Importance Of Divorce In Anna In The Tropics

Are play simply for entertainment or do they elaborate on something deeper? Nilo Cruz’s play, Anna in the Tropics, introduces ideals of divorce and infidelity. The play is about a Cuban family of cigar rollers and their lives following the inclusion of a lector, Juan Julian. It is set in Florida, in 1929. Juan Julian reads Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy, and each character reacts differently to the story. Marela, daughter of the owner of the cigar factory, is fascinated with the romantic nature of the novel. Cheché, half-brother to the cigar factory owner, has hatred towards the Juan Julian and the novel, due to past experiences. Palomo, forty-one, and Conchita, Marela’s sister, are a married couple, whose marriage is aligned to the marriage …show more content…
In the early twentieth century, divorce was becoming popular in the Cuban culture; however, it was culturally looked down upon and they blamed primarily blamed women (Arvey 95). Due to divorce increasing in the 1990s, it is clear that divorce was not part of the Cuban culture. Divorce was so foreign to the Cubans that those who did file were judged. They were unaccepted. It was women who had it worse. They were blamed for the problem. Thus, showing that the Cuban culture was heavily male dominated. In turn, it was women who were looked down upon in the Cuban culture, because they could not keep their husbands. This cultural perception is different than the American culture. Early in the 1900s, divorce rates were slightly low; however, in the 1930s, rates increased due to stress and infidelity by women and men (Edwards). Although divorce rate were rising in both culture, divorce was seen differently. In American culture, infidelity was the main reason for divorce. The infidelity occurred by both women and men. Thus, the blame was not solely put on the women for the divorce, like with the Cuban culture, it was on both sides. Due to divorce already presented in the American culture, it was culturally accepted in the early twentieth century. Hence, divorce was seen in both cultures, but they were culturally accepted …show more content…
When comparing their marriage to Anna Karenina, Conchita mentions that she is like the husband being cheating on because Palomo is “the one who has the secret love” (Cruz 33). By Palomo being the one having the affair, it follows the Cuban culture. Infidelity is committed by the man, because of machismo. In a way, Palomo is just following his Cuban custom. Conchita knows that it is customary in their culture that she accepts it. Later, Conchita tells Palomo that she will take on a lover also, because it is only fair and they cannot get a divorce (35). This idea of Conchita having an affair is abnormal in the Cuban culture, for women are not allowed for having affairs. However, it is common in American culture. This shows that American culture is changing the views on infidelity to the Cuban women. The Cuban culture prevents Conchita and Palomo from getting a divorce, so Conchita is left with one option to allow the marriage to continue that is to have her own affair. This was influenced by the American society they live in. She sees men and women having affairs that it changes her view on infidelity. She now believes both men and women are allowed to have extramarital affairs. Hence, the play is illuminating that two cultures are assimilating their beliefs together. Palomo and Conchita are following the Cuban view on divorce, while beginning to incorporate the American view