I notice that every person has their own definitions of what someone defines as funny. What I found funny was how Allison Bechdel in the novel Fun Home, found it funny that her father had passed.
On page 227, Bechdel brings up an interesting point. She writes, "They say grief takes many forms, including the absence of grief." On this page shows specific pictures of Bechdel at her summer job in the library, explaining to a co-worker about her father's passing. Because she is laughing, he does not believe her. She then asks him, "Why don't you believe me?" He then responds with, "Because you are laughing." As she further explains how her father died, she then goes into hysterics (laughing.) She then writes, "The idea that my vital, passionate father was decomposing in a grave was ridiculous."
It is here in that statement Bechdel shows somewhat a warmth for her father, saying how he was passionate, especially about literature and the English language. To her, it seems ridiculous the father she knew and somewhat loved was gone. Perhaps she was in denial and that is why she laughed. I realize everyone has their own ways of coping with death, myself included. I also laugh at death which masks my fear of it. Maybe Bechdel was in denial, like mentioned before, or was masking a fear of not having someone close to her as a family member who has a need to be accepted and masks their true self (sexuality.)
I think despite the troubles that Allison Bechdel had with her father they were similar in the sense that they hid their true selves. For example, they have a moment of truth and connecting when they are in the car on their way to the movies on page 221 and he admits to wanting to dress like a girl and she admits to wanting to be a boy! It is in this moment their secrets of their sexual orientation come out and they can admit who they are. This shows the remembrance and affection for her father. Especially so on the last page, when ironically enough she looks back on her father on page 232, and says "He was there to catch me when I leapt." All in all, maybe she could not believe he was gone, and defined her father's death as funny. But she'll always remember the unspoken bond they had.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
What Defines Something as Funny?
I notice that every person has their own definitions of what someone defines as funny. What I found funny was how Allison Bechdel in the novel Fun Home, found it funny that her father had passed.
On page 227, Bechdel brings up an interesting point. She writes, "They say grief takes many forms, including the absence of grief." On this page shows specific pictures of Bechdel at her summer job in the library, explaining to a co-worker about her father's passing. Because she is laughing, he does not believe her. She then asks him, "Why don't you believe me?" He then responds with, "Because you are laughing." As she further explains how her father died, she then goes into hysterics (laughing.) She then writes, "The idea that my vital, passionate father was decomposing in a grave was ridiculous."
It is here in that statement Bechdel shows somewhat a warmth for her father, saying how he was passionate, especially about literature and the English language. To her, it seems ridiculous the father she knew and somewhat loved was gone. Perhaps she was in denial and that is why she laughed. I realize everyone has their own ways of coping with death, myself included. I also laugh at death which masks my fear of it. Maybe Bechdel was in denial, like mentioned before, or was masking a fear of not having someone close to her as a family member who has a need to be accepted and masks their true self (sexuality.)
I think despite the troubles that Allison Bechdel had with her father they were similar in the sense that they hid their true selves. For example, they have a moment of truth and connecting when they are in the car on their way to the movies on page 221 and he admits to wanting to dress like a girl and she admits to wanting to be a boy! It is in this moment their secrets of their sexual orientation come out and they can admit who they are. This shows the remembrance and affection for her father. Especially so on the last page, when ironically enough she looks back on her father on page 232, and says "He was there to catch me when I leapt." All in all, maybe she could not believe he was gone, and defined her father's death as funny. But she'll always remember the unspoken bond they had.
On page 227, Bechdel brings up an interesting point. She writes, "They say grief takes many forms, including the absence of grief." On this page shows specific pictures of Bechdel at her summer job in the library, explaining to a co-worker about her father's passing. Because she is laughing, he does not believe her. She then asks him, "Why don't you believe me?" He then responds with, "Because you are laughing." As she further explains how her father died, she then goes into hysterics (laughing.) She then writes, "The idea that my vital, passionate father was decomposing in a grave was ridiculous."
It is here in that statement Bechdel shows somewhat a warmth for her father, saying how he was passionate, especially about literature and the English language. To her, it seems ridiculous the father she knew and somewhat loved was gone. Perhaps she was in denial and that is why she laughed. I realize everyone has their own ways of coping with death, myself included. I also laugh at death which masks my fear of it. Maybe Bechdel was in denial, like mentioned before, or was masking a fear of not having someone close to her as a family member who has a need to be accepted and masks their true self (sexuality.)
I think despite the troubles that Allison Bechdel had with her father they were similar in the sense that they hid their true selves. For example, they have a moment of truth and connecting when they are in the car on their way to the movies on page 221 and he admits to wanting to dress like a girl and she admits to wanting to be a boy! It is in this moment their secrets of their sexual orientation come out and they can admit who they are. This shows the remembrance and affection for her father. Especially so on the last page, when ironically enough she looks back on her father on page 232, and says "He was there to catch me when I leapt." All in all, maybe she could not believe he was gone, and defined her father's death as funny. But she'll always remember the unspoken bond they had.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Works of literature and Lesbianism Correlation
I realized throughout reading Fun Home by Alison Bechdel there are a lot of relations to different topics. One that struck me as surprising was that of a fear of lesbianism.
I feel at certain points in the book, the main character portrayed by Bechdel discusses her path of being a lesbian. She relates literature herself and her father have read to characters, situations, and feelings that fictional and non fictional people have felt. For example, on page 214, there is a detailed photograph of Bechdel performing oral sex on her girlfriend, Joan, at the time in college. The quote that Bechdel uses says, "Like Odysseus on the island of the cyclops, I found myself facing a "being of colossal strength and ferocity, to whom the law of man and God meant nothing." " Here, she is discussing her facing an intimate factor of a relationship, something by her gender can convey her true sexual orientation and something new and scary.
The next image shows her about to conduct oral on Joan, and the quote Bechdel gives says, "In true heroic fashion, I moved toward the thing I feared, yet while Odysseus schemed desperately to escape Polyphemus's cave, I found that I was quite content to stay here forever." It is in this sense that Bechdel becomes comfortable with who she is and what she is doing.
I often wondered, how does this tie in with her father? From pages 220-221, Bechdel and her father are in the car and have a realization. They both state who they really are, their deepest secrets, dreams, and wishes to be someone else, fulling owning their sexual orientations. Bechdel writes, "It was not the sobbing, joyous reunion of Odysseus and Telemachus, it was more like fatherless Stephen and sonless Bloom having their equivocal late-night Cocoa at 7 Eccles Street." It shows their own union, a bond other members of the family did not have, and how the two very real people come together and see eye to eye on acceptance and embracing who they are, something done through the use of Bechdel's father's beloved literature.
I feel at certain points in the book, the main character portrayed by Bechdel discusses her path of being a lesbian. She relates literature herself and her father have read to characters, situations, and feelings that fictional and non fictional people have felt. For example, on page 214, there is a detailed photograph of Bechdel performing oral sex on her girlfriend, Joan, at the time in college. The quote that Bechdel uses says, "Like Odysseus on the island of the cyclops, I found myself facing a "being of colossal strength and ferocity, to whom the law of man and God meant nothing." " Here, she is discussing her facing an intimate factor of a relationship, something by her gender can convey her true sexual orientation and something new and scary.
The next image shows her about to conduct oral on Joan, and the quote Bechdel gives says, "In true heroic fashion, I moved toward the thing I feared, yet while Odysseus schemed desperately to escape Polyphemus's cave, I found that I was quite content to stay here forever." It is in this sense that Bechdel becomes comfortable with who she is and what she is doing.
I often wondered, how does this tie in with her father? From pages 220-221, Bechdel and her father are in the car and have a realization. They both state who they really are, their deepest secrets, dreams, and wishes to be someone else, fulling owning their sexual orientations. Bechdel writes, "It was not the sobbing, joyous reunion of Odysseus and Telemachus, it was more like fatherless Stephen and sonless Bloom having their equivocal late-night Cocoa at 7 Eccles Street." It shows their own union, a bond other members of the family did not have, and how the two very real people come together and see eye to eye on acceptance and embracing who they are, something done through the use of Bechdel's father's beloved literature.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Allison Bechdel's story of her coming out as a lesbian while uncovering the mystery of her father's secret gay life is one that's very confusing and takes quite a bit of thinking to understand. Throughout my reading Fun Home, I realized the similarities between her father and Bechdel herself.
To me, it seems the two are trying to break away from what they could consider to be "social norms." I feel the two characters search for acceptance in a way. On page 98, Bechdel writes, "Not only were we inverts. We were inversions of one another." Looking back and analyzing this quote carefully, I realize that Bechdel is comparing herself to her father to convey the similarities between them. I think by "invert" Bechdel means that the two can successfully mask who they really are, Bechdel being a lesbian and her father, Bruce, being a secret gay man. The two, despite their true sexual orientation, are attempting to be socially accepted in what is normal of society today.
Beneath this statement, there is a large picture of the two dressing to get ready for a wedding. Bechdel is a young girl. The quote explains the picture. Bechdel states," While I was trying to compensate for something unmanly in him, he was attempting to express something feminine through me. This statement speaks for itself. In a twisted sense, the two are trying to show their real selves for another. It would not be socially accepted for Bechdel's father to dress feminine and express an openly gay life. Instead, he expresses his true feminine thoughts and what he really wants for himself through his daughter, a reason he is so hard on her and presses her to dress like a girl because that was what he may have wanted for himself at his daughter's age.
Bechdel, on the other hand, always had a masculine side to her, something commonly seen in lesbians. There was always something feminine about her father, as the quote and stories of his male experiences goes. Bechdel on the other hand, loved masculinity, and it was not accepted for a young girl not to dress like one in society. The two were going against how they truly felt, yet were compensating for one another, essentially working together in one mix.
An easier way to put the situation is a quote on page 99. Bechdel writes, " But I wanted the muscles and tweed like my father wanted the velvet and pearls-subjectively, for myself." It seems the two led different paths, different orientations, and secret lives within themselves. But the one factor they had in common was in a sense, living through each other. Bechdel and her masculine side, yet having to accept femininity, and her father and his feminine side, yet his outward sense of masculinity was portrayed in his daughter's secret side. The two collide beautifully in a twisted sense as well as coming together by the end of the book.
To me, it seems the two are trying to break away from what they could consider to be "social norms." I feel the two characters search for acceptance in a way. On page 98, Bechdel writes, "Not only were we inverts. We were inversions of one another." Looking back and analyzing this quote carefully, I realize that Bechdel is comparing herself to her father to convey the similarities between them. I think by "invert" Bechdel means that the two can successfully mask who they really are, Bechdel being a lesbian and her father, Bruce, being a secret gay man. The two, despite their true sexual orientation, are attempting to be socially accepted in what is normal of society today.
Beneath this statement, there is a large picture of the two dressing to get ready for a wedding. Bechdel is a young girl. The quote explains the picture. Bechdel states," While I was trying to compensate for something unmanly in him, he was attempting to express something feminine through me. This statement speaks for itself. In a twisted sense, the two are trying to show their real selves for another. It would not be socially accepted for Bechdel's father to dress feminine and express an openly gay life. Instead, he expresses his true feminine thoughts and what he really wants for himself through his daughter, a reason he is so hard on her and presses her to dress like a girl because that was what he may have wanted for himself at his daughter's age.
Bechdel, on the other hand, always had a masculine side to her, something commonly seen in lesbians. There was always something feminine about her father, as the quote and stories of his male experiences goes. Bechdel on the other hand, loved masculinity, and it was not accepted for a young girl not to dress like one in society. The two were going against how they truly felt, yet were compensating for one another, essentially working together in one mix.
An easier way to put the situation is a quote on page 99. Bechdel writes, " But I wanted the muscles and tweed like my father wanted the velvet and pearls-subjectively, for myself." It seems the two led different paths, different orientations, and secret lives within themselves. But the one factor they had in common was in a sense, living through each other. Bechdel and her masculine side, yet having to accept femininity, and her father and his feminine side, yet his outward sense of masculinity was portrayed in his daughter's secret side. The two collide beautifully in a twisted sense as well as coming together by the end of the book.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Ending of In The Time of Butterflies
Reading the end of this novel really gave me an insight as to what exactly happened the day of the three Mirabel sister's deaths. The story ends with Minerva's last narration on November 25th. The epilogue lets Dedé to continue the story.
The story has it that the women were traveling down a road with their driver, Rufino after visiting their husbands in jail, a jail they were purposely moved to because the SIM knew they would have to travel down that road. This specific road was where the sisters were murdered and then placed in the old Jeep, and pushed off a cliff.
Like Alvarez, I wondered why this happened. Did the girls know they were to meet the face of death that fateful day?
"It is the sweetness that makes them burn." While Alvarez's character Dedé was talking about sugar on page 320 here, I realized that this could be a reason as to why the Mirabels risked their lives that tragic day. To elaborate, the Mirabels always knew their lives were at risk, especially after starting the underground and being so actively involved. I'm sure they all knew eventually, their "luck" of being alive would run out. They knew their husbands were in trouble in the jail; the sisters were willing to risk that to see them one last time. I'm sure they had premonitions the roads could be dangerous.On page 297, Alvarez states through Minerva that " ...it was as if we were girls again, walking through the dark part of the year, a little afraid, a little excited by our fears..." To me, this means that they knew there could be a chance things could change on their journey home, obviously doing so. What I realized, despite the unknown, was that they came so far in the revolution, changing lives in the sense of involving others to fight what was right for their country of the Dominican Republic. They were role models for women to come, proving women are strong, have opinions, and can fight for what they find important like the Mirabels did. They came so far... why not go all out and "fight" till the end? On page 302, Alvarez states that Patria's last words were "Tell the Mirabel family in Salcedo that the calíes are going to kill us!" I think the Mirabels felt they came so far with their underground revolution, they should be strong and fight till then end. They knew their chances of being murdered were high, yet they stuck to their morals and continued to meet with their husbands. It was their greatest honor because they were all in it together, and they knew they would leave this earth happy they succeeded great things.
While this could be one possibility as to what the Mirabels did what they did, I think the answer speaks for itself. They truly fought till the end.
The story has it that the women were traveling down a road with their driver, Rufino after visiting their husbands in jail, a jail they were purposely moved to because the SIM knew they would have to travel down that road. This specific road was where the sisters were murdered and then placed in the old Jeep, and pushed off a cliff.
Like Alvarez, I wondered why this happened. Did the girls know they were to meet the face of death that fateful day?
"It is the sweetness that makes them burn." While Alvarez's character Dedé was talking about sugar on page 320 here, I realized that this could be a reason as to why the Mirabels risked their lives that tragic day. To elaborate, the Mirabels always knew their lives were at risk, especially after starting the underground and being so actively involved. I'm sure they all knew eventually, their "luck" of being alive would run out. They knew their husbands were in trouble in the jail; the sisters were willing to risk that to see them one last time. I'm sure they had premonitions the roads could be dangerous.On page 297, Alvarez states through Minerva that " ...it was as if we were girls again, walking through the dark part of the year, a little afraid, a little excited by our fears..." To me, this means that they knew there could be a chance things could change on their journey home, obviously doing so. What I realized, despite the unknown, was that they came so far in the revolution, changing lives in the sense of involving others to fight what was right for their country of the Dominican Republic. They were role models for women to come, proving women are strong, have opinions, and can fight for what they find important like the Mirabels did. They came so far... why not go all out and "fight" till the end? On page 302, Alvarez states that Patria's last words were "Tell the Mirabel family in Salcedo that the calíes are going to kill us!" I think the Mirabels felt they came so far with their underground revolution, they should be strong and fight till then end. They knew their chances of being murdered were high, yet they stuck to their morals and continued to meet with their husbands. It was their greatest honor because they were all in it together, and they knew they would leave this earth happy they succeeded great things.
While this could be one possibility as to what the Mirabels did what they did, I think the answer speaks for itself. They truly fought till the end.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
María Teresa
One interesting character in the book In The Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is the youngest Mirabel sister, María Teresa, best known as Mate. With an adorable sense of innocence, yet possessing independence, thought, and strength, I shall follow her path and how she evolves throughout the book.
-Mate was born October 15th, 1935. Her story starts in her first section of the book. She starts evolving into her own person and voicing her thoughts with the very first diary she was given by her older sister, Minerva as a gift for her First Communion at the age of 10.
-Feb. 18th, 1946 was the first time Mate lied for Minerva in school when she was caught sneaking out of school to visit a "sick" relative.
-July 23rd- Mate writes her final entry in her first diary and unfortunately has to bury it because there were people's names mentioned, those that have gotten in trouble with the law. Mate can not keep it in case she gets caught.
The second part that highlights Mate's Timeline is in her second chapter.
-December 15th, 1953. Mate has grown a bit, and is discussing her father's funeral, and how awkward yet angering it was for Mate to meet her "other" sisters, the children her father had with his mistress.
-July 3rd. We are now faced with Mate's graduation, a huge jump in the book. She discusses everything about her graduation party... as well as the fact her aunt is trying to make her decide between a possible suitor between her two cousins, Berto and Raul. Talk about a tough decision! This shows how life was in their culture and how much Mate has grown as a woman.
-Sept 18th- Mate and Minerva, her role model, are leaving for the capital. While she is there, the reader can see how Mate evolves into somewhat of her own person by not following in her sister's footsteps as a career being a lawyer, but decides to study Philosophy and Letters.
-April 28th- Mate receives an amazing honor to be Queen of the Capital, which is an equivalent to a Class Honorary. She has Minerva help her with her speech.
-July 28th, 1957- Mate moves in with Minerva, and has sensed something is wrong between Minerva and her husband, Manolo.
-Sept 7th. A couple of months pass by, and somehow, Mate has brought Minerva and her husband back together and "saved" their marraige. Who could think the naive one could help save a marraige?
-Sept 28th- In her sister's apartment, a man named Palomino making a delivery shows up. This is the first true encounter Mate has had with a man that she realizes if she was married, she could not give up. The next day Mate discovers the revolution that her sister is involved in. She is then named Mariposa, her code name.
-Dec 16th- Mate finally confesses her love to Palomino, whose real name is Leandro. He obviously, feels the same.
-Feb 14th, 1958. Mate marries Leandro Guzmán Rodríguez.
We then jump to the third section. A lot has occurred. Now the sisters are imprisoned and refuse to be pardoned.
-March 16th. Mate keeps yet another diary, or as she puts it, notebook.
-March 22nd. Mate finally breaks down. She says she feels she will never leave, and I can only imagine what a feeling that is. She explains how it's common for the women to break down frequently.
-March 24th. Mate describes her experience being questioned by the guards.
-April 1st. Mate finally (which I found a bit impressive) states to her sister openly how she feels she can not take this before. It bothers Mate her daughter is growing up without her. Obviously, Minerva tries to calm her... How long can they hold out together?
-April 2nd. Mate finally realizes she is alone. Her sister was put into solitary for three weeks and she is now alone. Mate explains she hears a voice that says, "Mariposa does not belong to herself alone," meaning she has never been on her own before. Can she handle it? Mate then writes, "Courage, and this time I felt it."
-April 7th. Mate finally sees some of her family members, and gets excited at the thought of her mom bringing her little girl by to see her!
-Date unknown. Mate has been very sick, I presume. She explains how she has stopped bleeding, unsure if it was a period or a miscarraige of a child. She goes on to say how her friend, Magdalena is nursing her. She hopes to get better...
-May 25th. Mate and Minerva are arraigned. Unfortunately, they were taken to the court to wind up not being able to defend themselves without proper representation. Mate cries.
-June 27th. Things seem to get worse. Now Mate is getting word of a rumor that her husband, Leandro is being accused of a traitor. How can she help him in prison herself? She is very worried.
-July 11th. Mate has an experience with a female friend in prison, Magdalena. They kiss. I think Magdalena was an outlet for her to express her feelings on being in prison, her worries and fears.
-August 7th. Mate leaves the prison, and is feeling sad to leave behind her newfound "sisters."
Time will only tell what else happens to Mate. As one can see, she has come far in her journey. A long, intimidating, and dangerous one, but a journey nonetheless.
-Mate was born October 15th, 1935. Her story starts in her first section of the book. She starts evolving into her own person and voicing her thoughts with the very first diary she was given by her older sister, Minerva as a gift for her First Communion at the age of 10.
-Feb. 18th, 1946 was the first time Mate lied for Minerva in school when she was caught sneaking out of school to visit a "sick" relative.
-July 23rd- Mate writes her final entry in her first diary and unfortunately has to bury it because there were people's names mentioned, those that have gotten in trouble with the law. Mate can not keep it in case she gets caught.
The second part that highlights Mate's Timeline is in her second chapter.
-December 15th, 1953. Mate has grown a bit, and is discussing her father's funeral, and how awkward yet angering it was for Mate to meet her "other" sisters, the children her father had with his mistress.
-July 3rd. We are now faced with Mate's graduation, a huge jump in the book. She discusses everything about her graduation party... as well as the fact her aunt is trying to make her decide between a possible suitor between her two cousins, Berto and Raul. Talk about a tough decision! This shows how life was in their culture and how much Mate has grown as a woman.
-Sept 18th- Mate and Minerva, her role model, are leaving for the capital. While she is there, the reader can see how Mate evolves into somewhat of her own person by not following in her sister's footsteps as a career being a lawyer, but decides to study Philosophy and Letters.
-April 28th- Mate receives an amazing honor to be Queen of the Capital, which is an equivalent to a Class Honorary. She has Minerva help her with her speech.
-July 28th, 1957- Mate moves in with Minerva, and has sensed something is wrong between Minerva and her husband, Manolo.
-Sept 7th. A couple of months pass by, and somehow, Mate has brought Minerva and her husband back together and "saved" their marraige. Who could think the naive one could help save a marraige?
-Sept 28th- In her sister's apartment, a man named Palomino making a delivery shows up. This is the first true encounter Mate has had with a man that she realizes if she was married, she could not give up. The next day Mate discovers the revolution that her sister is involved in. She is then named Mariposa, her code name.
-Dec 16th- Mate finally confesses her love to Palomino, whose real name is Leandro. He obviously, feels the same.
-Feb 14th, 1958. Mate marries Leandro Guzmán Rodríguez.
We then jump to the third section. A lot has occurred. Now the sisters are imprisoned and refuse to be pardoned.
-March 16th. Mate keeps yet another diary, or as she puts it, notebook.
-March 22nd. Mate finally breaks down. She says she feels she will never leave, and I can only imagine what a feeling that is. She explains how it's common for the women to break down frequently.
-March 24th. Mate describes her experience being questioned by the guards.
-April 1st. Mate finally (which I found a bit impressive) states to her sister openly how she feels she can not take this before. It bothers Mate her daughter is growing up without her. Obviously, Minerva tries to calm her... How long can they hold out together?
-April 2nd. Mate finally realizes she is alone. Her sister was put into solitary for three weeks and she is now alone. Mate explains she hears a voice that says, "Mariposa does not belong to herself alone," meaning she has never been on her own before. Can she handle it? Mate then writes, "Courage, and this time I felt it."
-April 7th. Mate finally sees some of her family members, and gets excited at the thought of her mom bringing her little girl by to see her!
-Date unknown. Mate has been very sick, I presume. She explains how she has stopped bleeding, unsure if it was a period or a miscarraige of a child. She goes on to say how her friend, Magdalena is nursing her. She hopes to get better...
-May 25th. Mate and Minerva are arraigned. Unfortunately, they were taken to the court to wind up not being able to defend themselves without proper representation. Mate cries.
-June 27th. Things seem to get worse. Now Mate is getting word of a rumor that her husband, Leandro is being accused of a traitor. How can she help him in prison herself? She is very worried.
-July 11th. Mate has an experience with a female friend in prison, Magdalena. They kiss. I think Magdalena was an outlet for her to express her feelings on being in prison, her worries and fears.
-August 7th. Mate leaves the prison, and is feeling sad to leave behind her newfound "sisters."
Time will only tell what else happens to Mate. As one can see, she has come far in her journey. A long, intimidating, and dangerous one, but a journey nonetheless.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Could you do what Déde did?
In part three of In The Time of Butterflies bu Julia Alvarez, I really started thinking about Déde's thoughts and opinions on the retreat. As stated, Déde was the only Mirabel sister that did not get directly involved with the meetings and what not. It really started to get me think as to what I'd do if I was in her situation.
Before Déde actually starts discussing her thoughts, fears, and excuses for not joining her sisters in their organization, she is strongly considering it. Minerva informs her of a meeting they will be having at Patria's house. Déde has decided to leave her husband, Jaimito, who has become unusually cruel and nasty partially due to his excessive drinking. I think Déde partially wants to join them as proof to herself that she is her own person and can get away from her husband, and she does not need anyone else to protect her. Alvarez writes on page 182, "I need to get out. I cannot go on with this travesty." I think this is what Déde is thinking. She is trying to prove to herself that she can be her own person and is capable of making her own decisions, such as joining her sisters in the revolt. I definitely can relate with Déde's thought process here. Who wouldn't want to be capable of making their own decisions? It's not as if Jaimito runs her life, despite what he may think.
Although, Déde does have a huge decision to make. If I had to make this decision as to join my family or not right now at my age, it would not be as crucial because I not married and do not have responsibilities to my own family like she does, such as her three children. What I notice is that Déde has to worry about her children and her husband as well as her mother. It's almost as if she is on the fence about this business and is trying to find every possible excuse to keep her from joining her sisters. It really made me wonder. Would I be so ready to leave my kids and unsupporting husband while I join the dangerous fight? I don't think I could...
She then decides to meet with Padre de Jesús, the priest for an insight. At the church, Déde realizes that he is one of the revolutionaries along with her very own sisters! On page 184, Alvarez writes, "And she knew, right then adn there, that she could not go through with this business. Jaimito was an excuse. She was afraid, plain and simple." While some people may think Déde was being selfish to not want to support her sisters and fight for what she may believed is right for her country, I do not. I feel every person is different. Déde has a family to worry about and a husband. I feel that it is selfless of her to stay with her family and protect them as opposed to putting herself on the line. If anything, she could wind up killed or severely wounded. Déde decides to not go so she can be there with the alive and healthy, supporting her family.
I feel if I was in Déde's shoes, I would do the same thing. I would hate the thought of leaving behind my kids and my doting husband, knowing there was a strong risk I could never see them again. I think Déde is smart for her decision, especially because of the ending of this book. She essentially did think for herself in the end and made the conscious decision to be there for her family.
Before Déde actually starts discussing her thoughts, fears, and excuses for not joining her sisters in their organization, she is strongly considering it. Minerva informs her of a meeting they will be having at Patria's house. Déde has decided to leave her husband, Jaimito, who has become unusually cruel and nasty partially due to his excessive drinking. I think Déde partially wants to join them as proof to herself that she is her own person and can get away from her husband, and she does not need anyone else to protect her. Alvarez writes on page 182, "I need to get out. I cannot go on with this travesty." I think this is what Déde is thinking. She is trying to prove to herself that she can be her own person and is capable of making her own decisions, such as joining her sisters in the revolt. I definitely can relate with Déde's thought process here. Who wouldn't want to be capable of making their own decisions? It's not as if Jaimito runs her life, despite what he may think.
Although, Déde does have a huge decision to make. If I had to make this decision as to join my family or not right now at my age, it would not be as crucial because I not married and do not have responsibilities to my own family like she does, such as her three children. What I notice is that Déde has to worry about her children and her husband as well as her mother. It's almost as if she is on the fence about this business and is trying to find every possible excuse to keep her from joining her sisters. It really made me wonder. Would I be so ready to leave my kids and unsupporting husband while I join the dangerous fight? I don't think I could...
She then decides to meet with Padre de Jesús, the priest for an insight. At the church, Déde realizes that he is one of the revolutionaries along with her very own sisters! On page 184, Alvarez writes, "And she knew, right then adn there, that she could not go through with this business. Jaimito was an excuse. She was afraid, plain and simple." While some people may think Déde was being selfish to not want to support her sisters and fight for what she may believed is right for her country, I do not. I feel every person is different. Déde has a family to worry about and a husband. I feel that it is selfless of her to stay with her family and protect them as opposed to putting herself on the line. If anything, she could wind up killed or severely wounded. Déde decides to not go so she can be there with the alive and healthy, supporting her family.
I feel if I was in Déde's shoes, I would do the same thing. I would hate the thought of leaving behind my kids and my doting husband, knowing there was a strong risk I could never see them again. I think Déde is smart for her decision, especially because of the ending of this book. She essentially did think for herself in the end and made the conscious decision to be there for her family.
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