Woman Hollering Creek
October 8, 2010
English 102
Culture is the “System of values, beliefs and ways of knowing that guide communities of people in their daily lives” (qtd. In Rothstein-Fusch and Trumball 3). Every culture is different and unique in its own lifestyle. Culture is basically life itself. The short story “Woman Hollering Creek” by Sandra Cisneros is a clear example of these characteristics by bringing together life in Mexico and the United States. The reader gets the opportunity to view both sides of Cleofilas, the protagonist of the short story, culture as she moves to a new place with her new husband Juan Pedro. She enjoys watching telenovelas because she knows her life will never measure up to the lives of beautiful women from the telenovelas. Cleofilas begins to encounter a dramatic situation by living with an abusive husband and being dominated by men. In the Latin society a common myth is the La Llorona, the weeping woman that Cleofilas seems to encounter. Recognizing the elements of Mexican culture is important in understanding Cisneros’s short story “Woman Hollering Creek.” The telenovelas condition Latina females in their views about romance. The television shows describe the love and life many girls anticipate as they grow up to be young women. For example, Cleofilas wanted her life to be of “passion in its purest crystalline essence” (Cisneros 239). Before getting married, Cleofilas’ life consisted of never ending chores, putting up with her brothers and her father’s complaining. She did not have the life that she sought. When she married Juan Pedro, she thought her life would shift and be like the ones from the telenovelas. The influence of beautiful women in the soap operas is also seen when Cleofilas decides to make a change: “Does she dye her hair you think?” (Cisneros 239) Cleofilas’ decision to dye her hair shows that she is not content with her looks and appearance. She has an image that women from the telenovelas possess wonderful lives in both love
English 102
Culture is the “System of values, beliefs and ways of knowing that guide communities of people in their daily lives” (qtd. In Rothstein-Fusch and Trumball 3). Every culture is different and unique in its own lifestyle. Culture is basically life itself. The short story “Woman Hollering Creek” by Sandra Cisneros is a clear example of these characteristics by bringing together life in Mexico and the United States. The reader gets the opportunity to view both sides of Cleofilas, the protagonist of the short story, culture as she moves to a new place with her new husband Juan Pedro. She enjoys watching telenovelas because she knows her life will never measure up to the lives of beautiful women from the telenovelas. Cleofilas begins to encounter a dramatic situation by living with an abusive husband and being dominated by men. In the Latin society a common myth is the La Llorona, the weeping woman that Cleofilas seems to encounter. Recognizing the elements of Mexican culture is important in understanding Cisneros’s short story “Woman Hollering Creek.” The telenovelas condition Latina females in their views about romance. The television shows describe the love and life many girls anticipate as they grow up to be young women. For example, Cleofilas wanted her life to be of “passion in its purest crystalline essence” (Cisneros 239). Before getting married, Cleofilas’ life consisted of never ending chores, putting up with her brothers and her father’s complaining. She did not have the life that she sought. When she married Juan Pedro, she thought her life would shift and be like the ones from the telenovelas. The influence of beautiful women in the soap operas is also seen when Cleofilas decides to make a change: “Does she dye her hair you think?” (Cisneros 239) Cleofilas’ decision to dye her hair shows that she is not content with her looks and appearance. She has an image that women from the telenovelas possess wonderful lives in both love
Cited: Cisneros, Sandra. “Becoming a Latina Writer.” Di Yanni 246-248. Cisneros, Sandra. “Woman Hollering Creek.” Di Yanni 238-245. Di Yanni, Robert, ed. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. New York: McGrawHill, 2002. Print. “La Llorona :The Weeping Woman.” http://Users.polisci.wisc.edu/La260/llorona.htm. n.d. Web. 21 Sept 2010. Rothstein-Fisch, Carrie and Elise Trumball. Managing Diverse Classrooms: How to Build on Student’s Cultural Strenghts. Alexandria, Virginia: ASCD, 2008. 3. Print.