Summary+Pages+Jung+Ah

10/10 Summary #3 Type: Unrelated source Due: February 8th 2010 Pages: 103-115 Source: Mirande, Alfredo. "Masculinity and Fatherhood." //Hombres y machos: Masculinity and Latino Culture.// illustrated edition ed. Oxford: Westview Press, 1997. 103-115. Print.

By the time I finished the two novels: How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents and Before we were Free, by Julia Alvarez, I saw myself either admiring or detesting two important factors/characters in the story – the fathers. In order to grasp a better concept and knowledge of the manhood of Dominican Republic, I decided to research on Machismo. This essay by Alfredo Mirande contrasts the thoughts of fathers and the fatherhood culture of the United States and Latino America. This article/research shows the different principles of fatherhood, comparing the most and least respectable men in general and the idea of being the best and worst father. The research showed that despite the distinct cultures, the idea of a “respectable man in a society” did not differ so much compared to the differing opinions of “being a good father.”

When asked “What makes you a good father?” the answers differed by region. According to this article, Latino American men focused on physical aspects such as providing life-necessities, such as food, clothing, shelter and education, while American fathers focused more on ethical and moral aspects such as love and care. This article was striking because every single component of the research on Latino American men was similar to the thoughts of Carlos, the father of the four girls, in How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents. He failed to mentally and emotionally bond with his daughters because the farthest he is willing to do is earn and provide the physical necessities in life and nothing more. Also, the article states that even within Latino America, the more traditional group of men were much more determined about such attitude that they disregarded the importance education. This is, again, similar to Carlos who dislikes when his daughters write, read and even worst, associate American culture into their work.

Although this article proves the different attitudes of men and fathers, there are always exceptions. The brave and compassionate father in Before we were Free seemed to contain both the good sides of the differing ideals of both the United States and Latin America. Although he is concerned and busy with assassinating the evil dictator, he always cares for the safety, abundance of his family. This manliness, machismo, is undoubtedly similar to what Mirande has proved in his article; however, readers are repeatedly touched by the sensitive and caring side of this father. Fatherhood is undoubtedly important for the growth and development of children and a family. However, it depends on what kind of moral and ideal the father believes in. No offense to Latino American fathers, but after reading about the mental collapse of the Garcia girls, I think a more emotionally-friendly father enables a more stable and firm characteristic growth of the entire family. And according to Before we were Free going against traditional beliefs on social hierarchy or culture is sometimes better.

__What do you think was the thematic purpose or characterization piece to having the story told in a non__ -linear way? 10/10

Summary #2 Type: Book Due: February 8th 2010- Pages: 17-52 Source: Sirias, Silvio. //"How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (1991)." Julia Alvarez: A Critical Companion (Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers)//. New York: Greenwood Press, 2001. 17-52. Print.

Silvio Sirias analyzes one of Julia Alvarez’s most renowned novels, How the Garcia Lost Their Accents, in much depth. His essay covers several important literary elements of a written work. Primarily, he talks about the rather discontinuous plot development and structure. Because the book covers multiple characters, including the four sisters and the parents, Alvarez uses not only one, but various points of views – third person omniscient, third person limited and the first person. Although the story covers more than four characters, Alvarez does a good job in developing the characters in dept as the readers get to read about each of the four girls from childhood through adulthood. Also, Sirias describes the various themes in the story, which includes Americanization, cultural displacement, racism, politics and last but not least feminism. And lastly, one of the most important and interesting devices that make the story more interesting is the use of literary device. Alvarez uses the language obstacle of the family to allow the readers to broaden their views on the problems and issues the family encounters.

I never took into consideration the significance of the theme language barrier. I only thought it was to make the story more realistic and substantiate the characteristic/personality of each character. However, Sirias states that the Spanish and English language gap is used for many reasons: a literary device that not only lessens the seriousness by sarcastically using the language difference as a humor and also to portray the many problems and obstacles the family face: such as the challenge to form proper relationships with people. For example, the language barrier, also a representation of cultural difference, prevents Yolanda to properly continue an ideal relationship with her first love John. Words, expression seem to be both destruct and cure the sisters. Continuing on with Yolanda, the challenge to fully and freely express and communicate makes her mentally unstable. However, she gets to get over this trouble by writing poems. Furthermore, language is used for dramatic and humorous purposes.

In this brutally long essay, Silvio Sirias not only compliments the many alluring components of the novel, but also criticize it. The main and primary criticism in this essay is the discontinuous story line. The story is divided into three parts, beginning from the present, than moving to the past. Because there is not only one protagonist, the story jumps around from one character to the next. Although it sounds complicated, I as a reader had no trouble following the story line. Surprisingly, literary critic Silvio Sirias didn’t think so. He said that such structure and format makes it challenging for readers. Although it would have been more organized with a linear story line, the unique format of time Julia Alvarez was a fresh and new experience. Compared to the chaos the family had to go through, staying on track was nothing.

Summary 1: What makes them more American than other? Was she talking about the sexuality? I guess I ask because from what I read here, it doesn't seem that astounding what she talked about. It was interesting what was covered by the cultural interests. Beyond my questions which might be reading beyond what the text presented. Nice job. 10/10

Summary #1 Due: January 28th 2010 Pages: 144-146 Source: Karen, Castelluci Cox. //"Living in Borderland: Cultural Expectations of Gender in Julia Alvarez’ How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents." Women in Literature: Reading Through the Lens of Gender 1// (2003): 144-146. Women in Literature: Reading through the Lens of Gender. Web. 27 Jan. 2010.

The article “Living in Borderland: Cultural Expectations of Gender in Julia Alvarez’ How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents” by Karen Castellucci Cox argues that the four Dominican Republican protagonists, the four Garcia Girls (Yolanda, Sofia, Sandra and Carla), are very American-like from the beginning of their transition; from their home country, Dominican Republic, to New York City due to problems with Dictator Trujillo. Cox says that the girls react rather rebellious to the family customs and traditions that are very patriarchal and geared towards the machos, similar to how independent and liberal American females would react against such customs. Despite the strict and unyielding father, the girls deeply absorb American culture, independence, and mostly the freedom of expression. However, as they experience cultural clashes -- sexual purity, religion, and sexual identity -- during their early adolescence, the girls struggle in actually discovering what they have been influenced by, self-identity.

Because this story has such vivid descriptions of experiences both in the United States, the Dominican Republic and the illegibility as women, I was blinded by only the racial and sexual problems. However, Karen Castellucci Cox further analyzes the not-so-obvious factors that disturb the growth of inter-stability of the girls: depression of expression and the transitioning of social class. When the Garcia girls first move to America, they are captured in a language barrier. The entire family has trouble communicating with American people, and thus, participating and associating themselves with the New York community is the biggest challenge, which the father is not concerned with, unlike the rest of his family members. Not only is language a barrier, but the father’s repressed thoughts that prevents the girls to think and express their ideas and artistic talent is one of the reasons the girls become rebellious, unable to speak outside and even inside their home. Also, the idea of class difference is very much covered by cultural and racial differences. The comfort and confident they had back in their home country is basically lost in their new setting, which worsens the growth of the four girls.

Karen Castelluci Cox substantially analyzes and supports Julia Alvarez’s intentions, trying to illustrate different societal factors that basically alter the inner appearance of innocent young girls. However, Cox says that “…the Garcia sisters’ initiation into adulthood seems deceptively 'American' despite their Island roots” (Fisher, 145). I disagree with this approach because the reactions to such incompatible cultural encountering in New York of each of the four girls differ. I think the inborn American culture of the girls have to do with innocence or their age. While the oldest is most confused and stressed, the youngest has no trouble adjusting to her new setting. It is not correct to group the four girls into one. And also, their change is steadier rather than striking. If they were already Americanized, as Cox suggests, than the girls would not have suffered such mental traumas.