Elizabeth Nunez's Bruised Hibiscus

Josie Mendez-Negrete’s novel, Las Hijas de Juan: Daughters Betrayed, is a very disturbing tale about brutal domestic abuse and incest.  Negrete’s novel is an autobiography regarding experiences of incest in a working-class Mexican American family.  It is Josie Mendez-Negrete’s story of how she, her siblings, and her mother survived years of violence and sexual abuse at the hands of her father.  “Las Hijas de Juan" is told chronologically, from the time Mendez-Negrete was a child until she was a young adult trying, along with the rest of her family, to come to terms with her father 's brutal legacy. It is a upsetting story of abuse and shame compounded by cultural and linguistic isolation and a system of patriarchy that devalues the

This essay will look at the book called Something Fierce by Carmen Aguirre. Specifically it will look at the relationship between Carmen and her mother. I will relate the relationship with examples of my mother’s relationship with my sister. Did Carmen’s mother make a terrible mistake in bringing her daughters with her to Latin America? There are so many things that need to be taken account of in a decision like this; it is nuanced because of the nurture vs. nature argument and so although Carmen’s mother could have made a mistake, it all depends on how the children react to the style of parenting and environment. Now given what we know from the story and taking that at face value, Carmen’s mother made a mistake in bringing her daughters with

In the three stories “Eveline”, “A Rose for Emily”, and “Desiree’s Baby” three single women go about love in three different ways. Their struggles for love are similar; the decisions they made you will not believe. One thing you can say about all the women is their poor love lives. With their fathers in their way, the women find it hard to find love. Love is a four letter word that everyone wants, but some never get to experience the happiness. While Eveline, Miss Emily, and Desiree have controlling fathers, they want love; one walked away from her happiness, one kills for it, and another kills herself.

In the beginning, there were mothers. Like goddesses they create life, nurturing their offspring into adulthood and beyond. Through wisdom, culture, and tradition they educate their young on the wonders of life, gracing us with the opportunity to follow in their footsteps to become mothers ourselves. Through the study of Chicana feminism, it becomes apparent how motherhood is a recurring theme throughout much Chicana feminist art and literature, often discussing how these women fostered growth in multiple facets of their being through their general life experience. Perhaps, this is due to the role of a mother weaving the lives of their children, nursing them, guiding them, and creating a life that implements their own values and beliefs. They have the opportunity to create a mirror image or even an entirely new and improved version of themselves. Whether the maternal figure is a hero or villain, traditional or nontraditional, tangible or fictitious, these characters play a vital role in shaping the Chicana feminism we see today.

Parents are an essential part of a children’s childhood. Bad parents can be portrayed as those who do not love their children, who do not dedicate time to their kids, or those who do not provide comfort or protection, but instead, put their children in instability and danger. Good parents possess qualities such as being attentive to their children, showing understanding, trust, encouragement, and most prominently, expressing love to them. In Jeannette Wall’s The Glass Castle, both Rex Walls and Rose Mary Walls demonstrate the horrible aspects of parenting exceedingly more often than the good characteristics of a parent.

In literature, young characters need mother figures to rely on to achieve their love needs. If they were ever separated from their mothers, characters would need to search for love somewhere else. In the novel, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, Lily loses her mother at a young age, and as a result, she looks to the Boatwright sisters for love and support. Similarly, in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Lady Capulet is not close to her daughter. Rather than helping Juliet and caring for her, Lady Capulet pushes Juliet toward the Nurse unintentionally. This behavior causes Juliet to seek out the Nurse instead of her mother to help with her troubles regarding Romeo.

Despite her harsh and stern nature, Rosa’s heart is filled with shelves and shelves of deep love for her family. However, the way Mama shows her love is one of her personal conflicts as a character. Death tells us of Rosa’s hidden compassion towards Liesel when he says, “But she did love Liesel Meminger. Her way of showing it just happened to be strange” (Zusak, 35). Although Rosa is very quick with violence, and bad language, one could say that this was Rosa’s special way of protecting Liesel quickly, so that Liesel could be safe with what is to come.. Mama is most definitely slow at showing her affection, but she never ceased to stop giving affection, witnessed by the way she openly accepted Liesel, then Max into her home, and strived to take care of them. For these reasons, Rosa Hubermann indeed does have a very big heart. Lastly, stacked away in Rosa’s heart is not only love, but bravery, and courage. At such a difficult time, Rosa Hubermann works so hard to put a big bowl of pea soup on the table every single day. When she is losing customers in her laundry business, she still manages to provide for her

The experience of existing as a woman is a universal one, only experienced differently as discrete colors that separate one woman from the next. With these different colors, characterizations, of what it means to be a woman, it is however, easy, to find a plethora of shades between works that enlighten another meaning. In Gina Prince-Bythewood’s 2014 film, Beyond the Lights we get a glimpse into a singer’s life at the top, and in Josefina Lopez’s Real Women have Curves we get a glimpse into a group of hard working Hispanic women who work at the heart of Estela’s success, her factory, the Garcia Sewing Factory. Although life as a superstar is promised with complete riches and happiness, Noni shows the inaccuracy of that notion. On the other hand, life as newly legal residents in America living paycheck by paycheck is promised towards adversity and unhappiness, yet Estela and her family and friends prove that notion is not as accurate as the aforementioned notion. Through Noni’s mother, Kaz, and Kid Culprit, Noni becomes a presence in the music business, and through Estela’s mother, sister, and friends, Estela ultimately comes to own her own boutique. These two works are analogous in their exploration of the expectations from Noni and Estela’s mothers, and the influence of those who surround Noni and Estela have over their lives, but are different in the types of love that affect their drive in life. These similarities and differences are evident through the contrasting nature

For centuries, a great deal of ethnic groups have been disempowered and persecuted by others. However, one should realize that none are more intense than the oppression of women. In the novel, The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, women living in the Mango Street neighborhood suffer from their restricted freedom. Three such women, Rafaela, Mamacita, and Sally, provide great examples. All try to escape from their dreadful environment. Most of them fail, but at first, Sally seems to succeed in escaping from her father. However, she ends up meeting a husband as equally bad as her father. Ultimately, the men who live with Rafaela, Mamacita, and Sally act as insuperable obstacles that limit the freedom in their women’s lives.

They show that one’s relationship with their mother serves to shape their identity, and impact all aspects of their life. Ruth and LuLing’s relationship faces obstacles such as cultural difference and health issues, but is ultimately loving and compassionate. Once Ruth learns about LuLing’s history and identity, she is able to better understand her and care for her. Learning her mother’s history also helps her to gain a better understanding of who she is as a person. Additionally, it allows her to build a stronger relationship with Art, when she learns who she and her mother truly are. Although these mother-daughter relationships have their struggles at times, they are genuinely full of love and able to provide insight about identity. It is safe to say that no person would know who they truly are without their

Woman Hollering Creek, by Sandra Cisneros gives a vivid and imaginative view into the Hispanic culture. Cisneros expertly weaves ideas and truths of the world, from her insight on economics, religion, and gender. For example, she depicts the lives of mistresses and how their lives affected themselves and others. Cisneros’s conclusion about these women is definitely negative in tone she pities the women in these positions and wishes to reach out to them. Proof of this concept comes from Cisneros’s most notable contribution to the literary and social worlds comes in the form of one of her short stories, “Bien Pretty”, which delves into the sad realty and hope-filled possibilities for women. Analyzing these facets of Cisneros work better informs and challenges readers to rise above the stereotypes of society.

The bond between a mother and child is often spoken of as being unlike any other. Yet there are always exceptions to the rule where this connection isn 't as impenetrable as one might assume. This book is an example of this bond gradually becoming weaker over time. It shows how it affects the child, Bone, and leaves her vulnerable to the abuse of her step-father. Bone’s mother, Anney, had fallen in love with a man who abused her which at first, she’s unaware but eventually comes to realize but still chooses to stay with him. Throughout the book there are instances of Anney’s negligence in recognizing her daughter’s abuse and being of aid to her but wasn 't. In having to deal with her

The story is about Rosaura, the nine-year-old daughter of a woman who does housecleaning for a wealthy family. Rosaura often accompanies her mother to work and does her homework with Luciana, the daughter of the house. As a result, or so she thinks, Rosaura is Luciana’s friend and has

Frau Hoptzafel, his now bereaved mother, acts much like Rosa. She starts as a harsh woman that despises the Hubermann’s to being comforted by Hans while being “laid flat out on Himmel Street, her arms out wide, her screaming face in total despair” (Zusak, 503). They react to trauma, and do so in such a way that makes us react, as

Roslin, or Rosa, is probably without a doubt one of the most pitiable characters in Hope Leslie. Her feelings for Sir Philip are seemingly obsessive, and for me, regretful (at least that's what I felt for her), but her feelings toward Hope Leslie are of a greater interest. Rosa's struggle is the conflict between her extreme jealousy and her undeniable affection for Hope Leslie. The conflict of these emotions seems to be evident in every interaction between both her and Hope. Rosa confesses her love for Sir Philip, her unhappiness to Hope, and says "I have hated you, lady...you who look so like an angel of pity on me...and this very day, when I saw Sir Philip hand you into that boat…I could have plunged this dagger into your bosom". However, when given a chance just a moment later to take Hope's life, Rosa instead cradles Hope in her arms and kisses her forehead "with an undefinable sensation of joy that she might thus approach angelic purity".