Usnavys
Usnavys... Wow how I envied her character. She is strong, rich, independent, self absorbed, confident, intelligent, and a woman.
Just from the first couple of pages as we read Lauren's perspective of the girls, we learn so much about Usnavys and her background. Right off the back, we learn her mother is Puerto Rican who moved to the states to better their lives. Usnavys is a dark, thick woman with no strong male figures in her life to guide her in her life. Her father abandoned them, brother killed, and at first, no lover. All of these things you would consider her life was and is pretty rough, aka "oppressed". However, we quickly learn all the positive things about her that outweigh those things. For example, she's the smartest of her class, graduated from Harvard, rich, a womanizer (the female version.. which she has every right to do so without judgement) and lives her life with her nose up high. Even though she is dark, Puerto Rican, she was privileged enough to live in the states and have the opportunity to become successful unlike some females that live in other countries who are expected to be stay at home mothers even though they can do great at a university.
Intersectionality comes into play because she is a female, woman of color, and Puerto Rican. However, I think all of these aspects enhance her image rather than pull her back because she embraces all of these things which makes her more confident and stronger than most females in the book and in reality. She doesn't allow for those social categories to hold her back, and that's why I envy her so much.
Love does conquer all! Juan, the man she has loved for the past 10 years... yes, TEN years, is finally hers. I believe their love story is realistic, because it's true... You may love someone, however, somethings about that person may hold you back from being able to love them (sounds materialistic/selfish) but it's true. Even though we want to believe love conquers all, we have to be realistic. Love is expensive, and sometimes when your partner cannot support you, you second guess their ability to take care of you. It's a harsh reality, but it's true. If your partner doesn't have a job and no education, it's hard to see pass that.. And that's where I see their love story being realistic.. Because Usnavys recognized those things.. but at the end of the day, married him because love does conquer all in their loves story.
I like how you chose Unsavys. I agree with everything you said about her. Especially when you said that "love is expensive, and sometimes when your partner cannot support you, you second guess their ability to take care of you." I think that this is true because if you don't think that you're not enough for that person or can't provide for them. You think that they're better off without you.
ReplyDeleteI think that Usnavy's economic concerns are striking in relationship with Juan and elsewhere in her life--what role does socio-economic class play as it intersects with her other identity categories?
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