Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Writers. U.S.: University of New Mexico press, 315-324.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Dreaming In Cuba

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dear Professor Artless, it has come to my attention that you acknowledged that the plays, books, and short stories that we have read prove no merit in Literature. In your words, you stated that the Literature we have read is “trash, nonsense, stale, trivial, irrelevant, and they add nothing to our understanding of what life is like in Latin America.” I should take offense about your statement, but I am going to do something better. I am going to prove it to you by taking you on a journey and tell you about the story we read in class called Dreaming in Cuba. It tells the story about three generations of Cuban women divided by politics and the revolution of Cuba. We should read more books like Dreaming in Cuba because it takes us beyond our limited experience of life and deepens our understanding of the history of our people, the division of politics, and shifting cultures. Also, it examines some of the major themes such as family relationship, exile, preservation of culture, memory, and creation of identity. The relationships between the Del Pino women are for the most part shattered by any or all the themes above. Prepare to be amazed, Professor Artless.

    Read More

  • The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao Analysis

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    Giving up friends is difficult, nevertheless if the they were not really your friend, in the end it is for the best. In the novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao written by Junot Diaz, Oscar recognizes his friends are not genuine companions. This is evident because they have fun excluding Oscar, make derogatory remarks towards him, overall making him feel inferior to them. Oscar’s friends, Al assists Oscar’s other friend, Miggs in finding a girlfriend, excluding Oscar, “It killed him that they hadn’t thought to include him in their girl heists; he hated Al for inviting Miggs instead of him and he hated Miggs for getting a girl period” (28). Speculations of why Al did not invite Oscar include, as not having enough room to include

    Read More

  • Summary: The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

    209 Words  | 1 Pages

    I believe that The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2008 because it is a book that world can correlate too. After perusing this book, it seems like a genuine story. Aforementioned is my secondary favorite novel that I have read subsequent The Alchemist. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed The Alchemist. It was an interesting book to read including it keeping me entertained. I was disappointed that Oscar was murdered by Gorilla Grod and Solomon Grundy. "He told them that it was only because of her love that he'd been able to do the thing that he had done, the thing they could no longer stop, told them if they killed him they would probably feel nothing and their children would probably feel nothing

    Read More

  • Analysis: The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    WEESR, KHATHERINE. “Tu no Eres Nada de Dominicano”: Unnatural Narration and De-Naturalizing Gender Consruction in Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. “Journal Of Men’s Studies 22, no.2 (Spring2014 2014): 89-104. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 30,

    Read More

  • Oscar Wao Violence

    1640 Words  | 4 Pages

    When reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, written by Junot Diaz, the constant element of violence and its impact on the characters is impossible to overlook. As Diaz writes, he explains that a portion of the novel takes place in the Dominican Republic under Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship, and how the violence that is seen in the other parts of the novel, which take place at a different time, can be viewed as a lingering effect of the mass amount of violence that procured during his reign. Although majority of the novel takes place in America and many years after Trujillo’s dictatorship, the effects of violence that were orchestrated throughout his reign continued to affect those of Dominican descent, which is depicted through the mother-daughter relationship of Beli and Lola and the sexual assertiveness of the male characters, such as Oscar and Yunior.

    Read More

  • Summary: The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

    2037 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz paints the life and death of its protagonist, Oscar Wao, as narrated by his foil and friend, Yunior. Junot Díaz creates dual character arcs that portrays both Oscar and Yunior’s coming of age stories as they function within one another throughout the novel. These defined maturation moments can be seen throughout the execution of each character’s goals, and the lessons that both Oscar and Yunior teach each other throughout the narrative. Oscar Wao, described as a Dominican boy cast from Dominican hypermasculinity, spends his entire young life chasing after girls, and pursuing futile love affairs. Oscar arguably sees his retribution immediately before his death after he loses his virginity. The

    Read More

More about Brief And Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao Analysis

Open Document