Juan C. Cruz III
Professor Stacy Knapp
English 108
25 March, 2011
It’s OK to be Crazy
I remember being a crazy teenager. Coming home late, hanging with various groups of people, going to parties, and making some of the biggest mistakes. It almost seems like it was yesterday, but in my case it was last week. I think making mistakes, and just being some what of a bad decision making teenager is a good way of growing up. Learning from your previous actions and mistakes can teach us more about our lives. Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers portrays a boy’s growth into his adulthood from the actions he makes throughout the novel. I think by using Reader Response method, a more personal insight will be able to explain how not all of Sonny’s actions are the smartest, but the craziest decisions he makes can benefit him more than he can realize.
In the novel, the character Sonny, experiences many factors of life during his teenage years. For most of us, we all can relate to most of Sonny’s life and all the aspects portrayed. Take for instance Sonny and Cloyd’s relationship. We see from the beginning that Sonny doesn’t take too well with his Stepfather when Sonny says “…this Cloyd wasn’t right for both of us” (19). Sonny already comes off that Cloyd isn’t ideal for him and his mother and he expresses it oh so bluntly and already feels to shut Cloyd out.
I think this shows how the idea of an outsider in Sonny’s mind is trying to invade this relationship Sonny has with Sylvia. I think Sonny shouldn’t be so defensive with Cloyd because having a closed relationship with a stepfather can be unhealthy for the whole family.
Fortunately for me I never had to bond with a stepfather at Sonny’s age. I’m happy that my birth father was able to see me grow and raise me. But I think those who had a stepfather and connect with during their teen years can relate with this character relationship. Anyone in Sonny’s scenario should take the opportunity to connect with their newly found father figure because sometimes you learn that they are the father you always needed and wanted.
Every teenage has tremendous amount of temptations. Whether it’s for worldly possession, or to satisfy an untamable urge, teenagers are always faced with temptations they can succumb or fall for. Sonny is not an exception from the mundane desires of human nature.
One of Sonny’s temptations is his habit of stealing. Through out the novel, Sonny has stolen worldly possessions such as magazines, or his biggest temptation, money. He justifies his looting by say saying “…to save this money, to use it right” (49). Everyone, including me, has a share of our own temptations and some are able to justify why they succumb to our their decisions. Some reasons are better, while the rest can just seem ridiculous.
Sonny has the possibility of learning from his stealing, well maybe nothing, but it does affect him emotionally. Sonny justifies why he steals money, but he also tells us “[stealing] makes me feel shitty…” (49). Overall, Sonny does steal, but it doesn’t mean he enjoys it. I will admit this, I did steal something, and honestly, I didn’t get the whole point of it. Yes it was “free”, but it just seemed unsatisfying, not in the sense of doing it again to get satisfaction, but of a more a “that was stupid.” Like how Sonny is feeling, stealing would make me feel bad, because I know I’m better than that.
To me, stealing doesn’t seem to be fun or anyway necessary; it’s pointless, plus it tells me I’m broke and I hate being in financial instability. I think with this stealing, it can motivate anyone into pushing themselves to get out of the hole they can burry themselves in. I don’t steal because I can provide for myself without having to stoop to a low level. I think that if Sonny can learn to find his own prosperity, he won’t need to steal and can have a better understanding of the value of money.
Other than money, comes the second most important thing to a young boy; girls and what they are able to do to them. Sonny encounters two different women that strike up his interest. He meets the seducing Cindy and the sweet Nica, both of whom entice his feelings towards woman.
Cindy is the character of lust and desire, where I titled her as the “Femme Fatale” or “The Deadly Woman.” Cindy character has taken the innocence out of Sonny and introduced him to the sexual awakening of adulthood. Cindy has aroused Sonny and he feels that “[he] couldn’t stop if she didn’t stop” (86). Like most boys introduced to sexual awakening, they get a taste, and they want more.
What I really like about this particular scene is, I’m able to relate to the scene to an extent. It follows the same idea of an older girl and naïve boy, but not exactly at a level as Sonny and Cindy. My friend got me into the provocative and sexual state I’m in today and of coarse I like it every time, but fortunate for me I was to be a little bit calmer, and be not so much of an out of control sex hound. But the whole idea is that, older woman who have more sexual knowledge can bring a lot out in a young man’s life.
The Femme Fatale has seduced Sonny and he has stepped into the sexual
awakening. However, we have the opposite character Nica, who has the more sweet and innocent relationship built up with the protagonist.
Nica is another neighbor girl that sparks an interest in Sonny. Their relationship isn’t based on sexual desires, but rather a more intimate bond. Sonny feels that he and Nica can be more than just friends; he says that “Te amo Sonny, [Nica] told me” (249). The significance of this character emphasizes the idea that, as we grow older and bond with other people, we develop feelings for the other person.
I don’t know what woman do, but overall, they have some sort of effect on men. I remembered all the small school boy crushes I got when I was friends with a girl. The weird butterflies in my stomach and acting different around her, the funny thing is, I still do that today. Sonny is able to learn what intimacy can be like with a woman, even if it does sound a bit crazy. A woman’s influence is the most powerful persuader in human existence. Cindy portrays the lust and seduction a naïve boy can fall for and not truly embrace. She takes away Sonny‘s virginity, causing him to be less innocent. Nica is the sweet heart that awakens Sonny’s heart and teaches him how to have feelings for another woman. I personally love the idea of a putting these two woman into one and have both their personalities together.
Sonny is a teenager experiencing life as the novel goes on. He deals wit his habit of stealing, starting a new life with his stepfather, and experiencing the influences of women. Being able to connect with the protagonist, most can say that Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers effectively and accurately portrays a teenage male. Sonny is acting crazy, but it allows him to learn and be able to grow more than he realizes.
Work Cited
Gilb, Dagoberto. The Flowers. New York: Grove, 2008. Print.
The Stepfather Bonding
“Roque” follows the a third person narration of a young boy’s experience with his mother’s newest boyfriend. The story focus how he connects with his potential step father and in the end, accepts him as a father figure. What I liked about this short story was the idea of accepting another person as a family member especially when you can see it makes your parental happy. I think that at a young age and not having the inconsistent father or father figure would be understandable to be hesitant to accept the newly found boyfriend because like most before, they haven’t been around long enough to connect with.
I think that I’m fortunate that I don’t have to accept a new family figure as a potential step dad, but then I couldn’t really understand what Erick is thinking or enduring emotionally. I think the central conflict is acceptance, Erick doesn’t really know to accept or get close. I think seeing our protagonist struggle with an issue that can effect people today, it can be a lot more real to the reader. Personally, I cannot emotionally connect with the central conflict because I never had to experience that as a kid, but I can see a perspective on what a few kids had to endure this particular situation.
What I really like was how it ended, he chose the apparently “nobody” over the baseball player. I really liked how he chooses personality and his mother’s happiness, rather than a image that would probably not end up as happy as she would want it. I think with this ending you can see an example that family is the most important thing and knowing you can help make each other happy, can make the family stronger and have healthy relationships with each other.
What I noticed by Gilb is he focuses on the concept of stepfather’s and family bondage. We could use the theory that how the author thinks explains the meaning of the text. I think it’s interesting and the recurring idea of Gilb not having a father but having father figures through out his life. It would explain his style but that’s not my primary objective.
I think that I’m fortunate that I don’t have to accept a new family figure as a potential step dad, but then I couldn’t really understand what Erick is thinking or enduring emotionally. I think the central conflict is acceptance, Erick doesn’t really know to accept or get close. I think seeing our protagonist struggle with an issue that can effect people today, it can be a lot more real to the reader. Personally, I cannot emotionally connect with the central conflict because I never had to experience that as a kid, but I can see a perspective on what a few kids had to endure this particular situation.
What I really like was how it ended, he chose the apparently “nobody” over the baseball player. I really liked how he chooses personality and his mother’s happiness, rather than a image that would probably not end up as happy as she would want it. I think with this ending you can see an example that family is the most important thing and knowing you can help make each other happy, can make the family stronger and have healthy relationships with each other.
What I noticed by Gilb is he focuses on the concept of stepfather’s and family bondage. We could use the theory that how the author thinks explains the meaning of the text. I think it’s interesting and the recurring idea of Gilb not having a father but having father figures through out his life. It would explain his style but that’s not my primary objective.
Rough Draft
It’s OK to be Crazy
I remember being a crazy teenager. Coming home late, hanging with various groups of people, going to parties, and making some of the biggest mistakes. It almost seems like it was yesterday, but in my case it was last week. I think making mistakes, and just being some what out of control of being a teenager is a good way of growing up. Learning from your previous actions and mistakes can teach us more of our lives. Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers portrays a boy’s growth as a teenager from his actions. Not all of actions are the smartest, but the craziest decisions he makes can benefit him more than he can realize.
In the novel, the character Sonny, experiences many factors of life during his teenage years. For most of us, we all can relate to most of Sonny’s life and all the aspects portrayed. Take for instance Sonny and Clod’s relationship. We see from the beginning that Sonny doesn’t take too well with his Stepfather when Sonny says “…this Cloyd wasn’t right for both of us” (19). Sonny already comes off that Cloyd isn’t ideal for him and his mother and expresses it oh so bluntly and already feels to shut Cloyd out.
I think fortunately for me I never had to bond with a stepfather at Sonny’s age. I’m happy that my birth father was able to see me grow and raise me. But I think those who had a stepfather and connect with during their teen years can relate with this character relationship. But I think that anyone in Sonny’s scenario should the opportunity to connect with their newly found father figure, sometimes you learn that they are the father you always needed and wanted.
Cruz III-2
Every teenage has tremendous amount of temptations. Whether it’s for worldly possession, or to satisfy an untamable urge, we are always have linger in front of us. Sonny is not exception from the mundane desires of human nature.
One of Sonny’s temptations is his habit of stealing. Through out the novel, Sonny has stolen worldly possessions such as magazines, or his biggest temptations, money. He justifies his looting by say saying “…to save this money, to use it right” (49). Every one of our temptations, we can justify it on why we do. Some reasons are better, while the rest can just seem ridiculous.
What Sonny can possible learn from his stealing, well maybe nothing, but he it does affect him emotionally. Sonny justifies why he steals money, but he also tells us “[stealing] makes me feel shitty…” (49). Overall, he does steal, but it doesn’t mean Sonny enjoys it. I will admit this, I did steal something, and honestly, I didn’t get the whole point of it. Yes it was “free”, but it just seemed unsatisfying, not in the sense of doing it again to get satisfaction, but of a more a “that was stupid.”
To me, stealing doesn’t seem to be fun or anyway necessary; it’s pointless, plus it tells me I’m broke and I hate being in Financial Instability. I think with this stealing, it can motivate anyone into pushing themselves into Financial Stability. I don’t steal because I have Financial Stability and can provide for myself without having to stoop to a low level. I think that if Sonny can learn to find his own Financial Stability, he won’t need to steal and can have a better understanding of the value of money.
Cruz III-3
On from money, comes the second most important thing to a young boy; girls and what they are able to do to us. Sonny encounters two different women that strikes up his interest. He meets the seducing Cindy and the sweet Nica, both of whom entice his feelings towards woman.
Cindy is the character of lust and desire, where I titled her as the “Femme Fatale” or “The Deadly Woman.” Cindy character has taken the innocence out of Sonny and introduced him to the sexual awakening of adulthood. Cindy has aroused Sonny and he feel that “[he] couldn’t stop if she didn’t stop” (86). Like most boys introduced to sexual awakening, they get a taste, and they want more.
What I really like about this particular scene is, in a way able to relate to it. It follows the same idea of an older girl and naïve boy, but not exactly as a level as Sonny and Cindy. My friend got into the provocative and sexual state I’m in today and of coarse I like it every time. Fortunate for me I was to be a little bit calmer, and be not so much of an out of control sex hound.
Our Femme Fatale has seduced our Sonny and he has stepped into the sexual awakening. However, we have the opposite character Nica, the more sweet and innocent relationship built up with our protagonist.
Nica is another neighbor girl that causes an interest in Sonny. Their relationship isn’t based on sexual desires, but rather a more intimate bond. Sonny feels that he and Nica can be more than just friends; he says the “[he] wanted to say, with you” (203). The significance of this character emphasizes the idea that, as we grow older and bond with other people, we develop feelings for the other person.
Cruz III- 4
I don’t what woman do, but they overall have some sort of effect on us. I remembered all the small school boy crushes I got when I was friends with a girl. The weird butterflies in my stomach and acting different around her, funny thing are I still do that today. Sonny is able to learn what intimacy can be like with a woman, even if it does sound crazy a bit.
A woman’s influence is the most powerful persuader in human existence. Cindy portrays the lust and seduction a naïve boy can fall for and not truly embrace. She awakens his sexual activity and indulges his carnal desires. Nica is the sweet heart that awakens Sonny’s heart and teaches him how to have feelings for another woman. I personally love the idea of a putting these two woman into one and have both their personalities in one woman.
Sonny is teenager experiencing life a novel goes on. He deals wit his habit of stealing, starting a new life with his stepfather, and experiencing the influences of women. Able to connect with our protagonist, most of us can say that Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers effectively and accurately portrays a teenage male. Sonny is acting crazy, but it allows him to learn and bee able to grow more than he realizes.
I remember being a crazy teenager. Coming home late, hanging with various groups of people, going to parties, and making some of the biggest mistakes. It almost seems like it was yesterday, but in my case it was last week. I think making mistakes, and just being some what out of control of being a teenager is a good way of growing up. Learning from your previous actions and mistakes can teach us more of our lives. Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers portrays a boy’s growth as a teenager from his actions. Not all of actions are the smartest, but the craziest decisions he makes can benefit him more than he can realize.
In the novel, the character Sonny, experiences many factors of life during his teenage years. For most of us, we all can relate to most of Sonny’s life and all the aspects portrayed. Take for instance Sonny and Clod’s relationship. We see from the beginning that Sonny doesn’t take too well with his Stepfather when Sonny says “…this Cloyd wasn’t right for both of us” (19). Sonny already comes off that Cloyd isn’t ideal for him and his mother and expresses it oh so bluntly and already feels to shut Cloyd out.
I think fortunately for me I never had to bond with a stepfather at Sonny’s age. I’m happy that my birth father was able to see me grow and raise me. But I think those who had a stepfather and connect with during their teen years can relate with this character relationship. But I think that anyone in Sonny’s scenario should the opportunity to connect with their newly found father figure, sometimes you learn that they are the father you always needed and wanted.
Cruz III-2
Every teenage has tremendous amount of temptations. Whether it’s for worldly possession, or to satisfy an untamable urge, we are always have linger in front of us. Sonny is not exception from the mundane desires of human nature.
One of Sonny’s temptations is his habit of stealing. Through out the novel, Sonny has stolen worldly possessions such as magazines, or his biggest temptations, money. He justifies his looting by say saying “…to save this money, to use it right” (49). Every one of our temptations, we can justify it on why we do. Some reasons are better, while the rest can just seem ridiculous.
What Sonny can possible learn from his stealing, well maybe nothing, but he it does affect him emotionally. Sonny justifies why he steals money, but he also tells us “[stealing] makes me feel shitty…” (49). Overall, he does steal, but it doesn’t mean Sonny enjoys it. I will admit this, I did steal something, and honestly, I didn’t get the whole point of it. Yes it was “free”, but it just seemed unsatisfying, not in the sense of doing it again to get satisfaction, but of a more a “that was stupid.”
To me, stealing doesn’t seem to be fun or anyway necessary; it’s pointless, plus it tells me I’m broke and I hate being in Financial Instability. I think with this stealing, it can motivate anyone into pushing themselves into Financial Stability. I don’t steal because I have Financial Stability and can provide for myself without having to stoop to a low level. I think that if Sonny can learn to find his own Financial Stability, he won’t need to steal and can have a better understanding of the value of money.
Cruz III-3
On from money, comes the second most important thing to a young boy; girls and what they are able to do to us. Sonny encounters two different women that strikes up his interest. He meets the seducing Cindy and the sweet Nica, both of whom entice his feelings towards woman.
Cindy is the character of lust and desire, where I titled her as the “Femme Fatale” or “The Deadly Woman.” Cindy character has taken the innocence out of Sonny and introduced him to the sexual awakening of adulthood. Cindy has aroused Sonny and he feel that “[he] couldn’t stop if she didn’t stop” (86). Like most boys introduced to sexual awakening, they get a taste, and they want more.
What I really like about this particular scene is, in a way able to relate to it. It follows the same idea of an older girl and naïve boy, but not exactly as a level as Sonny and Cindy. My friend got into the provocative and sexual state I’m in today and of coarse I like it every time. Fortunate for me I was to be a little bit calmer, and be not so much of an out of control sex hound.
Our Femme Fatale has seduced our Sonny and he has stepped into the sexual awakening. However, we have the opposite character Nica, the more sweet and innocent relationship built up with our protagonist.
Nica is another neighbor girl that causes an interest in Sonny. Their relationship isn’t based on sexual desires, but rather a more intimate bond. Sonny feels that he and Nica can be more than just friends; he says the “[he] wanted to say, with you” (203). The significance of this character emphasizes the idea that, as we grow older and bond with other people, we develop feelings for the other person.
Cruz III- 4
I don’t what woman do, but they overall have some sort of effect on us. I remembered all the small school boy crushes I got when I was friends with a girl. The weird butterflies in my stomach and acting different around her, funny thing are I still do that today. Sonny is able to learn what intimacy can be like with a woman, even if it does sound crazy a bit.
A woman’s influence is the most powerful persuader in human existence. Cindy portrays the lust and seduction a naïve boy can fall for and not truly embrace. She awakens his sexual activity and indulges his carnal desires. Nica is the sweet heart that awakens Sonny’s heart and teaches him how to have feelings for another woman. I personally love the idea of a putting these two woman into one and have both their personalities in one woman.
Sonny is teenager experiencing life a novel goes on. He deals wit his habit of stealing, starting a new life with his stepfather, and experiencing the influences of women. Able to connect with our protagonist, most of us can say that Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers effectively and accurately portrays a teenage male. Sonny is acting crazy, but it allows him to learn and bee able to grow more than he realizes.
It's Ok to be Crazy
The critical theory method I will go with is Reader Response about Sonny’s teenager behavior. While reading this book I was able to connect here and there in the book. Not only because of being a teenage Latino Boy, but having some of the experiences he has I can relate with. I think that reader response will be able to connect with and have a process because we all have done stupid things while we were growing up, and for most of us, it was only a few years ago. For me though, well its starts out a year ago.
Personally, I think making stupid decisions, getting into situations you regret are all part of growing up and learning from life. Some lessons are not as irreversible and easily to move on from, but the whole idea of experiencing and learning can go a long way in the end. I think being able to a more personal experience into your work allows your audience to connect even more with your work and have them have a better understanding of your point. Plus if you open and show you’re a little bit of your own vulnerability.
What I want to approach is Gilb’s depiction of a fictional character can be similar to an everyday, and comment with my own life. While reading this, it reminds me of some of my own aspects of my teenage life; such as girl getting a naïve boy into provocative attitudes. I think more real and the more you can compare with a real teenage boy life, the more the character can seem real as you read the book. Able to show that even though this boy is making mistakes, it doesn’t mean we don’t. Lets be honest, all of us aren’t perfect and have been crazy teenagers and some of us have been crazier than others, but then we can connect and realize that we are similar in ways.
Personally, I think making stupid decisions, getting into situations you regret are all part of growing up and learning from life. Some lessons are not as irreversible and easily to move on from, but the whole idea of experiencing and learning can go a long way in the end. I think being able to a more personal experience into your work allows your audience to connect even more with your work and have them have a better understanding of your point. Plus if you open and show you’re a little bit of your own vulnerability.
What I want to approach is Gilb’s depiction of a fictional character can be similar to an everyday, and comment with my own life. While reading this, it reminds me of some of my own aspects of my teenage life; such as girl getting a naïve boy into provocative attitudes. I think more real and the more you can compare with a real teenage boy life, the more the character can seem real as you read the book. Able to show that even though this boy is making mistakes, it doesn’t mean we don’t. Lets be honest, all of us aren’t perfect and have been crazy teenagers and some of us have been crazier than others, but then we can connect and realize that we are similar in ways.
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