Global Expression in Multicultural Literature: Choice

About Me

My name is Suzanne Parker-Camarena. I am from Utah and currently reside in Arizona. I am a wife to my husband and mother to our four children and “mother-lady” to my husband’s two daughters from his first marriage. I am also owned by three cats of the feline persuasion. I am a student at Grand Canyon University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree with an emphasis on Professional Writing. My current course of study is Multicultural Literature. Multicultural literature is a genre of writing that is inclusive of all cultures in the world, whether they be national, religious, or language, etc. To considered global literature, the writings, feelings, and meanings are able to be related across cultural differences to draw the reader into the experience. An example of Multicultural Literature is taken from “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid:

"...this is how you sweep a corner; this is how you sweep a whole house; this is how you sweep a yard; this is how you smile to someone you don't like too much; this is how you smile to someone you don't like at all; this is how you smile to someone you like completely..."

It reminded me of how my husband's very traditional Mexican mother used to speak to her older grandchildren when they would visit her. Even as the sentence never ends in Kincaid's work, Grandma would go on and on, at times, barely seeming to take a breath between admonishments.

Multicultural Literature also blurs national boundaries by creating an avenue for all people to learn of different cultures other than their own and finding a way to possibly relate or understand more of each other. Kincaid was able to accomplish this as well because I could relate to her narrative and understand the never-ending admonitions she was listening to from who I believe to be the elder women in her life. After being reminded repeatedly to not behave like a slut, the girl questions at the very end if the baker will actually let her squeeze the loaf of bread and the response she receives made me laugh out loud because I remember hearing the same warnings and conclusions. This was the response: "...you mean to say after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won't let near the bread?"

20^th century literature related so well the many struggles we all faced for cultural identity and the ability to understand others and more of ourselves. It covers topics of religious struggle, female rights, cultural bias, extermination, and thankfully, rebirth, strength, and determination to not just survive, but thrive. The examples listed in my blog entries below are just a fraction of the global literature available to immerse oneself in. My opinions are my own and I hope in no way dissuade the reader from forming their own. It is a journey that is well worth the effort.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Choice

Have you ever had a difficult choice to make? Have you ever made a choice where you neglected to consider all of the consequences of the choice you made? What questions can you ask yourself now to prepare for the future?

Camus and Goethe examine choice in fascinatingly different circumstances. Camus' The Guest held my attention because of the interaction between Daru and the Arab. Balducci brought the Arab to Daru so he could deliver him to the authorities. Daru accepted the firearm from Balducci with a resigned attitude, even though it was apparent he had no intention of using it for its intended purpose. After Balducci departed, both the Arab and Daru settled into an uneasy camaraderie. The Arab had chances to escape but chose not take them, while Daru was hoping for the Arab to escape. When their journey commenced the following morning, Daru weighed the options for the prisoner, seemingly making a choice to give the Arab options--to live among the nomads or turn himself into the authorities. I believe he assumed the Arab would choose to live with the nomads to at least have the freedom that would offer. Surprisingly to Daru, when he went back to see the path the Arab had chosen, the Arab had turned on the path that would lead to his physical captivity.

Daru, by making the choice to take the Arab to the authorities, after which he would be back to his chosen freedom of his life on the desolate plain found he had become a prisoner of sorts based on the threatening message left on his blackboard. He would be a slave to uncertainty until he was acted upon. Camus left the reader unfulfilled with both characters. Did the Arab make it to the authorities and turn himself in? Who left the message on the blackboard? With a little insight into Daru’s thinking, do you think he would have made the same choice if he had known he would be threatened?

Turning to Goethe's Faust, the same uncertainty is mirrored in this tale. Faust chooses to follow the Devil, entices Margaret, and she chooses to come with him. She is a good Christian girl whose desire for gratification was her downfall. Her lover, Faust murdered her brother to keep him from telling on him and Margaret. Because of her brother's open attack on her character as he is dying, Margaret kills her unborn child and goes insane. All the while, Faust is cavorting with the Devil. He is upset and tries to get Margaret to follow him, but she no longer remembers him and makes the choice to go with God.

The power of choice is an interesting theme throughout both of these works. The result of the character's choices in The Guest are vague, whereas Goethe's scenarios of choice ended in each character serving their chosen leader.

TEACHERS:

Display these images for the students, giving them time to consider each of them. Ask them to choose one of these images is most impactful to them in their life at this point and discuss it in a paragraph, collect them, and be prepared to share some thoughts with the class.

TASK:

Have the students answer at least twenty of the listed questions that apply to choices they are, or will be making in the near future. Then, view the video to enhance the class discussion.

100 Essential Questions

How To Make Hard Choices

WATCH and DISCUSS:

Old Navy Jeans Commercial