Jose’s Great Dilemma
Literary thesis statement: In “The Challenge”, Gary Soto introduces Jose as a young boy who experiences a change in his rite of passage in his personality as he undergoes liminality.
I. Prior to liminality, Jose is a teenager boy who is ingenuous and has a lack of experience to loving a girl.
A. Jose is naïve because he thinks that receiving perfect test scores will make Estela notice him.
1. “But when the quizzes had been returned and Jose bragged, ‘Another A-plus,’ Estela didn’t turn her head and ask,
‘Who’s that brilliant boy?’ She just stuffed her quiz into her backpack and left the classroom, leaving Jose behind to retake the test.” (116)
Jose’s naivete and simple-mindedness describes how he is still a young …show more content…
He thinks that Estela might like boys that are masculine and tough. Jose even planned a scenario talking about how he gets into a fight with three men to try to impress Estela. Jose’s original character, he experiences a sudden change after a game of racquetball.
II. In Jose’s journey through the story, he undergoes a change in opinion of a girl when he experiences a loss to her in a racquetball game.
A. Jose creates a plan to get with her by playing her in racquetball. He changes his mind about her when he is beaten. 1. “‘Yeah, Stinger. I’ll meet you at the courts at 3;45.’ She got up and headed toward the library.” (117)
2. “Uncle Freddie was right. He lost twenty-one to nada.” (121)
3. “Only three weeks ago he’d been hoping that Estela—Stinger—might like him. Now he hoped she would stay away from him.” (121) Jose’s actions from the loss towards Estela shows evidence that he does not actually love her. He originally wanted to beat her; therefore, he can get with her. Jose was excited to play racquetball together with Estela …show more content…
Sadly, he lost in the game acknowledging her true abilities and another side of her appearance. In addition, he sensed an event during the game that is unforgettable.
B. Jose experiences an emotional shock after Estela hits the ball to his back.
1. “Jose didn’t feel like lying. He lifted his T-shirt and showed his uncle the big red marks the ball had raised on his back. ‘She’s bad.’” (115)
Although Jose tries to win during the game of racquetball against Estela, he lacks self confidence and fears that she will look down at him. Jose tries hard to beat her but in the end, gains a mark on his back that will make him remember this tragic experience forever. Jose feels heartbroken and depressed as he shows his uncle what happened during the game.
Furthermore, he could not get over this incident and needed mental and physical
Literary thesis statement: In “The Challenge”, Gary Soto introduces Jose as a young boy who experiences a change in his rite of passage in his personality as he undergoes liminality.
I. Prior to liminality, Jose is a teenager boy who is ingenuous and has a lack of experience to loving a girl.
A. Jose is naïve because he thinks that receiving perfect test scores will make Estela notice him.
1. “But when the quizzes had been returned and Jose bragged, ‘Another A-plus,’ Estela didn’t turn her head and ask,
‘Who’s that brilliant boy?’ She just stuffed her quiz into her backpack and left the classroom, leaving Jose behind to retake the test.” (116)
Jose’s naivete and simple-mindedness describes how he is still a young …show more content…
He thinks that Estela might like boys that are masculine and tough. Jose even planned a scenario talking about how he gets into a fight with three men to try to impress Estela. Jose’s original character, he experiences a sudden change after a game of racquetball.
II. In Jose’s journey through the story, he undergoes a change in opinion of a girl when he experiences a loss to her in a racquetball game.
A. Jose creates a plan to get with her by playing her in racquetball. He changes his mind about her when he is beaten. 1. “‘Yeah, Stinger. I’ll meet you at the courts at 3;45.’ She got up and headed toward the library.” (117)
2. “Uncle Freddie was right. He lost twenty-one to nada.” (121)
3. “Only three weeks ago he’d been hoping that Estela—Stinger—might like him. Now he hoped she would stay away from him.” (121) Jose’s actions from the loss towards Estela shows evidence that he does not actually love her. He originally wanted to beat her; therefore, he can get with her. Jose was excited to play racquetball together with Estela …show more content…
Sadly, he lost in the game acknowledging her true abilities and another side of her appearance. In addition, he sensed an event during the game that is unforgettable.
B. Jose experiences an emotional shock after Estela hits the ball to his back.
1. “Jose didn’t feel like lying. He lifted his T-shirt and showed his uncle the big red marks the ball had raised on his back. ‘She’s bad.’” (115)
Although Jose tries to win during the game of racquetball against Estela, he lacks self confidence and fears that she will look down at him. Jose tries hard to beat her but in the end, gains a mark on his back that will make him remember this tragic experience forever. Jose feels heartbroken and depressed as he shows his uncle what happened during the game.
Furthermore, he could not get over this incident and needed mental and physical