Manzano Angelina 14 May 2024 CCAS 146 Chicana and Chicano Narrative Professor Calderon
Tomás Rivera and Sandra Cisneros Tomás Rivera and Sandra Cisneros utilize their novels to illustrate the caste system seen in different areas and the challenges they bring when trying to find one’s sense of self/identity. In Tomás River, Y No Se Lo Tragó la Tierra (1971) we read and touch upon the stories of families and the individual hardships they face in society on the journey to accepting their new Mexican-American identities. Sandra Cisneros in her The House on Mango Street (1984) illustrates the coming of age story of a Mexican-American girl, Esperanza (protagonist) who comes face to face with the stereotypic reality of her world and the prejudice that is attached to her culture. Both…show more content… This caste system has set a negative connotation for immigrants and migrants seeking to start new chapters in their lives in a world they are not so familiar with. Ultimately, both authors navigate the obstacles that Mexican Americans endure and their journey’s in finding a light at the end of the tunnel. This paper will dive into how Rivera established this notion of community through theme, language, and structure. Furthermore, then discussing Cisneros and the development of the protagonist in her journey to self discovery and growth (“A House of My Own”). Tomás Rivera was able to establish this sense of community to his readers through his themes, language, and structure because he was able to tap into real world problems, approachable characters, and shared experiences. In Y No Se Lo Tragó la Tierra (1971), the themes that Rivera highlights are marginalization, dual-identity, faith, and hardship and resilience. These themes are equally seen among all the characters: the father, the mother, and the children. After the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) many Mexican farm workers and their families migrated
