Term Paper
on Richard Rodriguez's Personal Essay "Going Home Again"
his paper will describe the essay of Richard “Going Home Again”. The main
points, which will be discussed in this essay, will consist of the responses,
which I have gathered from this essay. I am an eighteen years old college
student. The paper will mainly point out the themes of the essay. And I
personally believe that I did however see the struggle shown as an educated
Mexican American and I want to relate my strong family bonds to him as described
in the essay.
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An introduction of the author
Richard is one of the most popular authors of America. He possesses the art of
writing an essay. He is considered as America’s leading essayist. He is a
brilliant writer and has an excellent personality. He has a diversified vision.
He mostly writes on such topics, which he feels worthy to be discussed. Richard
also brings out the real picture in front of the readers. His works are mostly
on Mexican tragedy. Some of his greatest contributions in the field of essay
writing are The Last Discovery of American and Hunger of Memory.
The themes of “Going Home Again”
The themes of Going Home Again will be discussed as a personal response and
moreover it will show that what are the points, which I have learned from this
essay. Richard published his essay in an academic journal, later reprinted in
the American Scholar, called "Going Home Again: The New American Scholarship
Boy." As a student I think that this essay is able to draw attention against
affirmative action and bilingual education. I believe that I am also unable to
relate personally as a white American in college. But, personally after reading
this essay I became able to gain my confidence .As a student I believe that this
essay made a remarkable difference in the academic as well as literary field of
education.
The central point of this essay is related to education of a Mexican-American
boy who speaks a blend of Spanish and English. The essay has described the
feelings of such a boy who have no command over any of the language and he goes
to obtain scholarship. As a student I also have faced such difficulties and even
facing continuously. Richard has further described that the boy in the essay is
eager to stand out in the field of study but his inability to speak proper
language obstructs him.
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As a perceiver I believe that Richard has very well described the real problem
of this boy .One aspect of his problem as seen in the essay is his inability to
speak English. Secondly, his parents are also very peculiar about the norms of
their culture and they do not like the drastic changes that were brought by
education. But despite his parents’ advice he continues to gain education with
an objective in mind. It has been described in the essay that his parents are
willing to pay the price of alienation and continue to encourage him to get e a
scholarship after knowing the relation between education and social mobility.
The author also points out the mental fight, which that boy fought to maintain a
balance between his family life and school. The essay further describes that a
he is all set to face bravely any challenge which will come in his way of
gaining education.
In its conclusion I would like to sum up the themes of the essay as well as my
opinions. Frankly speaking this is an essay, which has described the feelings of
such a boy who is caught up in the problems of mixed cultures. It can be summed
up in following words:
“Those of us who have been scholarship boys know in our bones that our education
has exacted a large price in exchange for the large benefits it has conferred
upon us. And what is sadder to consider, after we have paid that price, we go
home and casually change the cultures that natured us.”
After reading this essay in detail I have learnt that a student who is willing
to gain education for his satisfaction t should also have the power to face the
difficulties courageously as it has been described in the essay.
References
Going Home Again: The New American Scholarship Boy
By Richard Rodfuez, November 2, 2002,
http://www.tosho-u.ac.jp/~hnguyen/goinghome.html
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