Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: Diasporic Writers

Hayley and her friends Finn, Gracie, and Topher all have different views on topics, the most spoken of which is their views on their own parents. All of them have rough and twisted lives at home, which they express in their conversations in the lunchrooms and libraries. One of the most powerful examples of this occurs between Gracie and Hayley after Gracie has a meltdown in the cafeteria regarding her mother’s relationship with Gracie’s father: “Gracie’s father was an engineer, her mother, an accountant. I couldn’t picture either one of them yelling or throwing things or having affairs. I could see my dad doing stuff like that.

However, she could have willingly escaped this confinement because her father was no longer there to set rules for her. Instead, she “went out very little” (Faulkner 53). Because Emily made the choice to stay hidden from the townspeople even though her father’s presence was long gone, she was creating an antagonist upon herself. According to Ray B. West, Jr., “when as in A Rose For Emily, the world depicted is a confusion between the past and the present, the atmosphere is one of distortion-of unreality” (par.3).

As the book travels on Edna defines this role less and less, as well providing several thoughts formally against it. Other characters in the Awakening such as Mademoiselle Reiz, also do not stand well as perfect examples of how 1800th century women were supposed to behave. Adele was written by Chopin as a friend, alone, in concept that she would provide readers with the standard for American women during this era. Adele loves her life and “She is what all women in her society should be like; she puts her husband and children first, centering her life around her family and her domestic duties(Miller).” Adele is also perceived as woman of self-sacrifice showing almost no interest in her own ambitions, or her own cares. This sets the stage for Adele as “the 'ideal mother'[which] was a woman who basically forsook all notions of self and desire…[and] would've had almost no life outside of her children (Breazeale, Liz).” This an important concept for the reader to know for them to gain an understanding of how women were meant to act in the setting of the Awakening and that they were expected “to be women that idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels (Chopin 4).” By providing a character like Adele who is such

Throughout “Ogimah Ikwe: Native Women and Their Path to Leadership,” Lajimodiere shows how the common threads of tribal ties, female role models, off-reservation education, and Native feminism influenced successful contemporary Native American women today. A strong sense of self is instrumental for success, as is a strong sense of identity regarding your family and

Although she despises certain characteristics from New York City, she always comes back to it. Similarly, this happens to writer Cheryl Strayed, who moved from Minnesota to New York City only to find out that her fantasized love affair with New York, was not meant for her, as explained in

When Esperanza considered the homes on Mango Street, they represented the feeling of a prison that traps the family, but especially the women, and leaves them with little hope. Esperanza dreamt of an extravagant home all to herself and this meant freedom, independence; she felt it was her destiny for her writing. Unfortunately, the home on Mango Street symbolized to Esperanza poverty and shame which overtime became embarrassment. Ashamed of her home, she wishes not to even mention where she lives even telling people she lived somewhere else. Somehow by denying where she lives, Esperanza feels she erases that she lived there.

Although she has to keep this joy private, she tries her best to hide this contentment, Her resistance to her true feelings show how forbidden her emotions are and that society would never accept Louise’s true emotions. Another theme that is present is the theme of freedom. At first, she does not have much freedom at all and throughout the duration of they story she is confined in her home. Her newfound freedom gave her much joy but as she left her room, it was cut much too short due to her untimely death. The Story of an Hour has many structural, stylistic, and literary approaches that make it a very powerful

Isabel Allende’s, My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile, is her memoir about her native country, yet also sheds light to other important societal roles in Chile. As she passionately writes about her experiences, Allende makes it evidently clear that she loves her homeland, regardless of what troubles the country encounters. Nonetheless, it should be noted that her memoir is solely based upon her memories, and incorporates a sense of fiction to better help tell her story through vivid descriptions of the natural landscape and/or the people she interacted with. Her book was compelling to me as her passion for her country was expressed through her usage of language and descriptive experiences that portrayed her emotions during

The universal knowledge and strength of a mother can become, ironically, an element that provides difficulties in many relationships. The love between a mother and daughter is eternally enchanting and frustrating, invigorating and challenging. Mothers serve as a role model and example to their daughters, providing insight and guidance in every walk of life. Despite the stress many mother-daughter relationships endure, a mother’s advice is imperative. Through examining Amy Tan’s book The Joy Luck Club, Sandhya Shetty’s painting Mother and Daughter, and “Sonnets are full of love, and this is my tome” by Christina Rossetti, the power of a mother’s influence is evident.

demonstrates a strong cultural and social reference where the emphasis is on women, and there identity as women. The case of Beccka, in the story takes into account women’s view and her interpretation of the world. Her personal experience is socially and theoretically constructed and emotions play an essential role in the process of identity formation. Her identity is not fixed, which is portrayed by inquisitiveness that her own mother and Aunt thought she was possessed, enhanced and made this story an enriching experience. The family is the first agent of socialization, as the story illustrates, even the most basic of human activities are learned and through socialization people