Essay#1 - Grade: B PDF

Preview

Summary

Recitatif Response...

Description

Marisol De La Cruz English 201-0502 Essay #1 While we are young our parents and surroundings influence our behavior, decision making, and how we present ourselves. As we grow older we tend to appreciate how our parents raised us and even learn to settle for what we have as long as we are happy. In the short story “Recitatif “ by Toni Morrison and “Barbie-Q” by Sandra Cisneros, a theme of Humbleness is being introduced. Being humble means not thinking or acting that you are better than other people. The characters in both stories show how no matter what you experience in life you must appreciate what you have, having that humbleness in you can make you see life different. The setting in Recitatif plays a big role in the two main characters Twyla and Roberta’s life. They were both taken to St.Bonny’s, which is a shelter. Maria who is Twyla's mother “danced all night” (Morrison 357), her decision in life made her daughter an orphan. Not one bit did Twyla change with her mom even when she would come visit and come empty handed. On the other hand Robertas mom couldn’t watch over her because “she was sick” (Morrison 357). During the visit her mom at least brung her “chicken legs and ham sandwiches…and a whole box of chocolate grahams. Roberta drank milk from a thermos while her mother read the Bible to her” (Morrison 360). Although they were both forced to live together during an unfortunate situation they never changed one bit with their parents, instead they brung both mothers to meet each other. In Barbie-Q the two unidentified characters are playing with Barbie dolls. In this story it shows that they are the middle class because they can’t afford what they really want, only on Christmas. One says to another “we have to make do with your mean-eyed Barbie and my bubblehead Barbie and our one outfit apiece not including the sock dress” (Cisneros 691). Although they aren't fortunate enough to have what they want they still settle for what they have.

1

Marisol De La Cruz English 201-0502 Essay #1 These two stories remind me of Jodi Picoult’s “My Sister’s Keeper”. I say this because in the Fitzgerald family teenage girl Ana was battling Cancer and her little sister Kate had to willingly help her sister by providing bone marrow. Although the process was painful and many emotions derived, this family kept fighting for the survival of their loved one. Humbleness teaches them how to appreciate life and not waste one second of it. After all, these two fiction stories showed how despite their conditions they still remain modest. Roberta and Twyla although they lived in a shelter, they show that they are not orphaned, they value the relationship they have with their mothers even though it's their fault they ended up there. The two girls playing with the Barbie dolls don't care that their dolls aren't dressed beautifully or are in the best conditions, they aren't even bothered about having a Ken doll, they can just imagine him. In life we must show that we appreciate others and we aren’t better than anyone else because what you give is what you get.

2...