Junot Díaz Drown a Struggle for Cultural Identity

Dà AZ’S DROWN: A STRUGGLE FOR CULTURAL IDENTITY 1 Junot Dà ­az’s Drown: A Struggle for Cultural Identity Against an Unjust Society Dà AZ’S DROWN: A STRUGGLE FOR CULTURAL IDENTITY Junot Dà ­az’s Drown: A Struggle for Cultural Identity Against an Unjust Society Junot Dà ­az’s Drown is a compelling and surprising set of short stories, each affecting the reader in a different way, but all making an impression. These stories follow a variety of characters, often depicting the experience of the immigrant experience in the United States. Many themes are present throughout this collection of stories, including a struggle for cultural identity, belonging, love, and loss. According to Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert (2000), â€Å"Drown chronicles the human cost†¦show more content†¦198). 3 Dà AZ’S DROWN: A STRUGGLE FOR CULTURAL IDENTITY It is not just the language of the Dominican culture that we find characters struggling to hold onto in Dà ­az’s Drown. We also find that the characters walk a fine line of defining themselves as newly Dominican American, and it seems they feel pressured to leave behind their old ways and traditions to join their new society. In the short story â€Å"Fiesta, 1980,† we find many examples of the family being torn between their Dominican customs and assimilating to their new American life. This story begins with the explanation of Papi’s most prized possession: a brand-new, lime-green, Volkswagen van. Much to Yunior’s chagrin (due to the fact that he gets sick every time he rides in the vehicle), this van means a lot to Papi, because to him, it represents an American family. According to John Riofrio (2008), â€Å"it[the van] is the embracing of the American way which has reenabled Papi’s masculinity,† (p. 33). After arriving at their Tia and T io’s home for the party, Yunior sneers at his relatives’ apartment stating, â€Å"the place had been furnished in Contemporary Dominican Tacky† (p. 32). It seems as though Yunior, after only a short period in America, is already feeling embarrassed by his culture’s traditions. This chapter of the book also discusses the betrayal of Yunior’s father to his family, by having an affair with a Puerto Rican woman, whomShow MoreRelatedJunot Diaz Drown Research Paper1665 Words   |  7 Pagesis a means to retain one’s identity; however, as they become more assimilated in their new communities their language no longer reflects that of their identity but of their new cultural surroundings. When an immigrant, immigrates to a new country they become marginalized, they’re alienated from common cultural practices, social ritual, and scripted behavior. It’s not without intercultural communication and negotiation do immigrants conform to new surroundings. In â€Å"Drown,† the title story of hisRead MoreEssay on Drown886 Words   |  4 Pages Drown   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The fact that I am writing to you in English already falsifies what I wanted to tell you.†(Diaz) Drown; a compilation of short stories, by Junot Diaz portrays the integration of fiction and truth. Yunior, narrator, as he tells his stories, he exaggerates and jumps from one period of his life to another. The characters of the story can relate to many young adults. Their experiences and the journeys of their lives are what most Hispanic teenagers go through. The 10 different storiesRead MoreDrown895 Words   |  4 PagesDrown The fact that I am writing to you in English already falsifies what I wanted to tell you.(Diaz) Drown; a compilation of short stories, by Junot Diaz portrays the integration of fiction and truth. Yunior, narrator, as he tells his stories, he exaggerates and jumps from one period of his life to another. The characters of the story can relate to many young adults. Their experiences and the journeys of their lives are what most Hispanic teenagers go through. The 10 different storiesRead MoreThe Post Colonialism Theory : Opinions And Opposing View Points1842 Words   |  8 PagesThe Post Colonialism Theory: Opinions Opposing View Points The postcolonialism theory is a theory that has brought many controversies and opposing viewpoints across the world of literature. In, -this theory, a set of lost identities, use of language in writing, and the questioning of the real definition of this theory are some of the characteristics highlighted in this concept. On the other hand, conflicting opinions, multiple perspectives, and authors not agreeing on the definition of this theoryRead MoreThe Functions Of Language And The Language1888 Words   |  8 Pagesexpression of identity, play, imaginative expression and emotional release. We can distinguish between a native language, which is a biological necessity that helps to man take part in a community and built an identity; and a secondary language, which is the language from a country where you do not live there. The contact between two or more languages can cause languages or dialects with influences of each other as well. English is a language without politic, geographic and cultural borderlines,