(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Case Study - When I Was Puerto Rican

            Esmeralda Santiago's autobiographically based novel When I Was Puerto Rican follows the story of Esmeralda from age four to adolescence and her journey from Puerto Rico New York. Her story begins in rural Machon at age four where her and her family move to "a rectangle of rippled metal sheets on stilts hovering in the middle of a red circle of dirt- (7). Thus begins Esmeralda's journey into a life surrounded by poverty and responsibilities. Her warring parents and seven siblings lead a life filled with chaos and caring as Esmeralda begins her trip trough childhood. Esmeralda is often expected to handle adult like responsibilities at a young age. Before she is senorita she is expected to care for the house and siblings and when she fails her mother says "you're lazy that's the problem. You think everything will be handed to you- (124). Despite being weighed down with responsibilities Esmeralda still manages to be bright and creative child taking in the world around her. She is immersed in her jíbaro culture as well as the culture of her city dwelling paternal grandparents and extended family. The pillars of Esmeralda's young life are the ideas that a woman should never become jamona and what lo que una mujer peine que hacer are domestic and family related roles. She also learns the cultural beliefs of her various Puerto Rican environments, learning how to send a dead baby to heaven according to her mother's beliefs and the Catholic Church as introduced by her paternal grandmother. Esmeralda is also exposed to many types of adult relationships from her philandering father, his parents, her wowing mother and an assortment of friends from the city and country. Through friends her own age Esmeralda learns of her other types of families from her own peer group. Through all these conflicting views of the world Esmeralda grows from a toddler into adolescence in Puerto Rico . Her physical and emotional growths as well as her sexual awakenings are all part of a tremendous journey through the life of a young girl's development.


Essays Related to Case Study - When I Was Puerto Rican

1. Puerto Rico's Identity Crisis

... Puerto Rico that make modern views of Puerto Rican identity extremely problematic. The study and use of history has played an important role in helping to construct the concept of Puerto Rican national heritage. Francisco Scarano, in his Sugar and Slavery in Puerto Rico, 1815-1949: An Overview, asserts that notions of Puerto Rican national heritage have been portrayed as being an "anomalous case ... when discussing notions of identity while studying Puerto Rico under Spanish colonialism. Upon continuing the discussion of what it means to be Puerto Rican, it is clear that early U.S. coloni...

  • Word Count: 1862
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Character Case Study

Character Case Study Esmeralda Santiago's autobiographically based novel When I Was Puerto Rican follows the story of Esmeralda from age four to adolescence and her journey from Puerto Rico New York. Her story begins in rural Machon at age four where her and her family move to "a rectangle of rippled metal sheets on stilts hovering in the middle ... Esmeralda's case would be the conflict and development that occurs when the different parts of her microsystem interact. Exosystem or the third layer in Bronfenbrenner's theory consists of an individual's outer surroundings such as the politics ...

  • Word Count: 1509
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. A Diamond in the Bronx - Yankee Stadium

... of both team owners and city officials who allow the trend to continue. The method in which Sullivan treated each aspect of his study as there own individual issue. For example rather than treating the issue of white flight to the suburbs only in relation to its ... Bavasi looked out to the welfare office, which was across the street from the office and replied "I see a long line of poor Puerto Rican people getting their welfare checks, " (Sullivan 111). Bavasi continued with "The Puerto Rican part did not bother Walter. What did bother him was the word ˜poor'. By looking out the ... m...

  • Word Count: 2808
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography

4. Gangs

... large numbers of gangs didn't exist until the nineteenth century. An early study by the Illinois State Police noted that a gang called the Forty Thieves was founded in New York about 1820 and this gang was believed to be the first youth gang in the United States (Sheldon, 1997 ... Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American gained power, especially in the northern cities. In the 50's, gang warfare between African-American and Hispanic gangs peaked in big cities like Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Female gangs also erupted in the 50's. By 1961, it was ... the ...

  • Word Count: 4105
  • Approx Pages: 16
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. The Effects of Standardize Testing on Non-Native English Tea

... taking the test are proficient in the language of the test, their performance will only represent a modest sample of their true knowledge. Even when standardized tests are translated, they will still not represent a holistic picture of what these students really know" (Basterra, 1999). Although it could ... assessment procedures in evaluating their acquisition of knowledge and skills. C. Administer classroom test on a flexible schedule that allows the students themselves to determine when they are ready to be evaluated. D. Using standardized, grade-level assessments whose norm group incl...

  • Word Count: 3267
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

... had higher ADHD prevalence compared with all other race groups, and Mexican children had the lowest prevalence. In 2007–2009, ADHD prevalence was similar among non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Puerto Rican children. ADHD was lower among Mexican children compared with children in the three other racial and ethnic groups. Common Comorbid Disorders: The diagnosis of ADHD can be ... ( Connor, 2002 ), with some 82% of cases responding positively (Short, Manos, Findling, & Schubel, 2004). The use of stimulant is considered effective for urban and rural populations as well. A stud...

  • Word Count: 4508
  • Approx Pages: 18
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

... had higher ADHD prevalence compared with all other race groups, and Mexican children had the lowest prevalence. In 2007–2009, ADHD prevalence was similar among non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Puerto Rican children. ADHD was lower among Mexican children compared with children in the three other racial and ethnic groups. Common Comorbid Disorders: The diagnosis of ADHD can be ... ( Connor, 2002 ), with some 82% of cases responding positively (Short, Manos, Findling, & Schubel, 2004). The use of stimulant is considered effective for urban and rural populations as well. A stud...

  • Word Count: 4508
  • Approx Pages: 18
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Classification Systems of Race

... black (Stewart). This relates to the Latino experience in this country because the Latino population is also underrepresented in positions of power. When we have this under representation in positions of power, that leads to decisions that only benefit the people who have the power. These ... case. He was a villain because he wiped out nearly all the population in the East Indies. Why wasn't I taught about the Indians, Aztecs, Incas, or Mayans? Very little was taught about them. In the book we are reading, Major Problems In Latina/o History, the essay written by Pedro Caban, "Chicana/o St...

  • Word Count: 2288
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Musical Taste

... birthplace may play a role. This study is pertinent to the music industry of today, because an important part of marketing is for the producer to be aware of its consumers' demographics. Thus it is both important and valuable to be able to identify certain social groups with music preferences, because this will enable better marketing. When the music industry becomes aware of ... could be surprising to find this young man also listens to a blues revival group such as The Rolling Stones. Many times however, such is the case, perhaps due to original birthplace or culture. Another blatant ...

  • Word Count: 1054
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question