The Distance Between Us Essay
Chicana/o Narrative: Immigration, Family, Feminism and Transgressions In the late twentieth and twenty first century Chicana/o narrative has become a medium to express the injustices that the community faces along with identity conflicts at the individual level. Chicana/o narrative, fictional or autobiographical work, serves as an act of healing and resistance, in which the themes of the gender roles, family, feminism and immigration are predominant. These four themes serve to deconstruct and challenge the patriarchy, while seeking to foster a more inclusive community. Immigration plays a fundamental role in Chicana/o community, Reyna Grande’s memoir The Distance Between Us deconstructing the popular representation of the American Dream by
…show more content…
Reyna Grande in The Distance Between Us gives a vivid representation of the reasons behind her immigration to the U.S. and hardships that she faced while in this country. Reyna’s father left Mexico during the country underwent one of their worst recession to pursue his dream to build a house for his family (Grande 6). Due to his immigration the family’s economic situation did not improved immediately rather they faced more problems as a result of his absence. Grande gives a real representation of the push and pull factors of her family’s immigration and their separation. The dream house is constructed, however the family does not inhabit it and while living in the U.S. they continue to face hardships. Reyna’s father immigration is both the cause of the end of his first marriage, but also the reason why Reyna had the opportunity to excel academically and become a writer. Grande gives her readers a narrative that communicates the negative and positive effects of immigration without idealizing the process and contributing to the popular American Dream narrative. The American Dream portrays life in the U.S. as socially and economically better than in the migrant’s native countries. Grande pinpoints the opportunities, like education, not available in Mexico, but available in the U.S. without ignoring to highlights the irreparable emotional and physical separation among families due to
Reyna Grande in The Distance Between Us gives a vivid representation of the reasons behind her immigration to the U.S. and hardships that she faced while in this country. Reyna’s father left Mexico during the country underwent one of their worst recession to pursue his dream to build a house for his family (Grande 6). Due to his immigration the family’s economic situation did not improved immediately rather they faced more problems as a result of his absence. Grande gives a real representation of the push and pull factors of her family’s immigration and their separation. The dream house is constructed, however the family does not inhabit it and while living in the U.S. they continue to face hardships. Reyna’s father immigration is both the cause of the end of his first marriage, but also the reason why Reyna had the opportunity to excel academically and become a writer. Grande gives her readers a narrative that communicates the negative and positive effects of immigration without idealizing the process and contributing to the popular American Dream narrative. The American Dream portrays life in the U.S. as socially and economically better than in the migrant’s native countries. Grande pinpoints the opportunities, like education, not available in Mexico, but available in the U.S. without ignoring to highlights the irreparable emotional and physical separation among families due to