Consider Albert Murray's quote...
In what ways does Raquel demonstrate the qualities of a s/hero? Identify three (3) specific examples from the text and analyze the examples via Murray's quote. (You may want to subdivide your group, one example per 2-3 students)
Raquel demonstrates the quality of a hero when she went to a Community center in the Bronx and volunteer to talk to a group of young girls. These girls had a problem with identity, so Raquel gave them a ancestry DNA test so the girls could understand and identity with there ancestors and who they are.
ReplyDeleteAfter her emotionally hurtful childhood with both of her parents, Raquel saw and learned what kind of parent not to be. A careless parent who abused her physically and emotionally and kept her away from her Latina heritage. "I feel like something greater ensured my own survival. Most importantly, this protective energy enabled me to learn a valuable lesson from my parents: what kind of mother not to be" (172). As a hero she overcame the obstacles of a rotten family and decided to be a mother for her daughter since Rocío was never one for her.
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ReplyDeleteAs we were reading the quote, the image of the father came to mind; we think of him as the fire and hammer that are trying to beat and shape the sword which we think of it as Raquel. Even though she experience all that hard time with her family, she always stepped out, choosing her own path. We think that in order for her to make amends with her past with her family and the "fuku", she had to dig into her, even past her existence to move on and become stronger. We also thought that her tracking down her family lineage would also put to bed her racial ambiguity.
ReplyDeleteMadelin Ovalles, Jada Gordon.
Raquel demonstrates various heroic qualities from the very beginning. "For all its violence, it does not destroy the metal which becomes the sword.." this portion of the qoute relates back to the way Raquel's dad would abuse her mentally, physically, mentally and emotionally but she didn't let his jabs affect her. Her dad always said you would turn out like your lousy mother and she didn't she made a point to be a better parent. She even persuade her writing career in hip pop magazines and journalism once again proving her dad wrong.
ReplyDelete“I’ll sacrifice tomorrow / just to have you here today. It takes on a whole new meaning. I can’t imagine a future without him” pg 88-89
ReplyDeleteRaquel show power and qualities of a Hero by stepping up on her feelings and not letting her Father make her feel bad in any situation. She was very brave on her words and actions.
"Listen kid, it's just you and me now, so let's help each other out. Always be honest with me and show me how to be the mother and father I never had. I'll make a mess of things sometimes, and I'm sorry in advance, but I'll try. My word is bond." Pg. 194
ReplyDeleteWhen Raquel Cepeda has her first child, a girl, she ends the abuse. She stops the cycle that had been snowballing through her female line for generations. A hero is strong; she is resilient and learns from her experience takes the information and makes change- not self-loathing, not revenge, and not throwing in the towel.
“One morning I hear Anastasia referring to Amina as a monkey before class. “Did you see how hairy that bitch’s legs and arms are?” she jokes within earshot of the girl. “Don’t those people believe in Nair?” I’m not sure if Amina hears, but I don’t care. I calmly walk over to Anastasia’s desk, pick her up from her chair with my left hand, and slap her several times with my right before a teacher pulls me off her and sends me to Dean Kelly’s office. I don’t understand what a Muslim girl is doing attending a Catholic high school, but it doesn’t give anyone the right to make fun of her for not shaving her legs or hiking up her skirt to thigh- level. Dean Kelly isn’t hearing it, and I receive my first warning.” (Cepeda 103).
ReplyDeleteConfronting racism and challenging those who spew verbal prejudices and bigotry, especially when it is not directly said to you, is a very heroic action to do. Raquel hears this racist verbal statement used against a classmate she rarely knows but stands up and physically attacks the perpetuator. Even though Raquel defended her classmate in such a way, I believe she also acted out because she also felt the sting of the racist comment due to her ties and fascination of Black culture to her listening to the musical genres of rap and freestyle to her own identity of being Dominican and the ties to Africa. So to her physically beating that girl was very metaphorical and symbolic of Raquel representing a culture and racial background often oppressed and erased standing up to the oppressor of a dominant racial group.
“I can always tell when Egypt crosses the border from his backwoods in Ohio into ours. I’m transported back to Rocío’s golden cage every time he does. Tonight, through the flimsy wall separating our dorm rooms, I hear the familiar sounds of him fucking, then beating, then fucking, then beating Jane. I can hear her begging him to stop. “Please, Egypt, please stop.” SMACK! Then she screams. I run out of my room in an oversize T- shirt and sweatpants. I don’t care whom I wake up when I bang on her door, yelling, “Jane, are you okay, girl? You want to sleep in my room?” (Cepeda 121).
Domestic abuse and violence is very pervasive throughout “Birds of Paradise” especially with the character of Raquel who consistently has to endure and face it directly towards her or indirectly observing the abuse done to others. Raquel hardly defended herself whenever her father constantly beat her for her failures of not meeting his expectations of perfection and conformity. When Raquel cannot tolerate the abuse anymore and gives the same taste of medicine of violence back to her father was a changing point for her not taking this anymore. What is more powerful was to rush and safe her friend, Jane, from her personal abuse she was getting from her boyfriend. She opened her arms to provide a safe sanctuary and opened her mouth to provide a blunt and illusion tearing words to Jane asking her why is she tolerating and still with him. But she gets the door closed on her face because Jane wants to continue blaming herself and choosing to stay with him. This in itself is heroic to have such bravery and be the only one to rush to the aid of her friend who is a victim in denial of abuse.