Index
I. Introduction 1
II. “Pocho”
2.1 Background to the Novel 2
2.2 Territorial Obscurity 2
2.3 Education 4
2.4 Richard’s Relation to his Parents 4
2.5 The Dissolution of the Family 6
III. “Mona in the Promised Land” 9
3.1 Background to the Novel 9
3.2 Mona’s Relation to her Parents 9
IV. Conclusion 13
V. Bibliography
I. Introduction
This term paper deals with two pieces of American immigrant literature of different culture,
political background, time and setting. The novel “Pocho” by Jose Antonio Villareal
published in 1959 was the first Chicano novel. It was written primarily for an Anglo-
American audience in order to explain the life of a “Pocho”. Villareal wrote the novel without
any guideline as no one had entered this “political vacuum” before.1
The novel “Mona in the Promised Land” by the Chinese-American writer Gish Jen published
in 1996 introduces us into the multicultural life of the predominantly Jewish New York
suburb of Scarshill in 1968.
I will show in this term paper that despite the many differences in the two novels there also
are many commonalities and parallels what life and the problems between the two
protagonists and their parents concerns. I will furthermore try to present in detail that the
familiar sorrow in both novels is closely connected with the complex conflict of generations
within two cultures, as well as the protagonist’s search for identity that results from this.
In the first part I will analyze Richard’s changing relationship towards his parents.
In the second part I will show that also Mona despite her completely different background and
environment faces similar problems which finally lead to the break up with predominantly her
mother. Furthermore I will expose that Mona and Richard share common interests and ways.
At the end of my work I will finally compare the parallels but also show differences between
the two novels.
II. “Pocho”
2.1 Background to the Novel
The term “Pocho” is an expression for a Mexican who is born and raised in the United States.
It is used with an abusive connotation to describe Mexican Americans in the USA. “Pochos”
are often perceived by Mexicans to be badly-educated and without a proper sense of culture.
Jose Antonio Villarreal’s novel “Pocho” is set after the Mexican Revolution of 1910 when
millions of Mexicans migrated to the USA in order to get work by the so-called first
“Bracero-Program”. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. "Pocho"
- 2.1 Background to the Novel
- 2.2 Territorial Obscurity
- 2.3 Education
- 2.4 Richard's Relation to his Parents
- 2.5 The Dissolution of the Family
- III. "Mona in the Promised Land"
- 3.1 Background to the Novel
- 3.2 Mona's Relation to her Parents
- IV. Conclusion
- V. Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper examines two American immigrant novels exploring different cultural, political, temporal, and spatial settings. By comparing "Pocho" by José Antonio Villarreal and "Mona in the Promised Land" by Gish Jen, the paper explores the complexities of immigrant identity and the challenges of navigating cultural differences within families.- The impact of cultural assimilation on the lives of immigrants and their children
- The role of education and social mobility in shaping identity
- The generational conflict and the search for identity across cultures
- The breakdown of traditional family structures in the face of cultural change
- The relationship between language, identity, and belonging
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the two novels and their authors, outlining the paper's objectives and highlighting the overarching themes of immigrant identity, cultural conflict, and the disintegration of family structures. It emphasizes the contrasting backgrounds and perspectives presented in each novel, while also suggesting commonalities in the protagonists' experiences.
- II. "Pocho": This section delves into the context and narrative of "Pocho," focusing on the novel's portrayal of the "Pocho" experience in American society. It examines the historical and social conditions that shaped the lives of Mexican immigrants in the United States, including the Mexican Revolution, the "Bracero Program," and the Great Depression. The section also explores the complex relationship between Richard, the protagonist, and his Mexican immigrant parents, highlighting the challenges he faces in reconciling his parents' cultural traditions with his own experiences and aspirations in California.
- III. "Mona in the Promised Land": This chapter examines the story of Mona, a Chinese-American woman navigating the complexities of cultural identity and family dynamics in a predominantly Jewish suburb of New York City. It delves into Mona's relationship with her parents, highlighting the challenges she faces in reconciling her Chinese heritage with her American upbringing. The chapter suggests that Mona's experience resonates with Richard's in terms of navigating cultural differences within family structures and the search for personal identity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study explores the themes of immigrant identity, cultural assimilation, generational conflict, family dynamics, and the search for belonging in the context of American immigrant literature. Key concepts include the "Pocho" experience, cultural hybridity, intergenerational communication, and the influence of societal and historical contexts on individual identity formation.- Quote paper
- M.A. Patrick Geiser (Author), 2006, The Dissolution of the Family in “Pocho” Compared to “Mona in the Promised Land”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/146067