Abstract This paper presents an in-depth analysis of Bernal Diaz's "The Conquest of New Spain". The paper examines the shroud of mystery surrounding the details of Montezuma's death and, by utilizing the opinions of David Boruchoff and the actual text of Diaz's book, this paper briefly highlighting the key points that Diaz makes in his retelling of Montezuma's unfortunate murder. The paper then brings to light the rational faults and discrepancies within the original text and counters these apparent errors, by applying common sense and general knowledge of the era.
From the Paper " The ?readable report,? a concept from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, is easily applicable to Bernal D?az's The Conquest of New Spain. The aforementioned ?readable report,? in a general sense, indicates that the retelling of a situation or event is portrayed in a manner that benefits the teller even if distortion of the truth is required. D?az, in his account of Montezuma's death, makes the Spanish appear blameless and seemingly innocent of Montezuma's blood. Throughout the sequence of events leading up to Montezuma's death, there are constant indictments of the Mexicans causing the death of their own leader. "
Abstract This article discusses that despite the substantial economic growth that occurred within Mexico during the reign of the government of Porfiriato Diaz from 1877-1910, the legacy of this period remains a dark one in the Mexican imagination and historical memory. The writer notes that despite Diaz's expressed intentions to modernize the nation he led, his policies instead sewed the seeds for social stratification and the Mexican Revolution, which followed shortly after his government's dissolution. Further, the writer discusses that during the Diaz years, the economic expansion of the Mexican elite was fueled by the systematic and often bloody suppression of the nation's growing ranks of urban laborers, such as textile workers and miners, in a fashion that created an inequitable and unstable base for a modern, capitalist system in Mexico.
From the Paper "The mania for modernization also created an intellectual justification within the Diaz regime for the continued oppression of Mexican agricultural workers, whose labor was deemed to be less necessary for the expanding Mexican industries favored by the regime. The period was also marked by the unjust possession by the government of the land of the nation's traditional peasantry, again a casualty of urbanization and modernization. These orchestrated inequities reinforced the Mexican class system within the developing Mexican industrial and agricultural economy in a fashion that swiftly created a land that had evolved into what almost seemed like a parody of the traditional Marxist view of history. In other words, there was an extreme imbalance between the working classes and the classes who owned the nation's means of production and institutions of government."
Abstract The paper explores the short story, "Ysrael" by Junot Diaz and attempts to show how Diaz's unusual perspective paints a picture of the modern history of the Dominican people and their struggles in the New World. The paper offers a summary of the storyline and highlights how Diaz's work can be considered a cultural experience for the reader.
Outline:
Summary
Pictures of Dominican Life
Conclusion
From the Paper "Junot Diaz is renowned for his stories that reflect the intricacies of growing up. In the story Ysrael, Diaz details many facts of Dominican life that are often absent from the minds of the rest of the world. Diaz relies on his own memories of childhood and a vast repository of historical knowledge already in his head (Zuarino). Like many of Diaz's stories, Ysrael lets us peak into the lives of the fascinating characters that he creates.
"Ysrael is the first story in a collection called Drown, which was a huge success. Ysrael represents a story to which many readers can relate, albeit the situation in which the main character must face is anything but typical. Every writer uses experiences from their own lives to illustrate their works. This happens regardless of the setting and plot of the story. If one looks into the attitudes and reactions of the characters, one can decipher the personality of the writer and gain insight into their own experiences and background."
Abstract This paper discusses how the family in the story "Aguantado" by Junot Diaz is poor and living on the outskirts of a city and how the main issue for the family is the absence of the father. It examines how the idea of absence is increased by the way the story is told, with the narrator observing the comings and goings of others and always being outside of decision-making, in effect paralleling the role of his country, Santo Domingo, in its relationship with the US.
From the Paper "The story takes place with minimal description and little clear shaping of the narrative. It unfolds in a series of incidents that come to be related around the central issue of the missing father. The narrator notes at the beginning that he has not had a father for many years, yet the idea of the father clearly affects him greatly. He mentions his father often and relates the fortunes of the family to the missing father, also suggesting that the fortunes would improve if the father returned. When he wants so badly to know what letter was delivered and what was in the letter, he seems to suspect even before he is told that the letter comes from his father. The family seems to be suspended in time to a degree, waiting for the father to return, and unable to move forward very much until he does."
Abstract The paper discusses Junot Diaz's "Drown," a collection of stories that tell of the contemporary misery and urban despair that can grow from poverty and distance from one's own cultural setting. The paper looks at the intersections of race and immigration in American history and then looks at the protagonists in Diaz's "Drown." The paper argues that the issues faced by the characters - poverty and racism - were quite similar to the ones faced by the earliest immigrants to this country. The paper concludes that the United States has long benefited from this cycle of immigration, assimilation and change. The paper argues that immigration is therefore an intrinsic part of the American Dream and as such, it should be allowed to continue.
Outline:
Race and Immigration: A Historical Perspective
The New Immigrants in Diaz's "Drown"
Conclusion
From the Paper "By the 1800s, one-third of the American population was composed of immigrants and their children. These figures show that there was actually much diversity at the dawn of America, and that immigration was an intrinsic part of the American Dream from the very beginning. Even more important, not every immigrant prior to 1900 was considered "white." Variations in European ancestry may seem trivial today, but in the 1790s, there was much tension and dissent among the people of various European descent. Americans who were of English extraction were very critical of how ethnic diversity was threatening the culture of the new colonies. Many even sought to limit immigration and criticized the newcomers for maintaining their own ethnic enclaves and clinging to their own language."
Abstract Writers such as Bernal Diaz, John Locke, Karl Marx/ Friedrich Engels, and Jules Verne wrote about some of the most important themes in world history such as colonialism, absolutism and industrial capitalism. This paper examines how their particular historical context (the 16th century, 17th century, and 19th century) influenced their ideas and how the historical context has changed over time. While doing so, the writers focuses largely on a single work of each of the above-mentioned writers, i.e., "The Conquest of New Spain" by Bernal Diaz; "The Second Treatise of Government" by John Locke; "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels; and "Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne.
From the Paper "Bernal Diaz del Castillo was a Spanish conquistador, chronicler and historian who sailed to the Americas and fought many battles under different Spanish adventurers including Hernan Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico. As a reward for his services Diaz was made the governor of a Guatemalan town where he took up residence until he died. In order to repudiate an over glorified account of Cortes? conquests written by his secretary Gomara (who had not even been to America), Diaz wrote The True History of the Conquest of New Spain when he was an old man of almost eighty. Although lacking a sophisticated literary style, the work is recognized as an important eyewitness account of the Spanish conquests in the Americas, and the subjugation of the native people by the Spanish colonists."
Abstract This paper discusses and reviews Bernal Diaz del Castillo's book, "The Conquest of New Spain." The paper analyzes the content of the book and the biases that Diaz del Castillo appears to present in his accounting of events in the book. The paper suggests that "The Conquest of New Spain" raises many troubling ethical questions for a critical reader, reading with a post-colonial, post-modern mindset.
From the Paper "Immediately upon reading the title of Bernal Diaz del Castillo's The Conquest of New Spain a critical reader bridles at the title, and expects an imperialistic history. After all, to our postmodern, politically correct ears, Mexico is not 'new Spain,' but an independent nation. When one hears that Diaz del Castillo's account is a 16th century memoir of one of the soldiers who accompanied the conqueror and, in today's view, the modern imperialist, Cortes to the New World of Central America, the reader grows even more suspicious. However, although the author's biases must be acknowledged, this is still an important account of a grounds-eye view of Cortes and his invasion of Central America. It was written after the destruction the Aztec Empire, and according to the author it was designed to deflate rather than inflate the mythology that had grown up around Cortes' invasion."
An important feature of the Mexican Revolution was its broad base of support. Revolution was brought about because, after more than 30 years in power, Porfirio Diaz succeeded in disenfranchising almost all socioeconomic groups who were not members of the
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 2 sources, 1999, $ 47.95
Abstract "An important feature of the Mexican Revolution was its broad base of support. Revolution was brought about because, after more than 30 years in power, Porfirio Diaz succeeded in disenfranchising almost all socioeconomic groups who were not members of the power elite. Revolution occurs when individuals are pressed to the limits of their endurance
From the Paper "An important feature of the Mexican Revolution was its broad base of support. Revolution was brought about because, after more than 30 years in power, Porfirio Diaz succeeded in disenfranchising almost all socioeconomic groups who were not members of the power elite. Revolution occurs when individuals are pressed to the limits of their endurance; such a situation existed in Mexico under Diaz, which explains why so many segments of society risked personal safety to participate.
Diaz pandered to foreign influence to such an extent that being a Mexican became a disadvantage, particularly the more than ninety percent mixed breed Indian population. The government regarded itself as superior to the common people: "The government must be an aristocracy, an aristocracy of brains, technicians, wise and upright elders, scientists" (Brenner, 1971 ..."
This paper discusses the career and life of Porfirio Diaz, the political leader of Mexico between the late 1870s and 1911 with emphasis on his role in events leading to Revolution of 1910.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 7 sources, 1981, $ 63.95
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the career and life of Porfirio Diaz, the political leader of Mexico between the late 1870s and 1911. Diaz, whose period of rule spanned the time between the Juarez Wars and the Villa-Zapata Revolt, helped to define the future of Mexico in many ways. Some historians view him as an evil, brutal dictator, while others see him as a hard-headed but highly productive founder of a modern nation. One fact is certain: Very few of his contemporaries and compatriots regarded him lightly. It was virtually impossible to be indifferent about a regime as extensive and long-lasting as that of Porfirio Diaz.
One critical account of Diaz divides his life into four parts. The first is from birth to age 24, when he joined the army to fight the ruling dictator, Antonio Lopex de Santa Anna, ... "
Abstract Analysis of themes and motifs in the 10 connected stories of DROWN by Junot Diaz. Cultural and cross-cultural experiences of Dominican Republic family members searching for the good life in the USA. Experiences of poverty, abandonment, sexual abuse, drug addiction and emotional insecurity of major character Yunior. Relationship with father.
From the Paper "In Junot Diaz= collection of short stories, ADrown,@ the main character, Yunior grows up in a poverty stricken environment, surrounded by filth, sickness, physical and emotional abuse and neglect inflicted upon him by his father and mother. His mother works long hours to feed and house the family and doesn=t have the energy to parent her children. She is barely surviving herself. She sends the children to their aunts when she is unable to take care of them, hence abandoning them like their father has done. They live in a barrio with rats and suffer from intestinal worms. They have no choice but to choose between food and medicine. They have to reduce their food intake in order for their mother to be able to afford medicine to eradicate the worms. Yunior lost a safe, secure childhood and suffered for it as an adult. His father went to New..."
Abstract This paper asserts that Fuentes used his writing as an opportunity to create and re-create the social reality of the lives of the people of Mexico as they shaped and continue to influence the development and history of their country. In order to establish this thesis more fully, the following works of Fuentes are examined: "Aura" (1965), "The Buried Mirror: Reflections on Spain and the New World" (1992), and "The Years with Laura Diaz" (2000). Initially, an overview is provided of Fuentes' thoughts on writing and his use of writing in documenting the lives of Mexicans and the history of Mexico, his homeland. This is followed by a discussion of Fuentes' works as each illustrates his efforts to construct and re-construction Mexico's reality through the lives of her people.
From the Paper "Through his writing, Fuentes has assumed a commitment for insuring that his readers as well as himself take responsibility for reconceptualizing the manner in which they perceive both the past and present of Mexico. His desire to accomplish this task is clearly documented by Fuentes himself when he provided the following description of the role of Latin America within history: "To restore some kind of tragic consciousness ...to make the United States understand that memory counts--that there is history, and that it does not renew itself every 24 hours when Dan Rather appears on the set" (as cited in Lippard, 1990, p. 6). As is evidenced within this statement, Fuentes presents a challenge to himself as a writer as well as to his readers to recognize that the social construction of reality that may be presented to us in the world around us may not be an accurate representation of reality and history as it truly exists."
Abstract This paper explores two perceptions of the early exploration of Mexico by the texts of two noted explorers, Hernan Cortes and Bernal Diaz del Castillo. In particular, two works are noted as being representative of the texts of that era, being Cortes' "Letters from Mexico" and del Castillo's "The True History of the Conquering of New Spain". This paper focuses primarily on these two sources, although other sources are used.
Abstract This paper discusses the characters and plot in both Hernandez's "The Death of Speedy" and Diaz's "Drown" and examines how, through experiencing great loss, the main characters are able to grow and transform themselves into better individuals.
From the Paper "Perla, from Jaime Hernandez's "Love and Rockets" collection, "The Death of Speedy", is one of the many characters in the work that has some sort of coming of age. Throughout the story, Perla, who also goes by various incarnations of the name Maggie, is occupied with the goal of trying to find a meaningful relationship. She looks for love in the wrong places however, a result of a distorted view of her relationships. The loss of one of her companions to a rock and roll dream, and another to an apparent suicide, finally enable her to cultivate a healthy relationship with the person she was probably best off with from the beginning."
Abstract This compares the works of two Afro-Caribbean writers: Jamaica Kincaid's "Angie John" and Junot Diaz's "Drown". The paper focuses on the theme of alienation present in both novels, specifically focusing on the marginalized role of the father figure. The paper summarizes and compares each work as well as how each work treats the father figure and concludes that, despite the differences in both the works, there exists a common patriarchal order in both, which makes the reader question the woman's place in it.
From the Paper "Most families represented in Drown can be sharply contrasted with Annie John's family. Five out of ten stories fluctuate between abandonment and return of fathers. The rest are practically fatherless families. The number of single mothers through the collection is proof enough of the sexual irresponsibility of the men. The first sentence of Aguantando strikes the note of longing for an absent father - "I lived without a father for the first nine years of my life". The plight and the helplessness of the narrator is heightened when he says, "He had left for NuevaYork when I was four but since I couldn't remember a single moment with him I excused him from all nine years of my life" adding that "the only way I knew him was through the photographs my mom kept in a plastic sandwich bag under her bed". "
Abstract The book "Barbarous Mexico" is Kenneth Turner's account of his visits to Mexico from 1908 to 1910. Turner examines many issues, including slavery and poverty, and the negative effects of these issues on the Mexican community during the years that Porifio Diaz ruled. The paper shows that Turner is blunt with his association of the squalid Mexican conditions to Diaz; his book is a successful effort to prove a solid foundation for his claims. The paper explains that it is Turner's contention that no man can rule an unwilling people without taking away the liberties of those people, therefore, it can be very easily understood what sort of government Diaz found necessary to establish in order to secure his power. The paper concludes that "Barbarous Mexico" is an important piece of literature because it represents a perspective from one segment of society that is often neglected.
From the Paper "Perhaps one of the most telling attributes of "Barbarous Mexico" is the close ties the United States had in the Diaz regime. In Turner's opinion, the United States was responsible for the prolonged abuse of slavery. In fact, Turner suggests that the United States was Diaz's largest monetary partners. The support Diaz received from foreign counties made Diaz's government international, according to Turner. Thus, foreign intervention in favor of the people was less likely. That fact alone, says Turner, was one of the most powerful forces that prevented the Mexican people from ever revolting against Diaz. (Turner 137) In addition, Turner illustrates that even though Mexico was becoming more modern under the leadership of Diaz, it still operated backward in regards to other Latin American countries. Turner explains that when it came to progressive moves relating to governments, Diaz was slow to change; however, when it came to opportunities for gaining capitol, he was quick to act."
