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Theme Of Patron Saints Of Nothing By Randy Ribay

829 Words4 Pages

Being a lost high school senior and expected to know what he wants to do for the rest of his life contributes to the feeling of dread and lack of motivation that came with senioritis. As an Asian American, he also deals with the pressure from peers and family to get into a good college. The book Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay follows the character Jay finding out that his cousin recently died in the streets of the Philippines, a place he hasn’t visited in years. Jay decides to fly to the Philippines to discover the real reasons behind his cousin’s death despite his family’s resistance. The theme of truth is expressed in Jay, how much effort he puts into finding the so-called truth that lies within the death of his relative, even putting …show more content…

Before Jay leaves for the Philippines his dad talks to him about how he brought them to America in order to give Jay and his siblings a better life. How he should feel grateful for that. “‘You may not speak Tagalog or know as much as you would like about the Philippines, but if we’d stayed, you wouldn’t have had all the opportunities that you’ve had here'”. (53) His father acknowledges Jay’s want for more by trying to view it as a blessing in disguise. It is stated in the quote that he does not know as much as he would like to. Being born in America and growing up in a predominantly white city can provide little exposure to diversity to those of a minority as the author dealt with as a teen. When Jay finally arrives at the Philippine airport he soaks in his surroundings. “I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be around so many people who look like me. I feel like I belong in a way I never do back in the States. But then again, my skin is noticeably lighter and I can’t decode any of the non-English words that fill the air”. (68) Though he is surrounded by other Filipino people like him he still feels out of place though less than he does back at home. He may look like the people around him but yet

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