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”. [...]
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
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the dissolution of family structures within the context of American immigrant literature, specifically focusing on the novels "Pocho" by Jose Antonio Villarreal and "Mona in the Promised Land" by Gish Jen. The research explores how cultural conflicts and the search for identity drive a wedge between immigrant parents and their children, who are caught between their heritage and their American environment.
- The impact of cultural and generational conflicts on family cohesion.
- The protagonist's struggle for identity and personal independence.
- Comparative analysis of Mexican-American and Chinese-American immigrant experiences.
- The role of tradition, education, and religious beliefs in shaping intergenerational relationships.
- Commonalities and differences in the process of assimilation between the two novels.
Excerpt from the Book
2.5 The Dissolution of the Family
Juan Rubio’s conservative position sustains with his wife: "(...) you should know your place. You have shelter and you have food and clothing for you and the children. What I do outside the house is not of your concern." In the traditional manner Consuelo, as the woman in the household, has to serve the food to the family while they are eating. Juan clearly takes the position of the strong patriarchal head of the family.
When it comes to another dispute Consuelo starts to cry and Richard intensively feels sympathy for her whereas his sisters begin to cry: "(...) because they were women they wept for themselves and their destiny- their subservience to men."
However Consuelo does not accept herself getting victimized by her husband’s oppression to the highest level. When Richard gets to know that Consuelo, who likes having contact to her Americanized neighbours and friends would tell the law and complain officially about her husband if he beats her, he gets angry at his mom: "Tell me Mama, do you want a husband that you can boss?"
He calls for his mother’s identification and tradition as a Mexican wife. He tells her that she is a Mexican woman, as his father says, and that she should not forget what she is and where she comes from. However, Consuelo doesn't want to accept this anymore: "She had lived so long in the tradition of her country that she could not help herself now, and abused the privilege of equality afforded the women of her new country."
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Presents the primary focus on the novels "Pocho" and "Mona in the Promised Land" and outlines the intent to compare the protagonists' struggles for identity against the backdrop of their different cultural immigrant backgrounds.
II. "Pocho": Examines the narrative of a Mexican-American family, analyzing the conflicts between traditional patriarchal Mexican values and the assimilation process in the United States.
2.1 Background to the Novel: Provides historical context for the novel, focusing on the post-Mexican Revolution migration and the socioeconomic realities of early Mexican-American workers.
2.2 Territorial Obscurity: Discusses Richard Rubio’s internal conflict as he navigates between his parents' Mexican traditions and his own desire to belong in California.
2.3 Education: Explores how reading and education serve as both a refuge for Richard and a source of friction with his traditional family.
2.4 Richard’s Relation to his Parents: Analyzes the complex, often strained relationship between Richard and his parents, defined by conflicting expectations regarding heritage and identity.
2.5 The Dissolution of the Family: Details the breakdown of familial harmony due to generational shifts and the evolving gender roles that challenge Juan Rubio’s traditional authority.
III. "Mona in the Promised Land": Explores Gish Jen’s novel about a second-generation Asian-American teenager and her efforts to define herself through new cultural and religious affiliations.
3.1 Background to the Novel: Sets the stage for the story within the context of the late 1960s civil rights movement and the multicultural suburban life of the period.
3.2 Mona’s Relation to her Parents: Investigates the tensions between Mona and her parents, focusing on her search for individuality and the cultural gap between her and her Chinese-born parents.
IV. Conclusion: Synthesizes the commonalities and differences between the two novels, concluding that the conflict between generations is a recurring, almost inevitable consequence of the immigrant experience in America.
V. Bibliography: Lists the academic and literary sources utilized for the comparative analysis.
Keywords
Immigrant literature, Identity, Cultural assimilation, Generation conflict, Patriarchal values, Pocho, Mona in the Promised Land, Jose Antonio Villarreal, Gish Jen, Mexican-American, Chinese-American, Family dissolution, Tradition, Ethnicity, Multiculturalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
This paper examines the dissolution of family structures in two novels, "Pocho" and "Mona in the Promised Land," focusing on the cultural and generational conflicts inherent in the immigrant experience.
Which novels are central to the study?
The study centers on "Pocho" by Jose Antonio Villarreal and "Mona in the Promised Land" by Gish Jen.
What is the main objective of the research?
The objective is to compare how protagonists in both works navigate the struggle for personal identity while dealing with parents who are deeply rooted in their original, non-American cultures.
What methodology is used to conduct this research?
The work utilizes a comparative literary analysis, examining themes of identity, generational conflict, and assimilation through close reading of the texts.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body covers historical background, the role of education and religion, parent-child relationships, and the eventual fracturing of family bonds in both narratives.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include immigrant literature, identity search, cultural assimilation, generational conflict, and specifically the works of Villarreal and Jen.
How do the protagonists in "Pocho" and "Mona in the Promised Land" differ in their rebellion?
While Richard in "Pocho" struggles with patriarchal structures and traditional Mexican identity, Mona in "Mona in the Promised Land" seeks identity through conversion to Judaism and asserting her independence from her Chinese-American family's expectations.
What role does the setting play in the protagonists' development?
The setting acts as a source of tension; in "Pocho," the American environment contrasts with the "Mexican space" within the home, while in "Mona," the suburban environment of the 1960s facilitates Mona's exploration of multiple cultural identities.
How does the author conclude the comparison?
The author concludes that the conflict between the values of the old world and the new is an inevitable and transformative process that leads to the dissolution of traditional family structures.
- 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
