Masculinity in Junot Diaz's Drown historically accepted implications of masculinity. . While topics such as dissecting the infamous coming-of-age narrative or examining the futility of the "American Dream" may seem more easily accessible or simple to understand, this central, cultural and intellectual complex of machismo turns out to be the real agent animating both. these and countless other ideas explored by Diaz through his protagonist, Yunior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The masculine insecurities that Yunior experiences can be anticipated from the opening lines of “Drown,” with the firing of his former friend Beto the the basis of his homosexuality. However, this rejection is complex, as Yunior recounts: “My mother tells me about Beto's house, she waits for me to say something, but I continue to watch television. It's only when she's in bed that I put on my jacket and walk around the neighborhood to see. He's a pato now but two years ago we were friends and he would enter the apartment without knocking, his heavy voice would make my Spanish mother come out of her room and pull me out of the basement, a voice that crackled and made one think of uncles or grandfathers (Diaz 91). Here, while Yunior's contempt for Beto is evident, his simultaneous reminiscence of times spent with his friend reveals much more about the subject of masculinity. Rather than simply stating that he and Beto were no longer on speaking terms, Yunior made sure to highlight Beto's homosexuality with the Spanish term "pato," a subtle act of desperation done to distance himself from the cultural taboo that implies such an orientation. . However, even in these opening lines of “Drown,” Yunior begins to expose his true feelings about masculinity. By emphasizing Beto's dominance, his "heavy voice" that woke his mother and dragged him from the basement, "a voice that crackled and made one think of his uncles and grandfathers", it becomes clear that Yunior is intrigued, even obsessed, by the notion of machismo. By associating Beto with an uncle or grandfather figure, the respect and admiration that Yunior has, or had, for his friend's masculinity and confidence can be noted quite clearly. Conversely, Yunior's decision to wait until his mother falls asleep before going to Beto further reveals his desire to hide any relationship with a man who might be criticized in terms of masculinity, an effort that ironically reveals the fragility of his own sexual confidence. . Commenting on their past adventures together, Yunior explains: “We were angry then, mad at the way we were stealing, breaking windows, the way we were pissing on people's steps and then daring them to come out and stop us. (Diaz 92). Emphasizing carelessness and abandonment. on several occasions, Yunior attempts to showcase his and Beto's façade of masculinity, as well as the bravado that this culturally implies. And yet, it's ultimately Yunior who displays the more sensitive nature between himself and Beto, because after being caught shoplifting, he recalls, I started crying. Beto doesn't say a word, his face long and gray, his hand clutching mine, the bones of our fingers pressing together (Diaz 99). While Beto, the pato, remains stoic in the face of the prosecution, Yunior begins to cry: getting rid of the stereotypical trappings of machismo. This irony, combined with the powerful image of Yunior's hands andBeto pressed together, further complicates the already multifaceted nature of Yunior's sexuality, calling into question his "masculine" identity. In a scene that sums up the masculine feeling of this Dominican-American enclave of New Jersey, Alex, Yunior's friend, in reference to a gay man,… simply puts his head out of the window. Kiss my ass ! » he shouts then sits back in his seat laughing. It’s original, I say (Diaz 103). Aside from simply highlighting the cruel attitude towards those with stereotypically deviant sexualities, this incident also shows that Yunior is not completely mean or even apathetic towards homosexuals, almost seeming to come to their defense when they are mistreated. by Alex. Consequently, through a multitude of subtle but clear insinuations, Yunior's complex and delicate latent masculinity is revealed to be infinitely more fragile than he attempts to make it appear. In this case study of masculinity, arguably the most powerful formative influence on Yunior, both sexually and emotionally, is his mother. The masculine burden that Yunior feels obligated to bear towards her mother can be attributed to their abandonment by her father, as described by her parents' speaking: She speaks to my father, something she knows that I disapprove. He's in Florida now, a sad guy calling her and asking for money. He swears that if she moves there, he will leave the woman he lives with. They're lies, I told her, but she still calls him. His words coil inside her, destroying her sleep for days (Diaz 100). Embittered by his father's abandonment, Yunior loses all respect for the man, calling him a "sad guy" and a liar. However, more than his personal attitude towards his father, Yunior cares about the effects of his father's words on his mother. The vivid imagery of his father's destructive effects on his mother is a detail that chronicles Yunior's compassion and sensitivity, as well as his exceptional quality of loyalty. When his father leaves, Yunior feels obligated to contribute to the household income and take care of his mother, two typically masculine qualities. Even going so far as to entertain her mother, Yunior reflects: On Saturdays, she asks me to take her to the mall. As her son, I feel I owe her a lot... Before she leaves, she drags us through the apartment to make sure the windows are locked... Putting my hand on the latch isn't enough, she wants to hear it rattle (Diaz 96). Yunior's bond with his mother is only emboldened by his father's departure, and the symbolic locking of the windows that occurs here and at the end of the work symbolizes his devotion and his mother's insecurity. Just as she wants to hear the locks click to make sure they are secure, Yunior's mother makes sure to hold and restrain her son. Stepping in to fill the void left by his father at such a young age is a responsibility that has advanced Yunior's notions of the masculine at an alarming time in his life, while simultaneously corrupting his view of acceptance in an effort to preserve the qualities in which he believes. to support his mother. This internal struggle for self-identity, this division between the "masculine" and the other, boils over when Yunior recounts: "My mother felt something was wrong and nagged me about it, but I told me to leave me alone, and my Dad, who was home visiting, got up from the couch to slap me. Most of the time I stayed in the basement, terrified that I was going to end up being a freak, a freak, but he was my best friend and at the time that meant more than anything to me (Diaz 104). After Beto's first sexual advance, Yunior's carefully crafted facade of masculinity seems.

Essay / Masculinity in Junot Diaz's Drown historically accepted implications of masculinity. . While topics such as dissecting the infamous coming-of-age narrative or examining the futility of the "American Dream" may seem more easily accessible or simple to understand, this central, cultural and intellectual complex of machismo turns out to be the real agent animating both. these and countless other ideas explored by Diaz through his protagonist, Yunior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The masculine insecurities that Yunior experiences can be anticipated from the opening lines of “Drown,” with the firing of his former friend Beto the the basis of his homosexuality. However, this rejection is complex, as Yunior recounts: “My mother tells me about Beto's house, she waits for me to say something, but I continue to watch television. It's only when she's in bed that I put on my jacket and walk around the neighborhood to see. He's a pato now but two years ago we were friends and he would enter the apartment without knocking, his heavy voice would make my Spanish mother come out of her room and pull me out of the basement, a voice that crackled and made one think of uncles or grandfathers (Diaz 91). Here, while Yunior's contempt for Beto is evident, his simultaneous reminiscence of times spent with his friend reveals much more about the subject of masculinity. Rather than simply stating that he and Beto were no longer on speaking terms, Yunior made sure to highlight Beto's homosexuality with the Spanish term "pato," a subtle act of desperation done to distance himself from the cultural taboo that implies such an orientation. . However, even in these opening lines of “Drown,” Yunior begins to expose his true feelings about masculinity. By emphasizing Beto's dominance, his "heavy voice" that woke his mother and dragged him from the basement, "a voice that crackled and made one think of his uncles and grandfathers", it becomes clear that Yunior is intrigued, even obsessed, by the notion of machismo. By associating Beto with an uncle or grandfather figure, the respect and admiration that Yunior has, or had, for his friend's masculinity and confidence can be noted quite clearly. Conversely, Yunior's decision to wait until his mother falls asleep before going to Beto further reveals his desire to hide any relationship with a man who might be criticized in terms of masculinity, an effort that ironically reveals the fragility of his own sexual confidence. . Commenting on their past adventures together, Yunior explains: “We were angry then, mad at the way we were stealing, breaking windows, the way we were pissing on people's steps and then daring them to come out and stop us. (Diaz 92). Emphasizing carelessness and abandonment. on several occasions, Yunior attempts to showcase his and Beto's façade of masculinity, as well as the bravado that this culturally implies. And yet, it's ultimately Yunior who displays the more sensitive nature between himself and Beto, because after being caught shoplifting, he recalls, I started crying. Beto doesn't say a word, his face long and gray, his hand clutching mine, the bones of our fingers pressing together (Diaz 99). While Beto, the pato, remains stoic in the face of the prosecution, Yunior begins to cry: getting rid of the stereotypical trappings of machismo. This irony, combined with the powerful image of Yunior's hands andBeto pressed together, further complicates the already multifaceted nature of Yunior's sexuality, calling into question his "masculine" identity. In a scene that sums up the masculine feeling of this Dominican-American enclave of New Jersey, Alex, Yunior's friend, in reference to a gay man,… simply puts his head out of the window. Kiss my ass ! » he shouts then sits back in his seat laughing. It’s original, I say (Diaz 103). Aside from simply highlighting the cruel attitude towards those with stereotypically deviant sexualities, this incident also shows that Yunior is not completely mean or even apathetic towards homosexuals, almost seeming to come to their defense when they are mistreated. by Alex. Consequently, through a multitude of subtle but clear insinuations, Yunior's complex and delicate latent masculinity is revealed to be infinitely more fragile than he attempts to make it appear. In this case study of masculinity, arguably the most powerful formative influence on Yunior, both sexually and emotionally, is his mother. The masculine burden that Yunior feels obligated to bear towards her mother can be attributed to their abandonment by her father, as described by her parents' speaking: She speaks to my father, something she knows that I disapprove. He's in Florida now, a sad guy calling her and asking for money. He swears that if she moves there, he will leave the woman he lives with. They're lies, I told her, but she still calls him. His words coil inside her, destroying her sleep for days (Diaz 100). Embittered by his father's abandonment, Yunior loses all respect for the man, calling him a "sad guy" and a liar. However, more than his personal attitude towards his father, Yunior cares about the effects of his father's words on his mother. The vivid imagery of his father's destructive effects on his mother is a detail that chronicles Yunior's compassion and sensitivity, as well as his exceptional quality of loyalty. When his father leaves, Yunior feels obligated to contribute to the household income and take care of his mother, two typically masculine qualities. Even going so far as to entertain her mother, Yunior reflects: On Saturdays, she asks me to take her to the mall. As her son, I feel I owe her a lot... Before she leaves, she drags us through the apartment to make sure the windows are locked... Putting my hand on the latch isn't enough, she wants to hear it rattle (Diaz 96). Yunior's bond with his mother is only emboldened by his father's departure, and the symbolic locking of the windows that occurs here and at the end of the work symbolizes his devotion and his mother's insecurity. Just as she wants to hear the locks click to make sure they are secure, Yunior's mother makes sure to hold and restrain her son. Stepping in to fill the void left by his father at such a young age is a responsibility that has advanced Yunior's notions of the masculine at an alarming time in his life, while simultaneously corrupting his view of acceptance in an effort to preserve the qualities in which he believes. to support his mother. This internal struggle for self-identity, this division between the "masculine" and the other, boils over when Yunior recounts: "My mother felt something was wrong and nagged me about it, but I told me to leave me alone, and my Dad, who was home visiting, got up from the couch to slap me. Most of the time I stayed in the basement, terrified that I was going to end up being a freak, a freak, but he was my best friend and at the time that meant more than anything to me (Diaz 104). After Beto's first sexual advance, Yunior's carefully crafted facade of masculinity seems.

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