Literary Response 3: Fiesta 1980 In the second story of Drown by Junot Diaz, Yunior and Rafa have already been in the United States of America for about three years. In this story, their mother’s sister came to the United States. They travel to the Bronx in order to celebrate their aunts and uncles’ arrival. In Fiesta 1980, we meet their father and sister, and learn more about their mother. Through the way they all interact, we learn more about each family member’s characteristics and their family dynamic. As soon as the story begins, we get a sense of how the father, Ramon, is. When he arrives home from work, Yunior says, “On the afternoon of the party Papi came back from work around six. Right on time. We were all dressed by then, which …show more content…
Through Rafa’s gesture, it seems that the father’s behavior is not unusual. Rafa begins to move away because he fears what is going to happen next. This starts to stir up the question of, “Is Ramon physically abusive?” A bit of the abusive behavior is seen when Ramon picks Yunior up by the ear (Diaz 26). “If you throw up-- I won’t, I cried, tears in my eyes, more out of reflex than pain” (Diaz 26). Here, in the dialogue between Ramon and Yunior, it shows that Ramon is clearly in charge. When Yunior says that the tears that are falling out of his eyes, are more out of reflex than pain, there is no question if this sort of thing happens often. Yunior’s tears have become an involuntary response to the pain his father inflects on him. Through the language Junot Diaz used in that line, it is almost as if Yunior has been desensitized of pain, which adds to the idea that Ramon is, in fact, physically abusive. This is also reinstated when Yunior says, “Madai was too scared to open her eyes. Being around Papi all her life had turned her into a major-league wuss” (Diaz 26). Also, when Yunior vomits in the car, Ramon “jam[s] his finger into [Yunior’s] cheek, a nice solid thrust” (Diaz 30). Yunior describes his father as being imaginative with his punishments (Diaz 30). He says, “Earlier that year I’d written an essay in school called “My Father the Torturer…” (Diaz 30). …show more content…
He had this one look, furious and sharp, that always left me feeling bruised” (Diaz 28). Ramon’s authoritative and assertive personality is also seen when they get to their aunt’s house and Yunior says, “[Ramon] and Miguel gave each other the sort of handshakes that would have turned my fingers into Wonder bread” (Diaz 31). It is as if their handshake is either a symbol of power, or strength, a broadcasting of their manly hood. Yunior goes on to describe his father’s voice as being “loud and argumentative” (Diaz 33). He says that he is used to his father’s voice being “louder than most adults” (Diaz
By reminiscing on his upbringing from living in Lima, Peru, a third world country. Father would constantly recall his biographical anecdotes to share with the family. Some stories were beyond gruesome in detail. Going in depth to the painful memories that still lingers around like a scar, my father told us how our grandfather, his own father, was abusive for even the most minute things. For instance, when my father would wore outfits that did not meet my grandfather’s standards, or looked into his father’s eyes fearfully when he was being punished, and even when he did not walk my grandmother to and from the grocery store. The mistreatment had reached the end of father’s patience when he became a rebellious son, breaking curfews and refusing to return home at the end of the day. In Junot Díaz 's short story Fiesta, 1980, narrated by an son, Yunior, who describes the hardships he and his Dominican family shared as they drove to a party in the Bronx in New York City. At the age of twelve, Yunior loses his innocence as a result from the never-ending verbal, emotional, and physical abuse his father, Papi, had taunted him with. This lost innocence was caused by what he had said, did, and did
The chapter “A Fathers Influence” is constructed with several techniques including selection of detail, choice of language, characterization, structure and writers point of view to reveal Blackburn’s values of social acceptance, parenting, family love, and a father’s influence. Consequently revealing her attitude that a child’s upbringing and there parents influence alter the characterization of a child significantly.
For most Hispanic families, the grandmother, if she has lost her husband, will live with one of her children. The grandmother also only mainly speaks Spanish, which is how most older Hispanic people are as well. Hispanic families are often always numerous in that there is usually more than one child per family. The author, a Hispanic person herself, portrays this aspect of the story successfully. Continuing, the play begins with the family on the boat except for Margarita who is already in the water. The main person involved in this marathon aside from Margarita is her father, Eduardo. They seem to have a close relationship and I say this because he is the main person encouraging her and cheering her on. He really wants her to succeed and I felt that that represents how Hispanic immigrants feel about succeeding in America. They will do whatever it takes if it means having a home, a successful job, and a happier
Abuse for Reymundo started at an early age. When Reymundo was in his early years, he was brutally beaten and tortured by his aunts and cousins when his mother was not around. He was usually kicked, punched or made into a bloody mess for no apparent reason. Reymundo’s first experience with abuse came about when his cousin Alberto raped him after not keeping a promise. The second experience with abuse that Reymundo was a part of was when his mother’s second h...
The relationships between mothers and daughters is a topic that authors often call upon to tell a story. It is an important part of every culture, which makes the topic relatable to any reader who picks the book up. Junot Diaz understood the universality of mother/daughter relationships and incorporated it in his novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Although the book is mainly about Oscar, an overweight Dominican boy from New Jersey and his quest for love, the book also spends a lot of time exploring the relationships between Oscar’s sister Lola and their mother Beli and Beli’s relationship with her mother figure La Inca. Junot Diaz does not write mother/daughter relationships in an honest way and focuses on the conflict in the relationships
The poem having the title “The Art of Drowning” says much about what Billy Collins will be discussing about through his writing. It gives off a tone of fearfulness and pessimism, considering the word ‘drowning’. Yet, it also seems like Collins is going to go over ‘the art of drowning’ with a questioning tone, in a way of breaking down the perspective of the person ‘drowning’. Overall, the poem appears to be about fearing life being worthless and/or how being one of millions does not make a difference in the world.
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.
Torres uses the words like “mud” and “horseshit” to reveal how low and unwanted the eldest son feels. When we think of “mud” or “horseshit”, our first reaction would be to step over it or avoid the area that contains it at all costs. In this case, the people avoiding the “horseshit” are their parents. Not only that, but Torres includes the statement “we’re on our own” to further depict how neglectful the parents have been to their sons. Being the oldest, Manny is considered to be the responsible on because it states that., “Paps assumed it was all Manny’s idea because Manny was the oldest and because it was, actually, all Manny’s idea. He didn’t wait to get home but beat Manny right there in the field” (Torres83). Readers can infer that no matter what happens, Manny will always be the father’s “punching bag” whenever the boys would do something bad, which makes him feel unworthy as well. Then there’s Joel, the middle child. In most families, the middle child is never really glorified. It is as if they are a filler or some sort because the eldest child will always be praised for being head of the sibling clan, the youngest can be deemed the “favorite”, while the middle child is just there. Torres shows this by not giving readers the full Joel. Readers don’t know how Joel feels because, he wasn’t taught how to express his emotions, which parents should teach their child. Finally, there is Mijo; the youngest. Mijo,
It is undeniable that human struggle is relative. It is relative to one’s background, life experiences, and strength- and at some point everyone is faced with an obstacle that they feel incapable of overcoming. In Surviving Hell written by Leo Thorsness, the author is captured after a mid-flight ejection in the Vietnam War. He spent years undergoing torture and solitary confinement, not knowing if he would make it out alive. Physically shattered, his spirits remained strong. Several events take place throughout the novel that ultimately kept Leo afloat. The significance of the church service, walking home, and Mike’s flag lies outside of their surface meaning, but in the mental battles won that propelled Leo and the other soldiers to do more
In Junot Diaz's "Fiesta" the father created substantial fear in his children which resulted in extreme disconnection inside his entire family. The story begins with the family being ready to go to the party, and waiting for the husband/father to arrive. "If papi had walked in and caught us lounging in our underwear, he would have kicked our asses or something serious" (Diaz 4070). Both Yunior and his brother Rafa were terrified of their father. This caused separation between both the brothers. Reason being that Yunior was always getting in trouble with his father, which lead him to search for some sort of defense. He turned to his older brother. If Yunior eats before riding in his father's new van, he becomes nauseated and vomits. The father would punish Yunior for technically, surviving. His father was so disconnected from his son that would be mad at his son for eating. When Yunior was going to be punished Rafa would disappear. This angered Yunior resulting in constant bickering between him and his brother. The fear in the household was so immense that the youngest daughter would cry when hearing her father's voice. Yunior bl...
All played a major role in the man and as a result, Yunior did what others told him or expected him to do, at the cost of his own ambitions. He became just like Rafa and Ramon! “Sucios of the worst kind and now it’s official: you are one, Diaz closes the book with a tragic ending with the last chapter “The Cheaters Guide to Love,” Yunior’s life and progression from young immigrant learning English from Sesame Street to a middle aged man reflecting on an empty life and deteoriating health. At this point he is on the journey from boy to man and realizes the error of his womanizing ways. Karma, has finally come back around and the pain from Yunior’s heart break sends him into depression and emotional rock bottom. “When realizing that in your lying cheater’s heart that sometimes a start is all we ever get.” (Diaz, pg.
This bewilderment is not limited to just the girls either; the parents experience their fair share of perplexity at the chaos that is America. Unlike their offspring, Mr. and Mrs. Garcia work to retain and remember their Island roots...
I also feel angry because growing up I felt anger towards my father because I thought “how could he speak to his wife like that?” so in this case with Guillermo I am angry at his father for beating and yelling
Literature of the Americas has many stories and they all have comparisons, but they also have many differences. “Day of the Butterfly” by Alice Monro and “Crossroads: A Sad Vaudeville” by Carlos Solórzano have characters that share some traits and ways, but like all characters they have things that are different. The old woman from “A Sad Vaudeville” is a dynamic protagonist who finds herself meeting the perfect man for her, but has a dilemma when he is in denial because she is not the ideal girl of his dreams; she’s old. Myra from “Day of the Butterfly” is a static antagonist who does not have the same care free attitude as most of the children her own age. She is rather shy and does not fit in or socialize much with people her own age. She does not derive from a very wealthy family. She is responsible for her brother Jimmy which holds her back from having more age appropriate experiences.
“Papi pulled me to my feet by my ear. If you throw up— I won 't, I cried, tears in my eyes, more out of reflex than pain” (307). As this scenario presents violence, it displays innocent Yunior’s response towards his abusive father as he pulls Yunior’s ears. In the short story Fiesta 1980, Junot Diaz depicts the life of young Yunior as he struggles with his Dominican family issues. Yunior was picked on the most in the family, especially from his dad. As Poor Yunior was the victim of his dad’s affair with a Puerto Rican woman, it affected him psychologically. Yunior suffers from the fact his beloved mother is being cheated on; therefore, he vomits as he rides his dad’s van, as his first ride in the van is linked to his first meeting with