One More Cultural Divide: Character Analysis

Authors in many instances use the main elements in the story such as setting and narrative to prove a point in the story. For example, writers often use characters, their actions, and their interaction with other characters to support or prove a theme. In the short story “Our Thirteenth Summer”, Barry Callaghan effectively uses characters to develop the theme that childhood is fragile and easily influenced. One of the ways that Callaghan makes effective use of characters to develop the theme is by describing the tension between Bobbie and his parents. This usage of characters supports the theme because Bobbie’s childhood is no longer free to do what he wishes, but has to bow down to his parents’

Will-power and determination plays a major role when it comes to people accomplishing goals and performing the tasks they are given. When a person possesses these two qualities they are motivated, focused, will not give up easily, determined along with many other things. The word determination is defined as, “the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose.” Will-power is, “the strength or will to carry out one’s decisions, wishes, or plans.” In the short story A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, the main character Phoenix carried out the meaning of these two words throughout the whole story. She had experienced many road blocks during her journey, but she did not let them stop her from reaching

I was pleased to have attended a lecture cosponsored by the Ethics Center, the Fresno State office of the president, the Fresno Bee and Valley PBS. The lecture began with Dr. Castro recognizing a few leaders on campus, including a past Fresno State president, Dr. John D. Welty and campus volunteer Mary Castro. Dr. Castro then mentioned a few things about Mr. Brooks stating that he is a columnist for the New York Times and an analyst for the PBS “News Hour” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Dr. Brooks also teaches at Yale University, one the finest university in the country. Dr. Castro continued by saying that he learned that Mr. Brooks office hours are from 9am to 1pm and how “cool” it sounded to him. I was surprised how many people attended the event. I was fortunate to find a seat. David Brooks mentioned how he has some remote roots in the Central Valley because his father grew in Chowchilla, CA but Mr. Brooks grew in New York.

Jimmy knows too well the agonies of abandonment. First, when his mother, Cecilia, ran away with Richard to pursue a better lifestyle. Then, due to his father’s, Damacio Baca, alcoholisms and violent behavior; he also had to leave Jimmy behind. In spite of the drawbacks from abandonment to being a maximum security prisoner in Arizona State Prison, Jimmy preserver’s the darkness of prison by overcoming his illiteracy. However Cecilia and Damacio is not as fortunate as their child; Cecilia is shot by Richard after confronting him for a divorce and Damacio chokes to death after he is released from the detox center(Baca 263). Therefore the most significant event in this section of the memoir, A Place to Stand by Jimmy Santiago Baca is the death of Jimmy’s parents.

There are two types of Americans that are portrayed in The Ugly American. The two types of Americans portrayed in The Ugly American are the ethnocentric Americans, who believe that their ways are superior to all others, and don’t really care about stopping the spread of communism; and then there are the kind hearted Americans, who truly care about defeating communism. Through multiple characters we learn how these two types of Americans think and how they represent not only themselves, but their country.

Within America, each state is responsible for the operation of public schools and rules addressing curriculum, teaching methods, and learning materials; the process Texas has implemented to adopt new school textbooks is illustrated in the three articles, “Publisher Defends Controversial Mexican-American Studies Textbook, “Explained: how Texas picks its textbooks,” and “Teaching Truthiness.” These articles, in particular, focus on problems with Mexican-American Heritage, a proposed Mexican-American textbook for schools in Texas. They each express similar information over this event, such as the unique viewpoints of people involved. By analyzing this information, it becomes apparent that the current adoption process for textbooks in Texas doesn't

1.The Laramie Project and Fifteen Years Later was the most tragic, intense books of the summer session. The story revolves around Matthew Shepard, a well-liked, successful college student. He was killed because of his sexual preference. Laramie, Montana is a small, rural, close-minded community. Citizens with different sexual orientations are condemned and, “Locked in the closet.” The most important moment in the play occurred during the interview with Aaron Kreifels. He felt compelled to ride his bicycle on a dusty, unfamiliar road. “I didn’t know where I was going. I was just sort of picking the way to go, which now…it makes me think that God wanted me to find him because there was no way I was going

This book was considered as the most debated U.S. Latino texts. In the book, Rodriguez used his personal experience in discussing social and political issues. Though it is autobiographical in nature, it is a collection of personal experiences that shaped Rodriguez’s understanding of culture, education, and the formal education system in America. Rodriguez tackled the educational system wherein he discussed the change of language in the beginning of a child’s education- Spanish to English. In his book, he provides a thoughtful critique of contemporary education and its shortfalls. He opposed bilingual education and affirmative action. He shared his views on the inequality of educational system and the specific educational needs of minorities in the United States. He used his upbringing and self exploration as a Mexican American, and his extensive schooling to examine contemporary education.

The Laramie Project is a story that has a variety of characters with many differing viewpoints on a multitude of issues throughout the entire book. Issues such as the death penalty, LGBTQ rights, what type of a person Matthew Shepard was, and a massive amount of others are present throughout the entire book. The character Matthew Shepard, a gay, black student at the University of Wyoming was murdered by two white, heterosexual males, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. With the mass amount of characters within The Laramie Project, there were bound to be differing viewpoints on what type of person Matthew Shepard was. Some people thought he was a good kid and a martyr, dying at the hands of homophobic males within their town, some thought he didn't really matter just because he was gay, and murders happened all the time. A third view is that he deserved what he got.

A Lesson Before Dying A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines tells the story of a black man, Jefferson, with unequal rights, being accused of killing a white man. Although, the accusation was far from being right, he is a black man, and blacks were treated unfairly. Throughout the journey of the trial, Jefferson and Grant became very close, and they both learned a lot from each other and the trial. Grant learns the lesson of being a man, because he develops feelings, and becomes humble.

Sometimes in tragedy we find our lives purpose. Jimmy dean once said, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” This relates to the novel Ordinary People very well as Conrad and Calvin Jarret both tried seeking help and tried to fix their problems instead of pretending they didn’t exist. Conrad went to see a psychiatrist in recommendation of his father and his doctor, His father Calvin went and spoke to Conrad’s psychiatrist. Conrad also tried to communicate with his family more and have a more open relationship with his friends and family. Beth on the other hand did not try to resolve any issues with her family and instead ignored and kept her distance from Conrad and Calvin. All

Currently, more than half of the public schools are Hispanic so teachers and activists are now demanding schools to teach Mexican American studies. The controversial issue over the newly proposed Mexican American textbook being used in Texas public schools brings up multiple issues in the educational system. Critics call it inaccurate, racist, and ignorant and it should be not released. "There's no way this textbook can be corrected. The errors are so extensive," says Trinidad Gonzales, a history professor at South Texas College (Isensee). The authors of the book can’t even depict the difference between a Mexican and a Chilean. If the State Board of Education has Mexican American studies as a course of study in all Texas public schools, publishers

Reuters says that studies show that Mexicans read less than three books a year on average, a product of low education levels and poverty. The USA is one of the richest countries compared to many other countries like Mexico. And the USA has a lot of funding to help families who don’t have money to get an education compared to Mexico who only funds a small portion to their education system. The Education system in Mexico and the USA are very different by the Discipline, Types of schools, and school system.

In “The Journey to the West,” the monk was accompanied by Pigsy, the Sha Monk, the Handsome Monkey King, and the horse. Each of these supporting characters possess a certain magical ability that assisted the monk on his journey, additionally they had their own flaws. This contrasts the monk, which has no magical ability and was devoted buddhism. The strengths, weaknesses, and backgrounds of these supporting characters encapsulate the idea of buddhism throughout the novel, and by including them and Xuanzang the book is able to summarize the idea of buddhism.

The novel, A Passage to India written by E. M. Forster is a modernist novel ,which portrays a colonial India under British rule before its liberation. It is set in India, in the 20th century. In the novel, Foster structures his book into 3 sections: Mosque, Cave, and Temple to portray the complex relationship of the characters as they struggle to getting together during the turbulent time in India.