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Living In Puerto Rico

Decent Essays

Negi’s experience growing up in Puerto Rico and living in Brooklyn made her an independent and outspoken person. It also made her realize that she could be anything she wanted as long as she worked hard and got a good education. Negi was never a very independent person but towards the end of the book she learned that she needed to be independent, self sufficient and hard working to get ahead in life. Moving to New York really enabled her to do this because no one knew her, she didn’t have a reputation and she could make a new identity. In the book Santiago uses a happy and cheerful tone to describe Puerto Rico and a more confused and wondering tone to describe Brooklyn. Living in Macun, Negi was very isolated from the rest of the world she …show more content…

Moving to New York really enabled her to do this because no one knew her, she didn't have a reputation and she could make a new identity. After Negi and Mami had a fight about their lives in Brooklyn Mami said “ I’m not working this hard so that you kids can end up working in factories all your lives. you study, get good grades, and graduate from High school so you can have a profession, not just a job” (Santiago 246) This quote is very powerful because it shows that there are so many opportunities in this country and Negi should take them before it is too late. This is shown in the book very vividly, when Mami is saying this the tone of the passage is very urgent and a little sad, this is the way Santiago describes Brooklyn. This is the point where Negi realizes if she wants to get out of Brooklyn and do something with her life she is going to have to take those opportunities, it is going to be hard but with a lot of work and dedication she can eventually do it she is going to try to prove everyone wrong and get a good job and make a good life for herself. She is not going to be held back by the traditional roles that were forced upon her that women should not get jobs. After their last conversation about achieving a better life and working hard Mami encouraged Negi and said “That’s what you have to do in this country anyone willing to work hard can get ahead.” (Santiago 246) this quote shows a major transition and important transition. Negi went from working hard just to be a good kid and making her mom happy, to working hard so she can make a good life for herself and her

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