“Snow” and “How I Learned to Sweep”, Essay Example

Julia Alvarez’s work provides the readers not only entertainment but a deeper look into the environment that the characters are living in. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast “How I Learned to Sweep” and “Snow”. Alvarez used these pieces to discuss not only the evolution of the young characters in the works, but both have war as the backdrop. It is important to not only consider the entertainment value of Alvarez’s works but the underlying purpose of “How I Learned to Sweep” and “Snow” for the readers.

“How I Learned to Sweep,” tells the story of a young girl who swept the floor for the first time. Alvarez shows how the girl has to handle responsibility and respect through her household obligations. During the simple chores, the girl overhears the threats and tragedies of the war on the television. Alvarez in a way compares the events of the war to the participation of the girl in the household responsibilities. “I swept all the harder when/I watched a dozen of them die-/as if their dust fell through the screen/upon the girl I had just cleaned” (Alvarez, 1985). The girl worked hard on the floor and felt that it was immaculate. That day the girl felt she had earned her keep. However, when she saw the men dying on television, all that she had accomplished held no value in comparison. The war in “How I Learned to Sweep” allowed the dirt to represent the fallen, and “Snow” the falling snowflakes represent the cold war that was taking place. Alvarez uses examples that the readers can relate to in efforts to express a far greater meaning.

The little girl’s mother never taught her to sweep the floor; however, the girl knew her mother’s expectations and started sweeping. However, her focus shifted from the floor to the soldiers. She swept harder and harder for each soldier that died as if they were particles of dust falling from the television. After she turned off the television she stated “That’s beautiful, she said, and ran her clean hand through my hair, and on, over the window-sill, coffee table, rocker, desk, and held it up–I held my breath–That’s beautiful, she said, impressed, she hadn’t found a speck of death” (Alvarez, 1985)..

“Snow” much like “How I Learned to Sweep,” tells of a young girl who is learning about life. Yolanda is a young Dominican immigrant who is finding her way in New York City. When the girl entered the Catholic school in New York, the sister set her by the window to teach her English without disturbing the other students. When the Cuban Missile crisis occurs, Yolanda has learned enough English to comprehend the danger. Alvarez shows a very real contrast between the snow cold New York winters and the warmth of what she remembers as a child. It is the enjoyment of the snow and how she visualizes humanities now. Much like “How I Learned to Sweep” the author uses simple visuals for a much bigger meaning. The sweeping towards the reaction of the war and the snow in contrast to the Cold War. The nuclear showdown that was taking place between Cuba, United States, and the Soviet Union was at the forefront of snow. However, “Snow” presents a real sense of fear, much like “How I Learned to Sweep”. The war that was taking place was an underlying factor for consideration. The girl’s first experience of snow was shocking, coming from the Dominican, she had never been exposed to snow previously. “All my life I had heard about the white crystals that fell out of American skies in the winter” (Alvarez, 1995). Alvarez uses simple factors to ignite a better understanding of a bigger purpose in both “Snow” and “How I Learned to Sweep”.

Despite the differences of Alvarez’s two works, there is still one main similarity that is readily apparent to the reader. “How I Learned to Sweep” is much like “Snow” because of the war backdrop that influences the events that are going on around them. War is a very real event that our youth does not always understand. Alvarez found a way to allow the young girls in these two pieces to express their confusion and feelings regarding the war through different methods. “How I Learned to Sweep” and “Snow” similarities and differences both provide entertainment value and allows the reader to see the issues that were going on during that time.

References

Alvarez, Julia. (1995). “Snow.” Women’s Voices From the Borderlands, ed. Lillian Castillo-Speed (New York: Touchstone, 1995), 126-128.

Alvarez, Julia. (1985). “How I Learned to Sweep.” Helicon Nine, summer, Vols.12 & 13