Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Latinos :: essays research papers
                                        History’s Role in Fiction      In the novels the house on The House on the Lagoon and Mambo Kings, real historical facts and figures are used to give the stories a sense of realism. The authors of these novels use small pieces of history to make a realistic setting for their stories. The authors also use fictional historical events and figures to add personal and emotional elements to the novels.      The House on the Lagoon is mainly about fictional characters who give personal accounts of real historical events. The novel begins with Buenadventura’s arrival in San Juan on July 4, 1917; the day Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship. This day is the beginning of an endless debate over the nationality of the residents of Puerto Rico. Politics play a huge role through out the entire novel. The argument over statehood versus independence or commonwealth results in the destruction of the Mendizabal family. The Mendizabal’s personal struggle with this issue reveals just how extreme the controversy was.      At this time in history Puerto Rico could not seem to come to a decision on whether they were Americans or Puerto Ricans. Unfortunately neither side of the conflict could appreciate or even consider the arguments of the opposite side. Hatred and contempt grew between the parties. Emotions, on both sides, were so strong that a father disowned his son on account of their political disagreement. The argument started when Manuel refused to take down a Puerto Rican flag that his girlfriend Coral had given him.                                              Kristen Kszos (2) Prior to this argument Manuel was neither a Nativist, like his father, or an Independista, like Coral. â€Å"At first Manuel joined the Independista Party to please Coral, but his resentment toward his father radicalized him.†(357) Manuel was a stubborn man who did not like being told what to do. When his father demanded the removal of the flag , and then told him that he couldn’t marry Coral, Manuel’s anger and resentment drove him to take increasing action for the AK 47.      The Mambo Kings is set in a real time with real historical figures. The novel is filled with real historical figures such as Machito and Desi Arnaz; in fact the only fictional figures are the Castillo brothers, their family, and some of their friends. The main characters in the novel are used to let the reader really know exactly what life was like for the musicians of that era.
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