1. After reading the first five chapters, what are your reactions to what you have read? What do you know about Guatemala culture now? What do you WANT to know having finished the first five chapters? What do you EXPECT to find out as you continue reading?
I am very interesting in learning about other cultures and I enjoyed reading about the Indian culture through this book. I was surprised at some of their traditions and saw some similarities to other cultures like their nahual is like the Hawaiian amakua, an animal that is your animal, your spirit in a sense. I learned a lot about the traditions with pregnant women and the birth of a child. I was sad to read that Rigoberta was not able to share all of her traditions because I had secrets (especially interesting ones) but I wish I could learn everything about her culture. However, because she can’t share everything I expect that she will share more basic things and tell us more about what she grew up doing and her family life.
2. Menchu begins the third chapter by including a quote from Miguel Angel Asturias, which states, “That night he spent howling like a coyote while he slept as a person.’/ ‘To become animal, without ceasing to be a person.’/ ‘Animal and person coexist in them through the will of their progenitors at birth.” Why did she include this quotation? How does it relate to the Guatemalan people? How does it NOT relate to the Guatemalan people?
In the chapter that this quote preludes to, Menchu discusses what a nahual is to the Guatemalan people. This quote is how the Indians feel about their animal. In the book Menchu write how it is believed that if you hurt an animal you also hurt the human it is connected to and vice versa. This quote also explains how humans are connected to animals in multiple ways. Humans always feels disconnected and superior but by having a certain animal you are connected to, you feel closer to nature. This relates to the Indians because they have animals connected to them by the day of the week they were born. However, a coyote was not one of the animals Menchu mentioned but it is an example. This animal/human spirit is present in many cultures including Hawaiian and Native American tribes like the Cherokee.
3. Menchu speaks in depth about the finca. What is your impression of the finca? What does it remind you of?
The finca is way to oppress the native people and in a way it is a form of slavery. They have the overseers (men who were originally from a native tribe) and then the landowner who overworks the Indians for little money. Then they have cantinas there that get all of the workers money back, so in most cases the landowner gets free labor. The landowners are ladinos (non indigenous people) and they treat the workers horribly. This is just like what white men would do to the African Americans, but less severe because the Indians only work for a month and are not beaten. I still don’t understand why the Indians had to go to the fincas but I am sure I will find out later as I keep reading.
4. On page 31, Menchu writes, “My father told me: ‘When you’re old enough, you must travel, you must go around the country. You know that you must do what I do” Why would he say this? Does a seemingly simple statement like that possess power? Explain.
Menchu’s father says this I think for two reasons. First of all I think that her father wants her to get an education and learn everything she can about her country and her culture. Second I think that after she explained girls and boys roles in the household, Munchu has to listen to her father and do as he says. I think that a statement like that holds a lot of power because when you get a high request you feel as if you cannot let the person who asked you down. When my family told me that I had to go to college and get a degree and become something I knew that I couldn’t let them down because I know that they have high hopes for me and I think that Menchu will feel the same need to fulfill the request.
No comments:
Post a Comment