...y no se lo trago la tierra

“The Mexican kid got in a fight and beat up a couple of our boys….” (P23) Aquí deferencia el “our” y “mexicano” de una manera muy fuerte. Que horrible, oír dos adultos hablar así. Me imaginaria hoy día con el tema de inmigración no se permitiría hablar así sobre un extranjero y se trataría los problemas de inmigración de una manera diferente. Que horrible debe ser la escuela para el niño. Empecé a llorar leyendo los primeros paginas porque el autor escribe muy bien, y se exactamente come se siente el niño. Nunca estuve detenido por enfermeras y por tener piojos en la cabeza, pero me puede relacionar perfectamente con el sentimiento de no poder leer en la clase como los demás, y la maestro partiéndome desde la clase por no entender el juego. Inmigración es dificilísimo y los primeros anos son los más oscuras de la vida.

La mejor parte del dia siendo volver para casa y como describe el paisaje, los pajaritos, y el campo de golf. El niño tiene sensaciones muy fuertes es sensato y me gusta como observa cada ambiente, escuela, el campo, su casa… me gusta esta observación muchísimo: “Lo que me da mas miedo e cuando vamos saliendo de un entierro y veo para arriba y leo en el arco de la puerta las letras que dicen no me olvides……. Yo creo que por eso aquí la gente cuando entierra a alguien ni llora.” La observación que hace el narrador aquí, es interesante, porque el habla de la gente, pero cal tipo de gente. Creo que se veo aparte de esta sociedad, y cuando habla de gente habla de gringos, y el frió que son, que no lloran por sus muertos, que o sienten, que no tienen emociones. No se pero me hace pensar esto.

Se nota el “ spanglish” muchísimo, que es el lenguaje típico chicano, una lenguaje y cultura híbrido. . Ie.. “ les podía decir que se me perdió la report card.” P24

Hay que prestar atención a la naturaleza. El sol pega fuertísimo y el labor en el campo es un trabajo desagradable. El sol y la sed puede matar a los trabajadores. “ El sol se puede comer a uno” (p47)

Jose Marti

Los ensayos de Martí siempre me han alucinado a tope. Como puede ser que un hombre previa la fuerza y grandeza de EEUU viniendo a devorar Latín América y tres anos después la muerte de Martí, devoro Cuba. En el ensayo de El puente de Brooklyn, Martí describe una ciudad urbana, industrial, avanzando hacia el futuro. Describe una ciudad gigante, hasta cierto punto da miedo. Da una imagen de una águila con hambre, enfadada, o un dragón a punto de devorar los pequeños. Si alguien en el campo de Latín América hubiera leído la descripción del puente de Brooklyn lo imaginaria como una ciudad ficticia como Lord of The Rings, con una banda sonora de música clásico de miedo con trompetas, enseñando los malos preparándose para conquistar el mundo y coger el poder en sus manos. Millares de hombres d como hormigas, trabajando duro, las fabricas con humo saliendo de torres grises. Es un poco horroroso. Me encanta este frase « No son sus vidas pebeteros de incienso : sino infecto humo de opio » (p424) Los elementos destacados que vale mencionarlos son, hebreos de ojos ávidos, irlandeses, alemanes, chinos….. una sociedad multicultural que ciertos característicos pertenecen a cada raza. « el excesivo amor a la riqueza » Martí pinta una escena perfectamente industrial « bajo sus plancha s de acero silban vapores, humean chimeneas, se desbordan las muchedumbres que van y vienen en los anejos vaporcillos, se descargan lanchas, se amarran buques » (p426) El capitalismo y consumerismo también sobresale. « Como se levantan en el aire, susurrando apenas cual fibra de canas ligeras esas fábricas que pesan 8,120 toneladas? y los cables Como, si pesan tanto de suyo sustentan el resto de esa pesadumbre portentosa ?Describe la civilización mas avanzada en la historia que su fuerza y grandeza es asombroso. Esos cables que ni en Tebas ni en Arcopolis alguna hubo mayores. Creo que la conclusión del ensayo, El Puente de Brooklyn es muy importante. Martí a menudo usa este tono de despertar el hombre. Levántense ! « Estos son llamados ahora a ser todos los hombres: soldados del puente! » .Creo que en este frase concluye muy bien la significación del pueblo, « Los puentes son las fortalezas del mundo moderno » (P432)

Who Would have thought it? II

The novel is getting very interesting and I'm actually excited to know what happens at the end. I have read about 2/3 of the book, and by this point i want to eliminate Mr. Hackwell and Mrs. Norval. Sooooo evilllll!  Mrs.  Norval has all the negative qualities that a woman could possibly have, immoral woman. (p 135) It is funny how Mr.Hackwell is seen as a hero and Mrs. Norval as a noble woman, best mother, best christian. (p 138) The way she treats her sick son is so un-motherly, no love, no affections.

The novel is full of rogues or leech like personalities, that want to associate with one and another to suck each other's blood. The corruption is present in every chapter, in Chackle's family, Mr. Hackwell's relationship with Mrs. Norval, in the government.....

 Even though Lavinia does not speak out, she is the only  person who criticizes the society and the government, and through her eyes we better see the corruption.  She is also the only one that speaks about Mrs. Norval's tyranny and every body's passiveness towards her, and if Julian was not so sick and if she didn't love him so dearly she would disobey Mrs. Norval. 

 

   I was surprised by Mr. Gunn, " we came to see the battle from the distance. We thought it would be such a splendid sight. So three or four of us representative, and two or three senators, got together to have some fun coming over to see the fight" p 72

This is very similar to present  American attitude. The politician stir the shit and innocent people have to go fight in battles, and the politicians just watch from far away and find it a "splendid sight", "fun". It disgusts  me to the max. I get red and steam comes out of my ears. What's fun about people fighting? It reminds me of hockey games which i find ridiculous how people start cheering when players start fighting, or when i first moved to Canada i couldn't believe students had fun going to watch fights after school.  

The best word to describe the Cackle family is "gente de malaleche". They are very competitive and  also typical Americans that " Never undertake to lift a fallen man; never associate your fortunes with an unlucky dog like Isaac" p 75. 

Who would have thought it? is probably not a feminist novel but chapters 24-30 continuously deal with feminist issues, and the importance of woman in the country , Lavinia's patriotism  and how women are devalued in the society.  The reader can feel the frustration and pain that Lavinia experiences. In  Chapter  26 the way Mr. Blower speaks to Lavinia makes me scream, " I see you don't grasp the idea. Of course, ladies can't well grasp great ideas, or understand the reasons that impel men in power to act at times in a manner apparently contrary to humanity, to mercy, to justice. ..." (p 114)     The novel sees no democracy in practice. democracy is represented as a "myth for public consumption and not a reality". (P xiv)  There is widespread corruption, even in the highest circle of government. Economic success and profit are  more important  than support for individual political freedom and equality. 

I'm excited to know what happens to Julian and Emma's case and whether Mr. Norval comes back or not. 

Hola!

My name is Delara and I'm a 4th year, Spanish and Geography major. Both fields fascinate me and I'm planning to do a masters in Hispanic Studies. This is my last semester at UBC and I'm happy to be in such a nice class. 

Who Would have thought it?

The novel is an easy read, and I'm enjoying it. There is a lot of drama, which makes it's fun, but at the same time it points out crucial  gender, class, and race issues, and shows how they are all interconnected. 

I see a lot of parallelism in Mrs, Norval and the United States and Lola and Mexico. Mrs Norval symbolizes the greed of US and Lola like Mexico is defenseless.  In the first few chapter the racial issues really stand out. We are familiarized with the American attitude towards non-Americans specially, blacks, natives and Europeans. Within one family like Dr. Norval's points of views can vary. In the case of Dr. Norval's family, Mattie and Dr. Norval have less detest in foreigners, and Mrs. Norval the most. Doña Theresa also views the Indians as savages, and she is Mexican, "Thank god, Lolita is away from those horrid savages" P36. I think Doña Theresa's request to baptize Lola is very significant. "please do not forget that she must be baptized and brought up Roman Catholic" It is important because she differentiates "civilized" and "barbarians", and religion being very crucial to being civilized. Pointing out Roman Catholic, also highlights the religious division in the society and it's importance , which we will see later chapters being dedicated mainly to religious practices and a person's right and freedom to choose one's religion , ie. Chapter 15. 

  We can also see how nosy neighbors and friends are during that time. They monitor and report every one's act. They try to find out the latest news, and socialize with one another to find out the secrets of each others lives. The greed and competition really stands out. The importance of dressing well, accessories and jewelries related with class and status. Ruth's conversation with her aunt demonstrates women's preoccupation's during that time.  Women's goal was to look appropriate and to find a good match, marrying for love or marring for money and status. I could feel a great frustration and desperation from Ruth, Laviana and Mr. Hackwell's sister.

In the begining Mr. Hammerhard's and Hackewell's wives seemed lucky to be married and to have babies. Mr. Hammerhard's and Hackwell's conversation in chapter 9 really disgusts me. The way they felt towards their wives, and their reason for marrying them, and how they are constantly planning to make some money by using some one. Chapter 9 is one of the chapters in the beginning where I was awakened by the evilness and corruption of the country; Mr. Hackwell's plan to fool Mrs. Norval as her pastor.