Drown by Junot Diaz, Term Paper Example

Junot Diaz’s Drown takes individuals through the life of an immigrant family that suffers tremendously in orderto be able to achieve the American Dream. What this family fails to recognize, however, is that the American Dream isdefined differently for various individuals. For example, some might believe that the American Dream is all abouthaving both the ability and potential to attain wealth and power, whereas other individuals would argue that the American Dream has everything to do with having a healthy and loving family. Because of the poverty that the familyshows in Drown undergo throughout the novel, for them, the American Dream is defined as wealth. In This paper, Iagree that if they had realized that the American Dream also involves family happiness, they would have become morecontented and able to be with their family, they would quickly become happier with the kind of lives they live.  We will also see Yunior struggling with his identity, both sexual and cultural.

Not only is Dream an inspiration for those individuals (especially immigrants) who wish for policy changesregarding immigration, but it also serves as a great source of hope for all kinds of people. The novel is able toportray the manner in which nothing is able to stop a determined heart. Yunior, the protagonist, is catapulted into maturity the moment his father walks out of the house.With this, Yunior is faced with the responsibility as a role model in the household. as well as to be able to do the kindsof things that his father would have been able to since Yunior is a determined individual throughout his struggles, inthe novel that he is able to succeed in any given environment. Sure, his methods of attaining money for his familymay be extremely immoral (such as when he initiates to sell marijuana), but it could be argued that necessity is themother of innovation. Because Yunior is an immigrant, he often experience problems landing a good consistent job.

Because of this, he isforced to resort to illegal activity. While working as a delivery worker in New Jersey, Younior would steal from theclients, but only if he was not tipped to his satisfaction (Edison, New Jersey123).  His girlfriend, was not a goodinfluence in his life and the choices he makes, with her around, she make it ok for him to use the drugs he is supposedto be distributing (Aurora 47).  The drugs may not be the  major root his unhappiness, but it was his escape from aworld of his sexual identity crisis. it is easily inferred that Yunior leads an unhappy and unfulfilling life due to his pastlife experiences with his father absence and the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of a stranger while riding thebus with his older brother Rafa. (Drown 12)

It would notbe completely true  to say that Yunior would not be able to make anything of his life, he would have certainly beenable to maximize his potential had he not been subjected to so much mental,sexual and then later, drug abuse. On the visit to his friend’s Bato house, he touched him, but Yunior said nothing, because to him it felt good this was thesecond phase of his identity crisis (Drown 104) The second was the moment a stranger on the bus touched him inappropriately (Ysrael 11). Based on the life events Yunior experience, I think it’ssafe to assume that his pass leads him to use drugs as an escape.

In accordance to the aforementioned statement, the section “How to date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, orHalfie” (Diaz 91), shows Yunior trying his best to  to see where he truly belongs. This is specifically difficult for himbecause he feels  the need to  change  himself in order to fit in with certain girls. When his mother leaves him at homeand he would invite the girl over, he would change up the house and hid certain photos that he thought wasembarrassing, it has even been shown, even when he is talking to girls from the Dominican Republic (Yunior’sbirthplace), he finds a need to change at least one thing about himself in order to either impress the girl or try to fit in.( “How to Date a Browngirl….” 143-149 ) The reality is, Yunior has lost his sense of identity. This could very well bedue to the drug abuse. because shows that using harmful substances, such as drugs, it can impair your judgement(Exploring Differences among Adolescents in the Southwest.” Journal of community psychology 31.2 (2003):167–188. PMC. Web. 9 May 2015).

However, another aspect thatcould be contributing to Yunior’s lack of identity is the fact that he is an immigrant in an alien country. Of course, it isnot easy for him to be able to adapt to different kinds of people in such a short period of time. The sad reality isYunior is not really given a choice as to whether he wishes to stay in  his hometown or if he wishes to go to America. Sure, he may have wanted to go to America at the beginning, but he was most likely not aware that he would end uplosing his identity by moving to a different country. Such is the case with Yunior, where he finds the need toact differently (especially with girls) just so that he is able to get them to like him. Although this certainly works forhim, the sad reality is that Yunior may  never  find a lifelong mate because of the manner in which he constantly lies. While thismay sound melodramatic, this causes Yunior to believe that he is more of a man with a sense that he belong. it hasbeen “the “new” man is one who functions within cultured or privileged society, one who knows and “works” thesystem from within”( John Riofrio). and so i can not agree with the way Yunior feels.

When Yunior was eight years old, his mother takes it upon herself to send him and Rafa (Yunior’s olderbrother) to live with their uncle for the summer. Here, the uncle lets the two run amuck and do whatever they like.Of course, this newfound freedom allows both Yunior and Rafa  to explore. Halfway through the story, Rafa  decidesthat it would be a good idea to visit an individual’s called by the name “No Face”. This nickname was given to him  because as a young boy he was attacked by a ferocious pig. As a result, one side of his face was disfigured. (NoFace 153-159). This causes the boy to wear a mask. The mask shows a bit of symbolism, “No Face” is able to hidewho he truly is. In more way than one , Diaz might have portray how Yunior was doing the same thing in America.

Despite the fact that he clearlydoes not wear a mask at any point throughout the novel, Diaz  shows how Yunior was acting like somebody that hewas not just to be able to fit in. if “No Face” would show up at any location in the world with half of his face tornoff, a vast majority of people  would take notice of this and might even treat him in a different manner because ofhis circumstances. However, the mask that he wears protects him from most humiliation he might face, simplybecause of an accident that he had. In a similar manner, Yunior is seen trying to hide his identity behind a mask oflies, about who he is. Because Yunior has to lie to get the opposite sex to like him, it highlight his insecurities (“Drown.”)

Despite the fact that Yunior learns about a lot of things since his father walks out of the family’s life for awhile, Yunior fails to mature where it really matter. Sure, he is able to grow into an adult in terms of being able tomake money for his family, but he is seen as a dishonest boy. This, of course, outweighs all of the good things that Yunior has. When put into perspective, it is easy to see why Yunior is such an insecure boy. Because of the fact thathe does not have a role model to look up to, he is portrayed throughout the novel as having to make his own opportunities without any good advice. Not even his brother is able to give him good insight on the kinds of thingsthat he should and/or should not be doing. This creates an unbalanced individual who feels the need to lie aboutmost things that go on in his life in order to impress others . On that note, Yunior is not able to achieve theAmerican Dream in that aspect of his life. (“No Foreign Country Can Change…”)

Towards the end of the novel, all of the pieces begin to come together. Yunior is seen as a more matureyoung man who is willing to take on more tasks than he could have taken on throughout the beginning of the novel.This is proved by the manner in which towards the end of the novel, Yunior proves that he is now educated enoughto be writing about his experiences. Indeed, in these terms, Yunior proves that the American Dream is possible foreveryone. This, of course, is provided that an individual’s considers the American Dream being able to attain an education and being literate. For those individuals who believe that the American Dream is otherwise, then thestory might not have proved very effective in proving that the American Dream is alive and well today. However,the fact that Yunior was able to come from practically nothing (living in poor conditions and not knowing manythings, academically speaking) all the way to being literate and able to write about his own experiences being animmigrant goes to show that the American Dream is alive and well for those individuals who are willing to put in the countless hours that are required in order to achieve specific goals. (“Words Beyond Borders: Drown – JunotDiaz.”)

 Some would argue that the whole collection of books within the novel show that the American Dream isreally not easily attainable. As a response to this, it could be said that the individuals who say this are very right.The American Dream is indeed not easily attainable and is only given to those individuals who become cognizantof how difficult it can be to excel in such an environment. Because of the fact that the whole novel is centered onthe theme of a family being able to achieve the American Dream without many difficulties and adversities iscoherently flawed. This is invariably stated because the American Dream cannot be achieve without hard work anddedication, of course. In regards to the novel, many would argue that Yunior was only able to make it through thedays because of the fact that he made a fair amount of money selling marijuana.

 It is these same individuals who would undoubtedly argue that, as proven by the novel, the only way toachieve the American Dream is by subjective oneself to immoral and illegal actions. To this, individuals must cometo understand that there are no written guidelines as to how individuals should acquire the Dream of theirs. This isnot to say that the actions that Yunior subjected himself to were without flaw, but it is a fair statement to say that Yunior was simply doing what was necessary in order to be able to bring food on the table for his family, includinghis girlfriend at times. (Nwosu)

The American Dream has no written regulations that must be followed by certain individuals. This is not tosay that certain illegal actions are at times justified so that individuals are able to make their Dream a reality, but it iscertainly respectable if and when certain people decide to take it upon themselves to let no one prevent them fromaccomplishing and actuating their dreams once and for all. Linking this back to the novel, it is easily seen why it wasfair for Yunior to take it upon himself, just like many other Americans, to find a necessary means of profitability. Theimmigrant American Dream often involves being able to establish a home with a healthy family to reside in it. Inaddition to that, the majority of immigrants wish to have a job that will provide them with a steady flow of incomefor years to come.