Terryann John
Brief Wonderful World of Oscar Wao Questions(pages 1-50).
1. Why does Diaz incorporate so much science fiction concepts in his novel?
2. Why such an abnormal depiction of the family members throughout the chapter?
3. Does Diaz depict the family as having any deep connection to their cultural heritage?
4. Is Oscar and his family more concerned about assimilating into American culture or upholding their own cultural background?
5. Why such a strong emphasis on the Trujillo regime in the novel?
6. How does stereotyping play a role in the novel?
6. I think stereotyping plays a huge role in the novel. There's a popular belief that men should be a ladies’ man or else they will be looked down upon but if girls are experienced with men, they are considered promiscuous. I also noticed that people in the novel call Oscar a geek because he reads a lot of comics and play role-playing games. I have a couple of friends that enjoy those hobbies but still play sports and are great with women. I do not consider them geeks even though they knew every science-fiction reference in the novel when I showed it to them. However, if people see my friends having fun with their hobby, they would stereotype them as geeks.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the novel I see Oscar and his family trying to hold on to their heritage, culture and past and still trying to integrate a little American culture in their life. The bonds to their home country is one that is unwavering and this is shown when the children are sent back to the Dominican Republic to stay with their Aunt. As a immigrant myself, the only time that we were sent back to our native country is when our parents believed that the American culture and value system had taken away from us something irreplaceable, which is a culture that is embedded in us. We were sent back to reconnect and gain a true sense of self. I woould say that the children were sent back because maybe the mother thought they were losing their "roots".
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