KATE RENE A. answered • 03/26/23
From Dreamer to Achiever: Kate's Path to Success
In the section on Kincaid and "Girl," I find the dialogue between the mother and daughter to be the most interesting aspect of the piece. The daughter's persistent questioning and the mother's stern responses reveal the cultural expectations and gender roles that exist within their community. The daughter is constantly being taught how to behave as a proper young lady, and her mother's admonitions suggest that there is little room for deviation from these norms. For example, the mother tells her daughter not to "squat down to play marbles" or "sing benna in Sunday school," emphasizing the importance of behaving properly in all aspects of life.
The character of the daughter is most compelling to me because she represents the struggle of young women to assert their own identities in the face of societal expectations. Despite her mother's attempts to control her behavior, the daughter is constantly questioning the restrictions placed upon her and seeking to understand the reasons behind them. This is evidenced by her repeated questioning of her mother's instructions: "but what if the baker won't let me feel the bread?" and "what if the baker won't let me breathe in the cinnamon?" These questions suggest that the daughter is not content to simply follow the rules without understanding why they exist.
In the section on Fuentes and "Aura," I find the theme of obsession to be the most interesting aspect of the piece. The protagonist, Felipe Montero, becomes increasingly fixated on the young woman Aura and her mysterious connection to his employer, Consuelo Llorente. The novel blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, as Felipe begins to have vivid hallucinations and dreams about Aura, blurring the boundaries between his imagination and the truth.
The character of Aura is the most compelling to me because she represents the power of illusion and the allure of the unknown. Felipe becomes obsessed with her partly because she remains an enigma, with a sense of mystery and intrigue that draws him in. Additionally, her youthful appearance and innocence are contrasted with the darker secrets that surround her, creating a sense of tension and danger that fuels Felipe's obsession.
Overall, what makes these works and characters memorable is their ability to capture the complexities and contradictions of human experience. Both "Girl" and "Aura" explore the ways in which societal expectations and cultural norms can shape individuals, highlighting the struggle between conformity and individuality. The characters of the daughter and Aura, in particular, embody this tension, representing the push and pull between societal expectations and individual desires. The themes of obsession and illusion in "Aura" also add to the novel's power, tapping into the universal human desire for the unknown and the seductive power of fantasy.
