1. Ayn Rand once articulated, “Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves- or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth.” After reading chapter 9, how do you think Menchu would respond to Rand’s words?
After reading chapter 9 I think that Menchu would say that the dream would be waiting for us in our graves because her life is constantly revolved around work, she never stops working. It is either at her home or down at the coast on a farm. She told throughout her life that she will work hard and live as her parents do which is a hard life. This chapter was about the different fiestas they have in order to cultivate the land and receive a blessing from the earth, and how they have their traditions for different birthdays. However, their life still revolves around hard work and intensive labor and heartache.
2. Menchu uses the following quotation from the Popol Vuh to start chapter 10, “Tojil in his own natural darkness, struck the leather of the sandal with a stone, and from it, at that very moment, came a spark, then a flash, followed by a flame, and the new fire burned in all its splendor.” After reading chapter 10, does this idea from the Popol Vuh take new meaning? What is your interpretation of this?
To be completely honest I am not exactly sure what this quote has to do with this chapter, but I will attempt to make a connection. The native culture depends a lot on the earth. They get everything that they need from the earth and they instill the love of the land in their children. I believe that this quote is a way to show the connection from the earth to the native people to their children. There is also connection between how the native people treat the earth verses the ladinos. There is more respect and a greater appreciation. This chapter also makes references to the sun and the role it plays in the native peoples lives. This spark to flame to fire could be the cycle the sun provided for the native people for their crops and land needs.
3. In chapter 11, Menchu speaks about the age at which people get married in Guatemala. What are your thoughts about her writing?
It was amazing to read about the traditions when getting married. They are so different from what I have grown up knowing. The culture is so proper that the girls cannot even talk to the boys in the streets. The process to get married is so long. The men have to ask the parents to see their daughter and they can get rejected several times. When they are finally accepted it takes only months for the girl to except the guy. After this they have a variety of complicated ceremonies that involve lots of food, gifts, and talking. I found it interesting and a little sad that women had to have children. I understand that that is a huge part of their culture, but I personally would hate to be made to have children and not have the choice to refuse. I did like the idea that with their traditions that you are not bound to each other like with American weddings. If the marriage was not working out too well then as long as the girl followed the community’s traditions, then they could come home. There is no piece of paper making them stay together. The traditions are long and the talks seem depressing, but very interesting.
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