Junot Diaz Essay

In the short story “Aurora,” Junot Diaz presents a carefully conceived and poignant relationship marred by violence and drug addiction. The couple involved takes part in seduction, beatings and other forms of abuse to harm the other person. It is not, however, what the characters do to each other that makes this story as remarkable as it is; it is what Diaz suggests about why they do what they do to each other. The text does not, as one might assume, present a conflict between two opposing individuals

Oscar Wao by Juno Diaz is told from the perspective of many characters, exploring each character's individual struggles. These individual struggles represent the prevalent social and cultural problems at the time. In fact, many of the characters in the book encountered similar obstacles and difficulties throughout the story, creating a clear pattern. Diaz utilizes these characters to convey to the reader what life was like for some of the Dominican migrants and their children. Diaz illustrates how

Throughout The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, past events greatly affect Oscar’s present activities, attitudes, and values. Oscar Wao must continually contend with the thought of his breakup with Maritza Chacón as a seven year old, and this specific event contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Oscar’s breakup marks a transition in his life from being a stereotypical Dominican “player” to an overweight nerd. During his high school years and beyond, he continually searches for love.

“the money” by Junot Diaz we see his mother saving money to send to her parents in the Dominican Republic but his family is already in a struggle to survive. Then there was a turning point for the whole family, they were robbed. Diaz’s mother was enraged by the event “she cursed the neighborhood, she cursed the country, she cursed [his] father, and of course, she cursed [the] kids,” assuming that one of Diaz’s friends or his siblings’ friends had something to do with it (Diaz 3). Diaz suspected one

“In the story “Fiesta, 1980,” by Junot Diaz, a Dominican boy named Yunior narrates the occasion when his family that consists of his “Papi”, “Mami”, brother and younger sister; drive to New York from New Jersey to have a welcome party for his aunt and uncle that just came from the Dominican Republic. Yunior uses flashbacks to tell the reader how his father is having an affair with a woman and how Yunior’s father is abusive towards him. Diaz develops the character of “Papi” as abusive and as a macho

Empathy is having the ability to understand the feelings of others often through connecting our own experiences to those around us. “Wildwood” by Junot Diaz follows the journey of the main character, Lola. Lola is a rebellious teenager living with her mother and younger brother in New Jersey. Lola's mother who is battling breast cancer, must deal with Lola and her defiant ways. Lola’s mother sends her away to live in the Dominican Republic to learn how to be a mature young woman. Every kid can relate

“The Terror” by Junot Diaz is about his rough experience with a group of bullies through middle school, after they jumped him. In the end, he must choose to face fear or run from it forever. His story conveys the message, courage is not being devoid of fear, but overcoming it. Throughout middle school the narrator is scorned, his brother is found to have leukemia, and at one point he gets attacked on the way home by a group of brothers he angered. After this attack, he runs away from the brothers

It is obvious that machismo is an integral part of the Latin culture, particularly when Junot Diaz depicts Oscar’s lack of machismo. However, this differentiation helps Oscar on his path to self-discovery. Oscar is able to stand as an individual instead of blending into the masses. While most Dominican men are concerned with looking manly, Oscar focuses his attention on literature, an aspect of himself in which he is proud. Oscar also helps Yunior on his path to self-discovery by teaching him responsibility

In “The Dreamer,” by Junot Díaz, the author uses a remarkably unique voice by conveying it as intimate. His decision to do this makes the style of the story conversational in nature. The reader gains a sense of being close friends with the author because of this convention. It creates vague feelings of being seated at a dinner table across from each other, rehashing old tales and barely remembered memories. It is almost as if the soft hum of muted conversations could be heard in the background. The

struck the Dominican Republic, sending thousands of Haitian immigrants to “America the Beautiful”. In a stunning collection of short stories titled Drown, author Junot Diaz explores the brutal struggle immigrant’s faced to excel from “rags to riches”. Repeatedly immigrants found that “…two hands and a heart as strong as a rock,” (Diaz, 168) is not always enough. A visa to America was every Haitian’s dream in the 1980’s. The lucky document would free them from poverty and open the doors to happiness