Soledad Analysis

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As the novel comes to an end, I believe Soledad’s perspective towards life has changed considerably for the better. Soledad lived in Washington Heights, often trying to cover up the truth of her “roots”, after she moved downtown for both work, and to earn a higher education. For example, she stated, “When I first moved to downtown and people where I work asked me where I was from, I used to say the Upper West Side... was my way of keeping nasty stereotypes of Washington Height’s out of people’s minds (Cruz 2). Not only does Soledad have a negative view on her hometown, but in my opinion she also has a negative view on herself, and struggles with self-confidence. However, as the novel progresses and Soledad bonds with her mother I believe her …show more content…
“ So tiny and vulnerable, she named me Soledad. My name means loneliness in Spanish, the language my mother speaks and dreams in. She said this name would open people’s hearts to me and make them listen. She thought a name like Soledad I would never be alone” (Cruz 227). Furthermore, in regards to earning a higher education, Soledad believes it is uncommon for women to leave the neighborhood to both grow and better themselves. By moving away, I believe Soledad thought she would find a male of her standards unlike the men in her home neighborhood. Soledad states, “It’s because he’s not my type, he lives in the hood. I want something better for myself” (Cruz 76). I believe this quote really describes who Soledad is as a person, because she wants more than Washington Heights, and sees her doing better than those surrounding her. Largely, Soledad views herself better than those of Washington Heights, and states, "everybody is the center of their own world and yet they're just a speck in the universe" (Cruz 163). Soledad, an independent female, was focused primary on herself until Gorda requested her to come home and help car for her

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