Yunior In A Sentimental Education

In the “Sentimental Education” section of Oscar Wao, Yunior (our narrator) is the character who is being educated. Defined, sentimental means appealing to the emotions. Yunior’s inability to emotionally connect is reflected in his inability to be faithful, even when he has deep feelings towards someone, like in the case of Suriyan and Lola. Yunior’s main concerned with himself, rather than those around him, is also an indicator that he doesn’t give much thought to other’s feelings. This is the case in his decision to become roommates with Oscar. Rather than a sentimental reason for helping Oscar or Lola, his intent is to get on-campus housing to avoid having to live with his mom or out on the street. Similarly, helping Oscar to change his life is more about Yunior than Oscar, as well, in that he is trying to avoid facing his own issues of infidelity. His anger at Oscar for giving up on the “Oscar Redemption Program” (Diaz 179), is less about Oscar’s quitting and more about Oscar defying him, “Oscar, the fat loser defied me?” (181).
His love is fickle and the decisions he makes are self-centered. Frédéric has deep feelings for Madame Arnoux, yet he concurrently has affairs with Rosanette, Madame Dambreuse, and Louise Roque. Sound like anyone we know? Yep, Yunior. Noteworthy parallels in the two novel’s themes include: sex (an abundance of and lack thereof), female sexuality (there is emphasis on the females bodies and sex lives), perception of countries (Dominican Republic and France), and politics (Trijillo’s reign and King Louis Philippe’s