When I was Puerto Rican
The biographical tale When I was Puerto Rican, written by Esmeralda Santiago, tells of a poor girl trying to succeed. The settings in this novel have an important influence on Esmeralda; they change her ideals and influence her behavior as an adult. In When I Was Puerto Rican, a biography by Esmeralda Santiago, Negi goes through many changes based on the challenges she endures by moving to new areas where society is different all of these changes allow her to become a better person; when she moves to Mancún girls did not have any specific duties, when she lives in El Mangle Negi has to face extreme prejudice against her upbringing, and when she leaves Puerto Rico to move to Brooklyn, she is forced to face an entirely different society moreover a completely different culture. As a child, Mancún is the place Negi's heart has always longed for this is the place where she felt the most security. No matter where her family relocates she always yearns to return to Mancún. Even though life is tough there, having is no electricity or flowing water; it is a place with generally happy memories. The grass is green, the sky is clear and mango trees lined the scenery. It is like a post card for Puerto Rico, "A bann
aquit flew to the thorny branch of a lemon tree and looked from side to side. Dots of sun danced the green walls of the shady grove above low bushes weighted with pigeon peas, the earth screened with twigs, sensitive moriviv plants, and French weed studded with blue flowers."(PG. 8). It is not just the setting that makes Mancún so appealing to Negi. She has no set "role", she is generally treated the same as the boys. Negi is expected to help her mother and respect her elders, the boys usually are expected to help care for siblings and respect those who are older; this is the first cultural aspect in the novel. As an editor from the Los Angles Times Book Review wrote, "One can only be grateful that Esmeralda Santiago has chosen to explore her culture and share what she has found", the cultural aspects provided within this novel are educational and enlightening. Negi's constant moving affects her in a positive manner. In many cases when a child does not reside at one set place, it has an effect upon his or her mental stability. However in this instance, it constructively influences Negi's existence. In every place she settles, she gains a new view, and her culture becomes eclectic. This story reflects how a simple country girl grows up to be an extremely bright, well-rounded woman. As Alice Joyce of the Booklist said "At once heart-wrenching and remarkably inspirational, this lyrical account depicts rural life in Puerto Rico amid the hardships and tensions of everyday life and Santiago's awakening as a young woman, who, although startled by culture shock, valiantly confronted New York head-on....it is both a stirring and poignant reminder of the capacities of the human spirit.", it shows
Some common words found in the essay are:
Puerto Rico, El Mangle, York City, Esmeralda Santiago, Mangle Negi, Mancún Negi's, Mangle Negi's, Santiago Negi, Rico York, Puerto Rican, puerto rico, el mangle, puerto rican, esmeralda santiago, country girl, expected help, culture shock, el mangle negi, mangle negi,
Approximate Word count = 1147
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
