Individuality, Expectation and Behavior: A Literary Research Essay
With an instructive narration style that aligns with the impression left by the title, Junot Diaz’s “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie” illustrates how to present and compose oneself contingent on the racial and socioeconomic origin of one’s date. However, if the functionality of dating is to sincerely get to know the person of interest, then the guidance turns out to be disadvantageous. Realizing the other accurately becomes irrelevant as Yunior (the teenaged main character) lays it on thick, disguising his past, socioeconomic status, and cultural identifiers with the intent of manipulating his situation at the cost of genuine interaction. By emphasizing …show more content…
This is an event in the plot that exemplifies Diaz’s theme through dialogue and character symbolism. In this instance, the girl acts “like somebody you don’t know” when her actions conflict with Yunior’s understanding of her group: “She will cross her arms, say, I hate my tits. Stroke her hair but she will pull away. I don’t like anybody touching my hair, she will say” (Diaz 148). She is her own unique person, with thoughts and uncertainties all her own, who goes beyond any “types”. Thus, when she is confronted with prejudiced assumption and behavior regardless of this fact, she rejects the situation entirely. His date’s reactions are fiery as she has now been stripped of her individualism by a boy she, as herself, was interested in. Meanwhile, Yunior has worked up to this moment, removing his true self as far from the situation as possible to impress this girl. All his effort and preparation for the date was governed by a presumption that his shape-shifted identity will undoubtedly win her approval, especially when such an identity is twisted to mimic what he assumes to be hers based on social positioning alone. This character’s dialogue muddles Yunior’s logic, as he does not comprehend the girl’s unique and individual behavior. By exposing him to “the harm which stereotypes do,” and “the fuel which they provide in …show more content…
Yet the story expresses all its ideas behind a ruse of sexual conquest, even so, it’s central theme encourages readers to realize the manipulation of expression in all social environments and relations. As well, Diaz’s clever use of literary devices brings his readers to notice as how a person’s preconceptions can shape their behavior by influencing what they come to expect from people, this breaking down Yunior’s misconceptions and bringing about the prospect of individualism once
With an instructive narration style that aligns with the impression left by the title, Junot Diaz’s “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie” illustrates how to present and compose oneself contingent on the racial and socioeconomic origin of one’s date. However, if the functionality of dating is to sincerely get to know the person of interest, then the guidance turns out to be disadvantageous. Realizing the other accurately becomes irrelevant as Yunior (the teenaged main character) lays it on thick, disguising his past, socioeconomic status, and cultural identifiers with the intent of manipulating his situation at the cost of genuine interaction. By emphasizing …show more content…
This is an event in the plot that exemplifies Diaz’s theme through dialogue and character symbolism. In this instance, the girl acts “like somebody you don’t know” when her actions conflict with Yunior’s understanding of her group: “She will cross her arms, say, I hate my tits. Stroke her hair but she will pull away. I don’t like anybody touching my hair, she will say” (Diaz 148). She is her own unique person, with thoughts and uncertainties all her own, who goes beyond any “types”. Thus, when she is confronted with prejudiced assumption and behavior regardless of this fact, she rejects the situation entirely. His date’s reactions are fiery as she has now been stripped of her individualism by a boy she, as herself, was interested in. Meanwhile, Yunior has worked up to this moment, removing his true self as far from the situation as possible to impress this girl. All his effort and preparation for the date was governed by a presumption that his shape-shifted identity will undoubtedly win her approval, especially when such an identity is twisted to mimic what he assumes to be hers based on social positioning alone. This character’s dialogue muddles Yunior’s logic, as he does not comprehend the girl’s unique and individual behavior. By exposing him to “the harm which stereotypes do,” and “the fuel which they provide in …show more content…
Yet the story expresses all its ideas behind a ruse of sexual conquest, even so, it’s central theme encourages readers to realize the manipulation of expression in all social environments and relations. As well, Diaz’s clever use of literary devices brings his readers to notice as how a person’s preconceptions can shape their behavior by influencing what they come to expect from people, this breaking down Yunior’s misconceptions and bringing about the prospect of individualism once