Literary Devices In Book Of Unknown Americans By Henrquez

In the novel, Book of Unknown Americans, Henrquez uses literary devices to prove that even if people feel challenged to express their feelings, if people do not truthfully communicate to one another, they will unintentionally harm their loved family members. Throughout the novel, some characters have difficulty in truthfully expressing their feelings to one another, out of fear of disappointing their loved ones. On the day his father was laid off, Mayor reluctantly went to the dining table and noticed his father “didn’t say a word”. He was sitting with his arms crossed. You never knew my dad” (204). Mayor describes his father’s arms as being crossed, demonstrating his closed-off and uninviting posture. When his father shuts himself off, Mayor …show more content…

Additionally, the author uses imagery to demonstrate the Mayor’s father as a silent figure who avoids communicating with those closest to him. Like two strangers sitting and ignoring each other at a table, this lack of communication leads to a wide emotional distance between the two. Mayor is also reminded of his father’s fiery and unpredictable temper, illustrating his difficulty in controlling his emotions. Mayor realizes that his father may become angry at him at any given time, but he does not understand his father’s desire to support him. After Alma saves Maribel from Garett’s attack, Alma chooses not to reveal the truth involving Garett’s attempted attack on her: “I hadn’t told him what had happened. I wasn’t going to tell him. I didn’t want him to know that I had failed Maribel again.hearing Arturo’s optimism bubble to the surface, hearing the rawness of it, was excruciating” (123). The author uses repetition to illustrate how firm Alma’s desire is to please Arutro. Although Alma and her daughter suffered a major threat that day, she stubbornly refuses to share that with her husband, because of her desperate desire to keep her husband