Drown: A Consideration Essay -- essays research papers

In Drown, a collection of short stories, author Junot Diaz presents readers with an impoverished group of characters through harsh, nevertheless vivid language. through with(predicate) the voice of Yunior, the narrator throughout the majority of the stories, Diaz places the blame for Yuniors negativity and rebellious nature on the disappointment reachd by his father and the childhood conjuring trick of the States. Diaz, through language and symbolism, forces readers into an emotional bond with Yunior while exposing the illusory nature of the American dream. Although intertwined with each story, Fiesta, 1980 allows for a more concise discussion of Diazs purpose. Diazs language, even at first glance, appears very different from conventional authorsMamis younger sister- my tia Yrma-finally made it to the United States that year. She and Tio Miguel got themselves an apartment in the BronxHe didnt say nothing to nobody. (Drown, 23)Two aspects, his Spanish interjections into the text and his tendency to disregard incline rules of grammar, surface in the opening of Fiesta, 1980. Yuniors narratives contain Spanish words an fair of about every other sentence. Diaz uses them to keep readers aware of Yuniors culture and homeland, attempting to stop the stifling effect America practically has on immigrants cultures. Also, Yuniors rejection of the norms of English writing, evident in the phrases got themselves and nothing to nobody in the above quote, gives his narratives a certain rebellious quality. Not only does he rebel against Americas tendency to smother cultural values but rebelling against American rules in general, even the rules of grammar. Diaz continues his grammatical attack on the United States rules with his lack of quotation attachPapi pulled me to my feet by my ear.If you throw up-I wont I cried, tears in my eyesYa, Ramon, ya. Its not his fault, Mami said.All of the conversations are printed in the manner above, without any quotation tag and someti mes even a new paragraph to indicate another speaker. Diaz successfully attacks the United States in Yuniors defense, but through language elan rather than blatant statements.Yuniors narration, besides being a political one, also appears very negative, but also extremely personal. His voice is conversational, which has a in good order effecttrooped back into the living room with their plates a-heaping and all the adu... ...ing. Although, in reality, Yunior is able to eat in America, this symbolizes his inability to enjoy any progress his family makes. Papis fingers werent gentle, once again referring to the difficulty Yunior has accepting Americas reality, harsh and invading. Papis reply because I said so alludes to the lack of answers America offers to Yuniors questioning of authority and the broken promises.Diazs symbolism mainly concerns his ideas about the image of America and the reality immigrants must face after such high hopes. Mami and Papi not only represent different countries, but an internal conflict within Yunior. He wants to believe that their family has finally achieved a level of success, but has become so hardened against hoping that he physically and mentally cannot accept it. Overall, the stories in Drown possess both a sadness and an anger.Yuniors voice, although often vulgar and negative, draws readers into his life. As we read, we form a bond with Yunior. In doing so we move to another level, the political one Diaz wants to express. Thus, in knowing Yunior, Diazs cause also becomes important to readers, exposing the American dream for what it is an illusion.