Woman Hollering Creek, a short story by Sandra Cisneros, follows the story of Cleofilas and her horrible marriage and eventual escape from her abusive husband. Throughout the piece, Cisneros uses specific syntax, diction, and motifs to forward the overarching themes of the piece.
Looking at the first line of the passage above, one can see how Cisneros balances the flaws of her husband with his desirable characteristics. Poor traits such as farting, belching, and snoring are countered by Cleofilas' love of how her husband holds her, kisses her, and laughs. Yet the next sentence, which constitutes the rest of the paragraph, continues to list the faults Cleofilas sees in her husband and no other redemptive qualities. Through this, the reader is given a sort of window into the internal struggle Cleofilas feels towards her husband. At first, it's easy for her to glance over her husband's negative characteristics because of the qualities that she enjoys. However, as she continues to think, Cleofilas continues to add more and more to the list. It is important to note that the second sentence in this paragraph is one giant run-on sentence with no breaks in the prose except for a few commas. Through this, Cisneros adds to the sense that Cleofilas is starting to feel overwhelmed by her abusive husband and that all of his flaws continue to build into a mountain that she can no longer overlook. By the time Cleofilas is done listing her husband's flaws, he has gone from "husband" to "rival", "lord", and "master" and that it will take a literal act of God to get her away from the man she once loved.
Equally important to the syntax and diction used by Cisneros in this passage is her reference to the telenovelas that Cleofilas loves, a motif occurring throughout the entire piece. Because of these programs, which she has watched since she was a child, Cleofilas has constructed a romanticized view of how marriage should be. Ironically, her own marriage could not be further away from the fantasy that she has constructed and so desperately wishes to live. Cisneros uses this to further show how unhappy Cleofilas is in her marriage.
Through these key items, Cisneros begins to form her themes which permeate the piece Woman Hollering Creek. Throughout the story, Cleofilas' unhappy marriage is contrasted with the fantasy of the telenovelas. Through this, Cisneros explores the disillusionment many people in the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries have with marriage. In addition to a 50% divorce rate, America still remains a country where men, generally, are more powerful than women. Through Cleofilas' submission and eventual rebellion of her husband, Cisneros is stating to readers that if our country is ever going to reach equality among sexes one that it must happen first in marriage.
As always, I'm ending with a question, well in this case, multiple questions. Through Woman Hollering Creek, Cisneros constructs themes regarding sexual inequality in our society and a disillusionment with marriage. One institution that Cisneros points a finger of blame at is the media. Do you agree with Cisneros' stance? Besides just marriage, how else does the media distort our society's view of sexual equality? Is it always just women being put down, or are their instances where men are placed in a lower position?
Looking at the first line of the passage above, one can see how Cisneros balances the flaws of her husband with his desirable characteristics. Poor traits such as farting, belching, and snoring are countered by Cleofilas' love of how her husband holds her, kisses her, and laughs. Yet the next sentence, which constitutes the rest of the paragraph, continues to list the faults Cleofilas sees in her husband and no other redemptive qualities. Through this, the reader is given a sort of window into the internal struggle Cleofilas feels towards her husband. At first, it's easy for her to glance over her husband's negative characteristics because of the qualities that she enjoys. However, as she continues to think, Cleofilas continues to add more and more to the list. It is important to note that the second sentence in this paragraph is one giant run-on sentence with no breaks in the prose except for a few commas. Through this, Cisneros adds to the sense that Cleofilas is starting to feel overwhelmed by her abusive husband and that all of his flaws continue to build into a mountain that she can no longer overlook. By the time Cleofilas is done listing her husband's flaws, he has gone from "husband" to "rival", "lord", and "master" and that it will take a literal act of God to get her away from the man she once loved.
Equally important to the syntax and diction used by Cisneros in this passage is her reference to the telenovelas that Cleofilas loves, a motif occurring throughout the entire piece. Because of these programs, which she has watched since she was a child, Cleofilas has constructed a romanticized view of how marriage should be. Ironically, her own marriage could not be further away from the fantasy that she has constructed and so desperately wishes to live. Cisneros uses this to further show how unhappy Cleofilas is in her marriage.
Through these key items, Cisneros begins to form her themes which permeate the piece Woman Hollering Creek. Throughout the story, Cleofilas' unhappy marriage is contrasted with the fantasy of the telenovelas. Through this, Cisneros explores the disillusionment many people in the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries have with marriage. In addition to a 50% divorce rate, America still remains a country where men, generally, are more powerful than women. Through Cleofilas' submission and eventual rebellion of her husband, Cisneros is stating to readers that if our country is ever going to reach equality among sexes one that it must happen first in marriage.
As always, I'm ending with a question, well in this case, multiple questions. Through Woman Hollering Creek, Cisneros constructs themes regarding sexual inequality in our society and a disillusionment with marriage. One institution that Cisneros points a finger of blame at is the media. Do you agree with Cisneros' stance? Besides just marriage, how else does the media distort our society's view of sexual equality? Is it always just women being put down, or are their instances where men are placed in a lower position?
No comments:
Post a Comment