Thematic Analysis of Ribeyro's "Alienation"
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ScribdTranslationsThematic Analysis of Ribeyro's "Alienation"
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ScribdTranslationsTHEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE STORY "ALIENATION" BY JULIO RAMÓN RIBEYRO.
From: The Word of the Mute, Anthology, Julio Ramón Ribeyro. Ed. MILLA BATRES
The characters in this story are: the bootblack Roberto López, a boy.
poor district of Miraflores, son of the neighborhood laundress and of a
Vaporino Blancón, Queca the most charming girl of the group, daughter of a
little employee who attracted all the looks of the adolescents, owner of a
superiority complex, and the other kids in the neighborhood were, Lucas
Tramontana, "wig" Rodríguez, the "pig" Gómez and the commentator who did not
has identified, also Chalo Sander apparently the first love of
Queca, then Billy Mulligan would come, son of a consulate official of
U.S.
The main thematic axis shows us a character troubled by his
color, its poor origin, due to the marked difference in its school education
fiscal, in contrast to his friends and because he frequents a human group that
since they were very young they grew up in Miraflores, a fancy neighborhood where the majority
She is fair-skinned, from an affluent class, and attends good schools.
Roberto López is one of those types who imitate everything, who hate their origin and who
they want to forget the color of their skin, as they grow up they adopt a
a series of attitudes to try to improve their image, to impress their
friendships not only with their way of dressing, but by creating within themselves a
a character that is very different from what they really are, who adopts a
distant and different stereotype, like that of the 'green go's'. It tries to
making a difference by chewing on some disappointing English, I studied in
house due to lack of resources to do it in an academy.
The intention and desire to be attractive to women not only leads him to
to bleach or dye hair blonde with plenty of hydrogen peroxide,
what was the cheap dye of the time, also seeks to dress like a
authentic American, attends American clothing auctions, feeding
his ego and being considered pretentious by his own family, as
he even smoked Lucky cigarettes.
Roberto López works at the Morales bakery, he also feels the
the reprimand from his employer, who was a mestizo with regional customs
own and did not accept that his employee came in disguise, as he took care of the
image of his business, he was fired and hired to work at the Bowling
from Miraflores, where he improved his English and interacted with foreigners,
this fact led him to adopt the name Boby López, then he enrolled
at the Peruvian North American Cultural Center to study English formally,
Here you will meet José Mogollón, who will become your inseparable friend.
Later they will live together in a small room, then they will travel to the USA and
they will join all those individuals from other parts of the world, who have
the same dreams, the same visions about life, with admiration
I miss everything that is American and for not returning after the stock market ended.
on trips, they will strive to enroll and go defend a flag in a country
distant, fighting for a country that is not theirs, nor do they feel it that way, except for the
promise of obtaining residency upon return, of course if they arrived alive,
finally, the adverse fate played a bad trick on Boby López.
he lost his life in combat and the pension, his friend Mogollón lost only a
Arm, I return to Lima to live on my veteran's pension.
Queca's end is also dramatic; married to Mulligan, she moves to
USA, where he treats her with disdain, the same way she treated the zambo.
López. With her, that old saying becomes reality, 'with the same rod that
"you will be measured, as you measure."
Literary Movement:
Ribeyro is part of the currents of the generation of '50 and the generation
The 60s were characterized by showing a lot of how the era was and reflecting its
complaints about the world they are living in or what is happening in
his environment. In Ribeyro's case, it can be greatly noticed in the characters.
what he uses in his stories and novels. In the short story 'Alienation' you can see
this position in how it describes Bob.
Structure
Content:
Theme:
The themes of this story are discrimination, determination, and also the
racism in a soup of races such as Lima. One can see the
discrimination throughout history, since Roberto begins to
small in the park until the last moments of its transformation into
Lima and part of her life in the United States. Then, the determination that
both Roberto and his friend show in order to achieve what
they wished. Finally, one can appreciate the racism that exists in Lima, even
seeing that in Lima there are all kinds of people of all colors
and different social classes.
Sections:
1.1
The prejudices and standards instilled in society; in this case, it is seen
how children were educated based on certain prejudices and standards
of beauty these days. (Lines 15 to 31).
1.2
The maturity of the person and not being naive; this is evident when seeing how
all the kids in that park grow up and how their topics change
conversation in addition to the vocabulary and customs they have. (Lines 32 to
66).
1.3
The influence of society on someone's behavior; Roberto
changes in its way of being and begins its transformation based on the
comment from Queca and how things change around her.
Line 126 approx
Common questions
Powered by AIRibeyro uses Roberto López's experiences in the United States to highlight the broader themes of identity crisis and displacement faced by immigrants and marginalized individuals. Roberto's participation in a foreign army, motivated by the promise of residency, underscores the desperation and loss of identity, where personal values and origin are overshadowed by the pursuit of acceptance in a culturally alien environment. This reflects a universal struggle where individuals conform to foreign ideals at the cost of their heritage, thus portraying the pervasive impact of societal pressures on personal identity .
Roberto López's transformation illustrates the pressures of societal standards and prejudices in Lima. The story highlights the discriminatory nature of these standards, as seen through Roberto's efforts to distance himself from his origins by adopting Western styles and habits. This indicates an internalized prejudice, where Roberto feels compelled to change his appearance and behavior to align with the predominantly white, affluent community of Miraflores, thus signifying his struggle with societal expectations of race and social class .
Language plays a crucial role in Roberto López's quest for self-transformation and integration into the society he admires. His efforts to learn English, exemplified by his enrollment in language courses and subsequent work in environments dominated by English speakers, enable him to navigate and assimilate into a social group that prioritizes Western culture. The proficiency in English allows Roberto to adopt a persona that distances him from his origins and reinforces his aspiration to be accepted in a society that equates language with cultural and social capital .
Societal and familial expectations heavily influence Roberto López's decisions as he consciously distances himself from his roots to meet the standards imposed by both his family and the broader society. While his family's disapproval of his changes adds pressure, societal expectations play a more significant role as he is caught in cultural stereotypes and racial hierarchies that undermine his identity and dictate his aspirations. These external pressures force him into an ongoing struggle to validate his existence through Western ideals of success, reflecting the profound impact of societal norms on individual life choices .
Ribeyro portrays 'Americanism' as a dominant cultural narrative that characters like Roberto López aspire to achieve as a means of self-worth and societal acceptance. This cultural admiration manifests in Roberto's adoption of Western fashion, learning of English, and eventual desire to live in the United States. Such actions reflect an internalized belief that Western ideals are superior and necessary for personal success. However, this pursuit results in a loss of cultural identity and highlights the detrimental effects of imposed cultural hierarchies on self-perception and societal integration .
The relationship between Roberto López and José Mogollón is significant as it embodies mutual support and shared aspirations amidst alienation and societal challenge. Both characters aim to escape their disadvantaged backgrounds and seek better opportunities, highlighting the importance of companionship in their journey to adapt to new cultural norms and societal acceptance. Their friendship provides emotional solace and camaraderie in a world that often marginalizes them based on their social and racial identity .
Queca serves as a foil to Roberto López by embodying social privilege and superficial values that stand in contrast to Roberto's struggle with identity and class. As the charming girl who attracts attention, Queca symbolizes the socio-cultural environment that Roberto aspires to join. Her eventual disdainful relationship with Mulligan and the reflection of karma at the story's end highlight the fickle nature of societal acceptance and underscore Roberto’s futile attempts to change his identity for acceptance, thus highlighting their differing paths and internal conflicts .
Ribeyro's 'Alienation' reflects the generational themes of the 1950s and 60s by portraying critical social commentaries on discrimination, societal expectations, and identity crises. These themes align with the literary movements of the era, which often illustrated the social upheavals, political changes, and cultural conflicts of the time. The narrative critically examines the struggles of marginalized individuals against a backdrop of a multicultural Lima, resonating with the literary focus of shedding light on social disparities and challenging societal norms .
Ribeyro illustrates alienation by showing Roberto López's struggle with his identity as he tries to blend into a society that values different norms and appearances. Roberto is a poor boy from Miraflores who desires to be accepted by a community that is wealthier and of a different social class. His actions, including his attempt to change his appearance by bleaching his hair and learning English, reflect a deep internal conflict and a sense of alienation from both his origins and the society he wishes to belong to .
The act of bleaching his hair symbolizes Roberto López's desire to assimilate into a society that emphasizes whiteness and Western ideals as standards of beauty and acceptance. This act is a physical manifestation of his internal struggle with identity and his rejection of his ethnic origins. By altering his appearance, Roberto attempts to align himself with the societal norms of the affluent community in Miraflores, which he associates with success and social elevation, further illustrating the oppressive nature of racial and class discrimination .