Comparing and Contrasting Main Characters
The two main characters in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz are Aristotle Mendoza and Dante Quintana. Ari and Dante are two teenage boys who meet at the pool and bond over their unique yet famous first names. They become friends remarkably quickly as the two of them don’t have many other peers that they get along with. The boys begin to believe their similarities may end at the fact that they were both given a philosopher’s name, but as their friendship progresses, more similarities are exposed. Aristotle and Dante’s differences aid them both in discovering and accepting their true selves.
Ari, especially in the beginning of the novel, is very closed off in regard to his emotions. He finds it difficult to articulate his feelings and generally ignores them altogether. He learns from his father to shield himself from the world and keep everything hidden. The influence of his father left Ari uncomfortable discussing anything remotely personal. The moment that Dante tells Ari he will be moving away displays Ari’s discomfort expressing his emotions. Ari tells Dante …show more content…
However, they battle with their racial identity, often discussing how they don’t feel “Mexican enough.” Their parents and extended families speak fluent Spanish and carry on most Mexican customs. They have created a new balance of their Mexican and American cultures, but Ari and Dante still feel as though they don’t always have a place in their culture. Ari and Dante’s parents have Americanized themselves much more significantly than their extended families have and they feel detached from their own culture. While discussing his family Dante says, “They don’t like me. They’re really Mexican, you know. And I’m sort of, well, a pocho… It’s like my parents created a whole new world for us. But they understand the old world--and I don’t. I don’t belong anywhere
The two main characters in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz are Aristotle Mendoza and Dante Quintana. Ari and Dante are two teenage boys who meet at the pool and bond over their unique yet famous first names. They become friends remarkably quickly as the two of them don’t have many other peers that they get along with. The boys begin to believe their similarities may end at the fact that they were both given a philosopher’s name, but as their friendship progresses, more similarities are exposed. Aristotle and Dante’s differences aid them both in discovering and accepting their true selves.
Ari, especially in the beginning of the novel, is very closed off in regard to his emotions. He finds it difficult to articulate his feelings and generally ignores them altogether. He learns from his father to shield himself from the world and keep everything hidden. The influence of his father left Ari uncomfortable discussing anything remotely personal. The moment that Dante tells Ari he will be moving away displays Ari’s discomfort expressing his emotions. Ari tells Dante …show more content…
However, they battle with their racial identity, often discussing how they don’t feel “Mexican enough.” Their parents and extended families speak fluent Spanish and carry on most Mexican customs. They have created a new balance of their Mexican and American cultures, but Ari and Dante still feel as though they don’t always have a place in their culture. Ari and Dante’s parents have Americanized themselves much more significantly than their extended families have and they feel detached from their own culture. While discussing his family Dante says, “They don’t like me. They’re really Mexican, you know. And I’m sort of, well, a pocho… It’s like my parents created a whole new world for us. But they understand the old world--and I don’t. I don’t belong anywhere