"When I Was Puerto Rican " 1st Post

"Peculiar expression, as if he was begging(...) in his arms there was a plead." I chose this quote(page 90) not necessarily because I liked it, but because it allowed me to reflect on previous moments where the father was suspicious or was pleading towards Mami or Esmeralda. More than anything, the father's behavior of strong pride, or a "machismo" as I interpreted from conversations exchanged with Mami and other ladies, had a huge impact on Mami and Esmeralda.

Papi's attitude of self-centered or ignorance was presented through the few interactions he would make with the family. For instance, when Esmeralda was swarmed by termites, it was Mami that noticed from the house and stepped in to bathe her, where the father did not. I am curious if Esmeralda knew her Dad's occupation was or why he comes and goes as he pleases. Did Esmeralda left this out on purpose?

When the father comes home, if he ever did, fights would usually arise during the nights. The father's pleading tone first told me to judge Mami's questioning and found faults in her, but it was really the father that is causing pain for the family. The father is very irresponsible in my opinion because he wasn't doing anything to provide or care for the family. Instead of looking after the seven children Mami bore, Mami had to find a job to better the conditions of their lives, which breaks from the stereotypical housewife role, being submissive, religious, or humble, the "ideal" Latina women. The hopelessness and Mami probably experienced reminded me of Mrs. Louise Mallard ( The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin).

Now that Mami is working, Esmeralda is to care for her younger siblings because she is the eldest. The distance between Mami and Papi is pushing the strings between Esmeralda and Mami even more, feeling unloved and not getting the attention she needs. I think that Esmeralda knew her father had women behind Mami, but it really strikes her when her father had used her to meet with people. The begging expression and pleading gestures her father made contributed to her quote later on: " I would just soon remain jamona than shed many tears over a man."