Rhetorical Devices In The Birthday By Sandra Cisnero

Our ideal thought of birthdays is that we are just getting a year older, naturally maturing and that there is not going back. But Rachel’s is entitled to her own mindset. Her beliefs states that “when you’re eleven, you’re also, ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one.” At times in our life, in different situation, our inner child or adult will be visible. Sandra Cisnero portrays Rachel as wanting to be older , as old as 102, so that she can have a lot of experience and that she will be an adult and that she can be right and mature. Because seemingly a young person’s voice is dispensable and actions silly. Cisneros 's characterize Rachel’s feelings about her eleventh birthday using rhetorical

Rachel tends to keep things to herself a lot. She lacks speaking up for herself and she will only rant in her head. “..are pushing at the back of my eyes when I put arm through one sleeve of the sweater that smells like cottage cheese, and then the other arms apart like if the sweater hurts me and it does, all itchy and full of germs that aren’t even mine.” She perpetually brings up about this red sweater that is not of hers and still not denying it considering her teacher has left her no choice because otherwise consequences will be faced. At this point she is being forced to put it on even though she clearly feels uncomfortable in it but still is trying to put herself into it. She rambles on and on about it in her head but still doesn’t show it which may show that she’s being mature and keeping it to herself to avoid conflict on her special day. Considering multiple times she mentions about going home and having cake with her family and she doesn’t want her day to be

And that’s with everyone. Even a 55 year old man can act like a 5 year old. No matter how old you age, your past ages still exist and they will always show themselves. The author portrays a great message about aging through Rachel. The way she reveals herself in this situation is surely childlike but what makes her seem mature is by admitting that even when you’re eleven, you’re also all those other years before that. “I’m eleven today. I’m eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, but I wish I was one hundred and two.” Her honesty is what makes her mature because a child would just deny. But even being one hundred and two, you are still also those ages