Rodriguez and Mexico :: essays research papers

Rodriguez characterizes Mexico as a country with a culture of disaster and America as a country with a culture of japery. However, America is comedic in the Greek sense-in the sense that America is not comedic at all. Rodriguez feels that Mexico, in macrocosm the place of tragedy, is better off. America, on the other hand, has to face the burden of optimism, and the subsequent let-downs. Thus, in a sense, he characterizes them in delegacys that oppose what he real thinks of them. Mexico is described as tragic-those who are of Mexican descent are often very traditional in thought. Rodriguezs father held the traditional beliefs that old hands are wise, that life is disheartening, and near ones death is the point where one must look back on their life. However, he also feels that Mexico is a happier place, with sweeter children and more lavish funerals. Perhaps he views Mexico as the tragic place because it represents a lost heritage to him. He, who in his middle age, finds himsel f agreeing with the Mexican ideals, nevertheless finds himself change by living in America. Instead of being raised with the ideas of Mexican culture, he was raised with Protestant optimism characteristic of California. He was forced to abandon the way of life of his ancestors, even if only partially. America-more specifically, California, conquered the Mexican ways, and in so doing, lost the opportunity to reconcile the Catholic South and the Protestant North. Thus, Mexico emerged as the tragic bomber and California as the laughing victor. California is comedic because it is a place where it is possible to start anew, to defy the traditional. Rodriguez views California as a reconciliation between comedy and tragedy. It is both the place where many Mexicans immigrated to and the place where Americans move to escape the constraints of society. Mexicans hoped to experience the comedy of California-where it is possible to change your sex, divorce, and become famous. Even Rodriguezs p arents moved to California, and persist in a house with many telephones and televisions.