Friday, May 4, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Quotes about Sapo
"I loved Sapo. I loved Sapo because he loved himself. And I wanted to be able to do that, to rely on myself for my own happiness."(3)
This quote shows Chino's need for guidance as a young person and how important Sapo was in his growth as a person. Chino wanted to love himself and feel fulfilled in what he did just like Sapo was able to. This quote also sets the reader up for the rest of the book to show Chino's reliance and care for Sapo.
"'You back down once,' Sapo had told me, 'and you'll be backin' down f' the rest of your life.'"(4)
This quote shows the way Sapo shaped Chino to survive on the streets. It shows that the only life Sapo knows is the life of the streets, and that he is unwilling to let his guard down. This helps explain why later in the story Sapo always turns to Chino for help.
"Sapo was the same around everybody, it didn't matter if it was the president of the United States or some junkie, Sapo was himself. He was that way around any girl too. See, there were girls in the neighborhood that you could curse around, act stupid, and all that, and then there were girls that you just didn't. Sapo couldn't care less."(8)
This quote shows even further how Chino looked up to Sapo. Chino was seeking an ability to be independent and be himself. Because Sapo had that independence, Chino admired him and looked up to him.
"'Chino,' he said when he saw me start to walk toward the roof's door again. 'I just wanted to know if you remembah, cuz you my only friend.' In his own way Sapo was telling me that his childhood memories were important to him. And a large part of them were made up of times with me. 'I remembah,' I said'"(205).
This quote shows a different side to Sapo because you can see that Chino was just as important to him as he was to Chino. This shows that his rough and tough exterior isn't as true as it may have seemed earlier in the story.
This quote shows Chino's need for guidance as a young person and how important Sapo was in his growth as a person. Chino wanted to love himself and feel fulfilled in what he did just like Sapo was able to. This quote also sets the reader up for the rest of the book to show Chino's reliance and care for Sapo.
"'You back down once,' Sapo had told me, 'and you'll be backin' down f' the rest of your life.'"(4)
This quote shows the way Sapo shaped Chino to survive on the streets. It shows that the only life Sapo knows is the life of the streets, and that he is unwilling to let his guard down. This helps explain why later in the story Sapo always turns to Chino for help.
"Sapo was the same around everybody, it didn't matter if it was the president of the United States or some junkie, Sapo was himself. He was that way around any girl too. See, there were girls in the neighborhood that you could curse around, act stupid, and all that, and then there were girls that you just didn't. Sapo couldn't care less."(8)
This quote shows even further how Chino looked up to Sapo. Chino was seeking an ability to be independent and be himself. Because Sapo had that independence, Chino admired him and looked up to him.
"'Chino,' he said when he saw me start to walk toward the roof's door again. 'I just wanted to know if you remembah, cuz you my only friend.' In his own way Sapo was telling me that his childhood memories were important to him. And a large part of them were made up of times with me. 'I remembah,' I said'"(205).
This quote shows a different side to Sapo because you can see that Chino was just as important to him as he was to Chino. This shows that his rough and tough exterior isn't as true as it may have seemed earlier in the story.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Quotes
“I know I was to be the link between Bodega And Vera. I was determined
to fulfill my part of the deal, once Bodega and Vera met I was
completely free. I would sever all ties to bodega.” (97)
As a part of Chino’s deal with Bodega he had to find Vera and re-introduce them. Although Chino never wanted to get involved with bodega, Bodega put up an offer to give chino and Blanca a bigger place to live. Of course chino couldn’t turn it down because the of the baby on the way. Then the death of the Alberto Salazar which made chino more want to just his part and never get involved with Bodega. This is a very important theme. Chino has to choose between the streets and Blanca
"I wanted to laugh. Who did he think he was, Lyndon Johnson?(41)"
I like this quote because when I researched who Lyndon Johnson was, I knew what the quote meant. Lyndon Johnson was the 36th president of the United States who made the Great Society act. This was a group of domestic programs dedicated to get rid of poverty and racial injustices. In his quote, Chino is laughing at Bodega for sounding like some big person and directly relates him to Lyndon Johnson.
“cuz even though she might be Spanish, she’s a white Spanish” (153).
Throughout Bodega Dreams race is a constant source of tension, even when it is a factor in interactions among members of the same race. One of the best characters to highlight this tension is Blanca. Even her name is associated with whiteness and her entire personality throughout the novel is essentially “white.” Her religion, moral outlook, and even her aspirations are all associated with conformity to mainstream white culture and while Chico himself shares in some of these aspirations, he also recognizes these aspects of his wife’s character. Chico is not the only one who notices Blanca’s “white” outlook on life.Sapo taunts chico with this
She loves this Izzy guy. Alwats has. You should have seen them, they were like kids". Blanca stared at the ring. She liked it, but her conscience was a strong judge. Iwanted her to have it, so i lobbied as hard as i could." (129)
This passage is focuses of the decision that Chino faces throughout the story. The moral question that he must awnser dealing with the shady Bodega and Sapo. Chino is always involuntairily getting in trouble just because of the people he associates with. Blanca is that yin to Chino's yang. She keeps him from ending trouble. This is a theme throughout the novel and is evident right here.
As a part of Chino’s deal with Bodega he had to find Vera and re-introduce them. Although Chino never wanted to get involved with bodega, Bodega put up an offer to give chino and Blanca a bigger place to live. Of course chino couldn’t turn it down because the of the baby on the way. Then the death of the Alberto Salazar which made chino more want to just his part and never get involved with Bodega. This is a very important theme. Chino has to choose between the streets and Blanca
"I wanted to laugh. Who did he think he was, Lyndon Johnson?(41)"
I like this quote because when I researched who Lyndon Johnson was, I knew what the quote meant. Lyndon Johnson was the 36th president of the United States who made the Great Society act. This was a group of domestic programs dedicated to get rid of poverty and racial injustices. In his quote, Chino is laughing at Bodega for sounding like some big person and directly relates him to Lyndon Johnson.
“cuz even though she might be Spanish, she’s a white Spanish” (153).
Throughout Bodega Dreams race is a constant source of tension, even when it is a factor in interactions among members of the same race. One of the best characters to highlight this tension is Blanca. Even her name is associated with whiteness and her entire personality throughout the novel is essentially “white.” Her religion, moral outlook, and even her aspirations are all associated with conformity to mainstream white culture and while Chico himself shares in some of these aspirations, he also recognizes these aspects of his wife’s character. Chico is not the only one who notices Blanca’s “white” outlook on life.Sapo taunts chico with this
She loves this Izzy guy. Alwats has. You should have seen them, they were like kids". Blanca stared at the ring. She liked it, but her conscience was a strong judge. Iwanted her to have it, so i lobbied as hard as i could." (129)
This passage is focuses of the decision that Chino faces throughout the story. The moral question that he must awnser dealing with the shady Bodega and Sapo. Chino is always involuntairily getting in trouble just because of the people he associates with. Blanca is that yin to Chino's yang. She keeps him from ending trouble. This is a theme throughout the novel and is evident right here.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
My life
This poem is from the eyes of the main character Chino. The second half of the book, Chino has a lot going on in his life. There are a lot of thing on his plate and he seems a bit stressed. Eventually he gives in to his wife questioning him and just spills out. He is short, and to the point, just like this poem. This poem is from the eyes of Chino, and also relates to his lifestyle in this part in the story. This is a huge turning point in the novel.
My life My life
Oh how it's changing
I need to finish school
Because here comes my baby
My wife has been trippin
"Choose your friends wisely"
Guess im going to spill it out
There is no since in hiding
This poem is from the eyes of the main character Chino. The second half of the book, Chino has a lot going on in his life. There are a lot of thing on his plate and he seems a bit stressed. Eventually he gives in to his wife questioning him and just spills out. He is short, and to the point, just like this poem. This poem is from the eyes of Chino, and also relates to his lifestyle in this part in the story. This is a huge turning point in the novel.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Part 1 Separation, the poem.
Separation
Sapo arrived when I needed him
My childhood was a childhood with Sapo.
He backed me up, he kept me safe.
A life with Sapo is now is a life of danger.
I should be getting my education,
I should be spending time with Blanca,
But I owe Sapo.
It's hard to split the two.
Blanca wont look at Sapo,
Sapo wont look at Blanca,
My life, divided.
With Sapo Blanca is only an object,
With Blanca Sapo is just an old friend.
My life, destroying itself.
My marriage, and it's creation jump within her whom.
She doesn't respect me, so I don't respect her.
Sapo is a dangerous fool,
and Pentecostals are crazy.
But I married her knowing she's a Pentecostal,
and she married me knowing I had Sapo.
Even still, it tears us apart.
This poem shows the conflict between Sapo and Blanca through specific quotes from the text. The reader can see Enrique's closeness to Sapo and the conflict he has between his two lives when he says, "Sapo had arrived at a time when I needed someone there, next to me, so I could feel valuable. My childhood and adolescent life had been made up of times with him, as I later wanted my adult life to be made up of times with Blanca. It was hard to split the two"(11). Enrique's disrespect for Blanca's religion is shown through out the story: "'Blanca, no Christ right now alright?' This upset her"(21). The stress that Sapo is placing on their marriage is shown most prominently when Blanca feels a pain in her whom: "'A friend of Sapo is a friend of mine,' I said, and Blanca shot me an evil look, then pointedly clasped her rounded belly"(21).
Sapo arrived when I needed him
My childhood was a childhood with Sapo.
He backed me up, he kept me safe.
A life with Sapo is now is a life of danger.
I should be getting my education,
I should be spending time with Blanca,
But I owe Sapo.
It's hard to split the two.
Blanca wont look at Sapo,
Sapo wont look at Blanca,
My life, divided.
With Sapo Blanca is only an object,
With Blanca Sapo is just an old friend.
My life, destroying itself.
My marriage, and it's creation jump within her whom.
She doesn't respect me, so I don't respect her.
Sapo is a dangerous fool,
and Pentecostals are crazy.
But I married her knowing she's a Pentecostal,
and she married me knowing I had Sapo.
Even still, it tears us apart.
This poem shows the conflict between Sapo and Blanca through specific quotes from the text. The reader can see Enrique's closeness to Sapo and the conflict he has between his two lives when he says, "Sapo had arrived at a time when I needed someone there, next to me, so I could feel valuable. My childhood and adolescent life had been made up of times with him, as I later wanted my adult life to be made up of times with Blanca. It was hard to split the two"(11). Enrique's disrespect for Blanca's religion is shown through out the story: "'Blanca, no Christ right now alright?' This upset her"(21). The stress that Sapo is placing on their marriage is shown most prominently when Blanca feels a pain in her whom: "'A friend of Sapo is a friend of mine,' I said, and Blanca shot me an evil look, then pointedly clasped her rounded belly"(21).
http://www.metrolyrics.com/its-the-hardknock-life-lyrics-annie.html
This song related a lot to the first section of the reading. Chino and his girl friend Blanca live in a neighborhood, "El Barrio" which appears to be a very dangerous neighborhood. It is not a good fit for the couple as they attend college and take care of the pregnant Blanca. In the first half the novel, Chino is involved in some of the bad things that occur in the neighborrhood. This is why I think this song ties in with the novel. The song It's The Hard-knock Life talks about the life of a people who live in below average living conditons. The hard life they live is described and painted a picture similar to the neighborhood "El Barrio." When living in neighborhoods like this, it is easy to get in trouble, as we see with Chino. My favorite part in the song is,
Don't it seem like there's
never any light!
Once a day, don't you wannathrow the towel in?
It's easier than puttin' up a fight.
These lines run hand in hand with the struggle of Chino in balancing his life. Sometimes he feels like he owes Sapo something, and the other time he feels as if he owes his wife something.
This song related a lot to the first section of the reading. Chino and his girl friend Blanca live in a neighborhood, "El Barrio" which appears to be a very dangerous neighborhood. It is not a good fit for the couple as they attend college and take care of the pregnant Blanca. In the first half the novel, Chino is involved in some of the bad things that occur in the neighborrhood. This is why I think this song ties in with the novel. The song It's The Hard-knock Life talks about the life of a people who live in below average living conditons. The hard life they live is described and painted a picture similar to the neighborhood "El Barrio." When living in neighborhoods like this, it is easy to get in trouble, as we see with Chino. My favorite part in the song is,
Don't it seem like there's
never any light!
Once a day, don't you wannathrow the towel in?
It's easier than puttin' up a fight.
These lines run hand in hand with the struggle of Chino in balancing his life. Sometimes he feels like he owes Sapo something, and the other time he feels as if he owes his wife something.
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