Identity Struggles in Ribeyro's "Alienation"
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ScribdTranslationsIdentity Struggles in Ribeyro's "Alienation"
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The taleAlienationwas written by Julio Ramón Ribeyro, this work was
published in 1977, It tells the story of Roberto, a young zambo with problems
of identity, who after several years trying to become a gringo,
dies in his last attempt to achieve it.
Argument:
Roberto is a young black man who lives in a neighborhood where there is a
young girl named Queca, this young girl is very beautiful and is the attraction of
all the boys who live in this place. But this girl who at the beginning
played with all the kids, but over time became selective and
he/ she started to choose only light-skinned men with economic means
high.
One day it happened that Roberto, while he watched her play with other kids from the neighborhood, felt...
the ball fell, he wanted to reach it, but it got scared, and told him that it didn't play with children
black people and big lips. This episode marked Roberto to start trying to become like
a white person with a lot of money. In his quest to try to become a white person, with
economic comforts, even changed his name to Bob, lost his job because of his
extravagances, but he acquired the English language thanks to his constant effort to study.
and the scholarship she received for an English course. Once she had the language, she applied for a job.
but this one was not received despite its capacity due to its color, so it was presented to the
war with his friend José María, a young man who, like him, was seeking to become white.
alienated.
In this war, Bob dies from a bomb to the head and his friend José María loses his leg.
Bob's mother dies of grief, and she does not receive her son's pension, while her
the friend has the money, but is invalid. On the other hand, Queca, who married a
North American Billy Mulligan, he only gave love for the first few months, then he started to
to hit her and to insult her.
Analysis:
Imitationand Search for Meaning:
Roberto stands out for his desire to imitate something that was not authentic. This aspect symbolizes the
search for meaning and belonging in a society that may seem superficial or
lacking authenticity.
Roberto's imitation can be interpreted as an attempt to fit into a mold.
predetermined by society, highlighting social pressure and the lack of authenticity in the
urban life. Their desire to imitate something that is not genuine can also underline the
superficiality and the lack of identity in modern society, where people
often adopt roles or behaviors that do not reflect their true selves.
b) Teachingfrom the story:
The story teaches us that one cannot go through life trying to pretend to be.
someone who is not. On the contrary, having an established identity and working on it.
It also teaches us that there are words that can mark the existence of people.
generating problems of insecurity and identity in her.