What Lies Beneath-Language
What Lies Beneath At first, the short story written by Junot Diaz “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie” , may stir many different emotions if taking its meaning literally. Feelings within you may overtake your mind possibly from personal experiences similar to what the narrator expresses. The language can be quite vulgar to you, the message very blunt and shocking, or the story can be taken in a comical context. Many short stories are written in 1st or 3rd person point of view. This short story is a good example of 2nd person narrator addressing the “you” and involving the reader by association. To fully understand Junot Diaz “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie”, you may have to read the story multiple times. There must be careful consideration of the meaning behind the language portrayed. You will find the true meanings surface, revealing what the characters struggles are in life through his message on how to date. Junot Diaz uses voice very effectively to lighten the mood of this particular piece. The humor contributes greatly to the kind of language being used. An example of humor in language would be “You’ve already told them that you’re feeling too sick to go to Union City to visit tia who likes to squeeze your nuts (He’s getting big she’ll say)”. How embarrassing this must be for this character, or is it just a normal part of his culture? Right away you get instructions from the very first sentence depicting the second point of view narrative, “wait for your brother and mother to leave the apartment”. Already you can see that the language, tone, and style are straight forward and blunt.
Let’s look at the possible true meanings behind the language of the narrator. Regardless of the particular female the young Dominican is trying to impress, there is a reason behind the characters actions. We have a setting taking place in urban New Jersey which is not the safest place to live. The setting along with language
Let’s look at the possible true meanings behind the language of the narrator. Regardless of the particular female the young Dominican is trying to impress, there is a reason behind the characters actions. We have a setting taking place in urban New Jersey which is not the safest place to live. The setting along with language
Cited: Diaz, Junot. “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie.” Literature: Craft and Voice. Eds. NicholasDelbanco and AlanCheuse. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 53. print