Love In L. A. By Dagoberto Gilb

832 Words2 Pages

Setting Analysis "Love in L.A.," written by Dagoberto Gilb, is a story full of irony and multiple themes. The story is set in Hollywood during the summer time. Written in third person objective, "Love in L.A.” Five main theme expressed throughout this short story are Life aspirations, romance, materialism, privilege, and pursuit of happiness. The story begins with Jake driving on the freeway and he is stuck in a traffic jam beneath the overpass of the 101 freeway (Hollywood freeway) on Alvarado Street, at a red light. Jake is stalled in life, he values freedom but is not as free as he thinks he is. The freeway allows jake to feel the freedom of the open road and allows himself to daydream of his ideal life. You could infer Jake is a lower-middle …show more content…

Jake shares those dreams, but exaggerates when he claims to be a musician and actor. Also the details description of gray concrete, smog, traffic is in a clot are leaning the story in a very negative beginning. For Jake, the negative thoughts are linked to being steadily employed, he hopes to escaped them. But even though he drives off, he is still in his old car, still stuck in a confining reality. The conflict is this story is Jake hitting Mariana, Gilb illustrates her in a way we can see she is a symbol for everything Jake doesn't have in his life, a nice new Toyota, has insurance and follows the rule, sweet and honest. From the title of the story you think maybe Jake finds love in his terrible situation but text leading up to the end you can immediately tell this is not going to be a “love story”. By the comment Jake makes to Mariana saying she must be cuban by her ethnicity. Also the statement from Jake, “ I really am sorry about hitting you like that.” He sounded genuine. Gilb wouldn't of had to tell the reader Jake sounded genuine if he was truly being genuine. I do believe the setting is the most essential part to understanding this story, the environment of L.A its self, being stuck in traffic jam too many could spark more than simply a foul mood, it can lead to severe mental disorder, a study claims. Everyday irritations such as waiting in traffic can build up over time and cause mental

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