Judith Ortiz Cofer's Catch The Moon

The theme of Judith Ortiz Cofer's "An Hour with Abuelo" demonstrates that one should not let "La Vida" [Cofer 4] get in your way. In the story "An Hour with Abuelo" we can observe the concept of the theme being displayed across the article. In the beginning, the Arturo refuses to go with his dying grandfather simply because "There is a stack of books next to my bed I'm going to read if I want to get into the AP classes I want" [Cofer 4]. In this situation we can make an inference that the books symbolize "La vida"

Luis was growing up into the life of gang banging, gaining a reputation in San Gabriel by being scouted into bigger gangs in the area. Increasing his involvement in the gang by stealing form stores, to eventually being part of premeditated arson and murders. Luis was well on his way to a life in prison or worse, death. By growing up during a time of racial discrimination, options were limited to becoming a factory worker or gangster. Luis met

Every story has a setting. Whether it is in this world or one that is completely imaginary, the setting of any story is necessary in order to understand the characters. The characters in the following three short stories are shaped by their setting and would not be the same if the setting was different. Over the course of each story it is easy to see how vital the setting is in order for the reader to fully understand the characters and their lives. Therefore, while the reader reads these stories they must analyze how the setting affects the characters, the obstacles that the setting creates, and what it tells us about the characters.

Unlike animals, humans are able to observe past the mere monochromatic vision of survival. We have an impeccable ability to desire more than just living to breed, and breeding only to someday perish. Thus, we gradually brush this canvas with the colours of ethics, control, and knowledge. Whether the colours fade or become prominent through time, this canvas becomes our perception of normality and we allow it to justify our actions; favorable or harmful. We, as well as the narrator in the short story The Hunt by Josephine Donovan represent this. However, because of the narrator’s difference in perception, self-indulgence, and greed for power, the story introduces a feeling of infuriation to the reader.

Luis had a very rough and unfair childhood. He and his family were constantly moving because they were economically unstable and because of how much involvement he had with gang violence. As Luis gets more involved in the gang life him and his friends began to establish a gang called, “The Impersonations.” On page 41 in the book he says, “The impersonations is how we wove something out of the threads of nothing.” At one point Luis and his gang family thought that was all they could rely on at the time.

Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Chinese population had expanded dramatically from having only about 55 people to 151,000. Most of the population has immigrated to California as the livelihood in China had became awfully difficult for them by sacrificing most of their valuables in order to improve their lives. The majority kept the Chinese culture with them and expanded it through establishing Chinatown, a community full of Chinese influence, with their presence in a new environment. In the remarkable novel, Outrun the Moon, Stacey Lee describes a teenage girl named Mercy Wong with a unique historical backdrop who chases after her dream in becoming an entrepreneur to create a better life for her own family. This book is astounding

There are many conflicts throughout the movie such as Luis fighting off the temptation to join the welcoming gang life style which looks to be his answer to finding a place where he belongs and a family that he no longer has. Luis is also trying to avoid becoming like his father in which he does not want to mow lawns and trim trees for a living and continuously fights with his father and has a lack of respect for what he does to earn money. Perhaps that biggest conflict in the movie is both Carlos and Luis against society which appears to be completely against them as they work together to get their stolen truck back but are met with nonstop resistance and obstacles, and in the end leads to Carlos finally getting his truck back but only to find himself getting pulled over by a police officer and getting sent to jail where he waits to get deported. Even with being deported in the end, the last scene shows Carlos getting ready to cross the desert with the guide of a paid human smuggler in an effort to get back to Luis as he promised. Just as they prepare to head into the desert Carlos says "Let's go home" symbolizing that even though his first home was in Mexico he has made a new home in America where his son waits for his return and where he has become a custom to living even with all the challenges he

During the 60s and 70s, many people fought for social change, and all minorities were considered outcasts from society. Hispanics were generally prevented from getting an education, or being successful. However, Luis, as an untouchable from the racist world around him, still has the ability to attempt to correct his society. So he organized “a walkout for self respect .. [During the walkout, Luis] kept on walking.

Again, conflicting influences have Luis in a precarious situation, but he has established a support system through his community involvement, and begrudged legalities keep him from long-term incarceration. Grillo had already been locked up and struggling through the system process he just wanted it all to end. Locked up inside a cage made him feel lost and worth nothing. His mom visited him with tears seen him behind bard made her feel at her worst but she knew he was safe, she couldn’t wait till he got out eventually he did. As time passed by Luis got recognition for his writing and art he ended up getting a scholarship, he then got put in charge of painting and writing projects. In chapter 10 Grillo decided to move away from everything. At the end him out of all the friends ends up getting freedom. Everyone else is stuck in the system or in the streets. Due to all his actions he ended up realizing that he could do better that he can be someone in life all of the events happened for a reason they made him change for the better not just himself as a person but those around him as well. All of the violence just leads him down the road of destruction and drug use lead towards him almost taking his life due to the entire struggle. It sucks when you have to use drugs just to be happy; he went through a lot coming off from a Mexican young boy with him and his family living a bad life, not having enough money to pay for rent at times. The hard struggles of his father obtaining and keeping a job was hard moving place to place just to be suited down and live a stable life. Through out the built up of Grillos education he struggled and lead towards violence because they made fun of him or bullied him. These struggles made Grillo join a gang with his start off friends. Grillo went through all this knowing he had potential to do good but choose to do bad and at the end he changed for the better for a better

I think that the author included Parker in the story because it was a great way to show that these people were actually people and that they had emotions, they cared for others, and someone from a European descent found them to be better than ‘civilized’ society. However, there were also many instances of them being truly terrible to some people specially to older women (Gwynne, 106). Parker was also the mother of “the last chief of Comanches”, Quanah. She eventually married and had children with an Indian reported in a paper that surprised many people (Gwynne, 116). This is why when she was finally found by her brother she did not want to leave her family (Gwynne, 126). However eventually Parker was taken back to her white family with her daughter, and they both eventually died; Quanah

Death is conceptually understood by few, yet experienced by many. Having a multitude of causes, death has devastated many families in various ways. Accidental deaths could be prevented, but sadly are not. In James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator was responsible of Doodle’s, his younger brother's, death in the following ways: he pushed Doodle too hard to function normally, he didn't follow the doctor’s clear orders, and he left Doodle in his most desperate time of need. The narrator strove to make Doodle be a normal boy, and this was a massive factor that surrounded his death.

Luis was always a shy kid. Never wanted to defend himself until a group of kids ganged up and jumped him. On this day it changed him, he learned to defend himself. This brought his confidence up a whole nother level. After that nobody wanted to mess with him anymore, and he began to gain respect in his neighborhood.

"Catch the Moon" has a conflict between Luis and his father. The conflict deals with how they do not solve their problems the way they should. Luis is a male, Hispanic teenager who was sent to juvenile hall for breaking and entering. Some would say he is the type of child who does not follow the law. Luis does not like to help his dad at the junkyard. He is a rebellious teenage who hates having to do things for their parents. All of this changes when a girl comes into the picture. Luis's father starts to give Luis trust when he hands the keys of the car to Luis. It only takes Luis a short time to realize that his father just wants what is best for Luis, and soon starts helping his dad. Another short story that had a similar conflict with high expectations is "Two Kinds."

father did not die a ‘complete’ death and that haunts him. This pain is shown in a unique way

Pearl Bunk wrote the book called The Good Earth. Her point of writing this book was to give people a better out look of Chinese culture and living style. This gives people in other countries an outlook on how we all don’t live the same or have the same culture. I am writing about his because it gave me the outlook of how the stories characters life is different from my life. What was Pearl Buck’s life and connection with china? What is some of the criticism that the experts have on her book The Good Earth?