Junot Diaz’s Stories Reader Responses #2
“Drown”
The narrator, presumably Yunior based on the other stories, recounts his past and present experiences with his family and especially his best friend, Beto who left to go to college. Beto and the narrator were great friends, but often did illegal acts together such as shoplifting or watching obscene videos in a ghetto neighborhood. One particular incident was when Beto reached inside the narrator’s shorts and suggests that Beto and possibly the narrator himself could be homosexual, but at that time, friendship meant more to the narrator than anything. Beto’s homosexual identity later strains the friendship, leading the narrator’s reluctance to see his best friend again when he returns from college …show more content…
The father could be seen as scum-like and should not be forgiven for his actions, but he is still essentially the father figure to the young children, who seem to have a mature grasp on the reality of the situation. The next question regarding whether Yunior would have been better off without Papa, is difficult given circumstances of either decision. In “Aguantando”, the family faces extreme poverty and a harsh environment, where Yunior would not have physically thrived but he had longed for a father figure for the entire story. Here, Yunior has a father, but he emotionally and physically abuses him which is not healthy either for him. If the family was more financially capable with a nurturing environment, then it would probably be better if the father was permanently gone from the family. The last question regarding the Yunior’s behavior at the party where he talks to Tia, he could have said something if Tia was a close family member socially. Since Tia is Mama’s younger sister, then having her know about the situation, especially Papa’s infidelity may have caused more drama and spread to the extended family. Mama should be the first to know about the infidelity, then she should have the say of whether other family members should know or not. Yunior’s loyalty may have protected Mama is shielding her from the truth temporarily, but the act of infidelity is close to impossible to forgive in a monogamous
“Drown”
The narrator, presumably Yunior based on the other stories, recounts his past and present experiences with his family and especially his best friend, Beto who left to go to college. Beto and the narrator were great friends, but often did illegal acts together such as shoplifting or watching obscene videos in a ghetto neighborhood. One particular incident was when Beto reached inside the narrator’s shorts and suggests that Beto and possibly the narrator himself could be homosexual, but at that time, friendship meant more to the narrator than anything. Beto’s homosexual identity later strains the friendship, leading the narrator’s reluctance to see his best friend again when he returns from college …show more content…
The father could be seen as scum-like and should not be forgiven for his actions, but he is still essentially the father figure to the young children, who seem to have a mature grasp on the reality of the situation. The next question regarding whether Yunior would have been better off without Papa, is difficult given circumstances of either decision. In “Aguantando”, the family faces extreme poverty and a harsh environment, where Yunior would not have physically thrived but he had longed for a father figure for the entire story. Here, Yunior has a father, but he emotionally and physically abuses him which is not healthy either for him. If the family was more financially capable with a nurturing environment, then it would probably be better if the father was permanently gone from the family. The last question regarding the Yunior’s behavior at the party where he talks to Tia, he could have said something if Tia was a close family member socially. Since Tia is Mama’s younger sister, then having her know about the situation, especially Papa’s infidelity may have caused more drama and spread to the extended family. Mama should be the first to know about the infidelity, then she should have the say of whether other family members should know or not. Yunior’s loyalty may have protected Mama is shielding her from the truth temporarily, but the act of infidelity is close to impossible to forgive in a monogamous