Drown: A Consideration Essay -- essays research papers

In Drown, a collection of compact stories, author Junot Diaz presents readers with an impoverished group of characters by dint of harsh, still vivid language. done the voice of Yunior, the narrator throughout the majority of the stories, Diaz places the blame for Yuniors negativism and seditious nature on the disappointment caused by his father and the puerility illusion of America. Diaz, through language and symbolism, forces readers into an emotional bond with Yunior while exposing the illusive nature of the American dream. Although intertwined with each story, Fiesta, 1980 allows for a more concise interchange of Diazs purpose. Diazs language, flush at first glance, appears very diametric from conventional authorsMamis younger sister- my tia Yrma-finally made it to the United States that year. She and Tio Miguel got themselves an flat tire in the BronxHe didnt say nothing to nobody. (Drown, 23)Two aspects, his Spanish interjections into the textual matter and his tem perament to disregard English rules of grammar, surface in the opening of Fiesta, 1980. Yuniors narratives contain Spanish words an average of about every opposite sentence. Diaz uses them to keep readers aware of Yuniors culture and homeland, attempting to stop the stifling exertion America often 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 denotation markPapi pulled me to my feet by my ear.If you throw up-I wont I cried, tears in my lookYa, Ramon, ya. Its not his fault, Mami said.All of the conversations are printed in the manner above, without any quotation marks and sometimes even a new paragraph to doom another speaker. Diaz successfully attacks the United States in Yuniors defense, but through language style rather than blatant statements.Yuniors narration, besides universe a political one, also appears very negative, but also lastly personal. His voice is conversational, which has a powerful effecttrooped back into the living mode 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 revere any progress his family makes. Papis fingers werent gentle, once again referring to the difficulty Yunior has digesting Americas reality, harsh and invading. Papis serve because I said so alludes to the lack of answers America offers to Yuniors disbelieving of authority and the broken promises.Diazs symbolism mainly concerns his ideas about the pick up of America and the reality immigrants must face after such high hopes. Mami and Papi not only represent different c ountries, but an internal mesh 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 sagacious Yunior, Diazs cause also becomes important to readers, exposing the American dream for what it is an illusion.