In Richard Rodriguez’s autobiography, Hunger of Memory, his Catholic faith is spoken to have played a critical role in his development, from childhood to adulthood. This development is first shown through his experiences in transitioning from a Mexican Catholic Church, to an Irish American Catholic Church. As he continues to tell his story, he explains how his faith has served as an essential link between home, and school, affecting his private, and public life. While he grows older, and continues through his college career, changes occur to his faith, and the church, causing him to find alternative ways to express his beliefs. Although many modifications occur to his religion, his strong Catholic upbringing continues to lead Rodriguez through
…show more content…
He remembers how his mother had spent weeks to sew all four children’s outfits, and how it was the first time he had been dressed up for a stranger. Richard even remembers how the priest sounded when he laughed, claiming that “It was the first time I had heard such sounds in the house” (86). The remembrance of these minor details proves how important of an experience this was to Rodriguez. After dinner was served, Rodriguez states that the priest consecrated the house and left a “large picture of sad eyed Christ, exposing his punctured heart” (87). He explains how this picture has “retained a position of prominence in all the houses my parents have live in since” (87), showing how there is a deeper connection than just one of faith. I believe that this picture serves multiple purposes, the first is a representation of becoming Americanized. This is so because it was one of the first public American experiences of this family. They felt welcomed by the “gringos” for the first time, giving them a chance to create a public identity. Rodriguez mentions how “(American) Catholics could, after all, participate fully in American public life” (84), this is something that is important to his family because in order to be more successful, they must create this public identity, and the inability to speak English,
He remembers how his mother had spent weeks to sew all four children’s outfits, and how it was the first time he had been dressed up for a stranger. Richard even remembers how the priest sounded when he laughed, claiming that “It was the first time I had heard such sounds in the house” (86). The remembrance of these minor details proves how important of an experience this was to Rodriguez. After dinner was served, Rodriguez states that the priest consecrated the house and left a “large picture of sad eyed Christ, exposing his punctured heart” (87). He explains how this picture has “retained a position of prominence in all the houses my parents have live in since” (87), showing how there is a deeper connection than just one of faith. I believe that this picture serves multiple purposes, the first is a representation of becoming Americanized. This is so because it was one of the first public American experiences of this family. They felt welcomed by the “gringos” for the first time, giving them a chance to create a public identity. Rodriguez mentions how “(American) Catholics could, after all, participate fully in American public life” (84), this is something that is important to his family because in order to be more successful, they must create this public identity, and the inability to speak English,