Rodriguez Essay

Daniel Contreras
English 101A
13 July 2011

Unalienable Pain

In the book, Hunger of Memory, written by Richard Rodriguez, he commits many errors of logic that are also known as fallacies. In chapter two, Rodriguez claims that academic success is only possible when a student sheds away from his or her primal relationship to their family. Rodriguez persists that he was given a great education during his childhood; consequently, it caused him to lose all present intimacy with his family and the language of Spanish. Later on, he describes his parents in a negative light: misunderstanding, oppressed, and submissive. Moreover, in chapter six, he later argues that those who cannot reveal their inner feelings by the means of writing are strongly targeted by oppression. Rodriguez assumes that the reader will wholeheartedly agree with him and his arguments; however, he tends to only analyze one point of view: his point of view.
Certainly, in chapter two, Rodriguez stresses that his academic success was a byproduct of his cleansing from his family relations; in fact, he goes as far as saying that in order to be a good student he or she must change his or her own childhood practices in order to have a successful education, even if it means putting ones relatives in the back-burner. Throughout the chapter, Rodriguez emphasizes his triumphant education. As a result, he receives praise from peers. Even though he has reached the end of his journey to education, Rodriguez yearns for the family intimacy he once had during his childhood. Nonetheless, he strongly believes that no child can achieve educational superiority while maintaining strong ties with their immediate family. Since he found it, Rodriguez has continuously and religiously followed the book that supports his point.
Since he followed only one source, Rodriguez' argument lacks potency. He himself even admits, "I read...only to find infrequent and slight mention of students like me" (Rodriguez 48). Until he found Richard Hoggart's text titled The Uses of Literacy, Richard felt alienated: different and not belonging. After he examined the text, he was "able to frame the meaning of...[his] academic success...[and] the loss" (Rodriguez 48). Rodriguez uncritically accepts Hoggart's research without taking into account the many things that may differ between students; for example, the customs of the family and the type of school attended are not the same for every "scholarship boy" (48). Rodriguez reliably clings onto his own childhood which was engulfed by two starkly different worlds: his private catholic school and his traditional Mexican household (50). He argues that students cannot be a success both at home and at school simultaneously, yet look at his siblings. They all maintained their family ties and received highly rewarding careers.
Moreover, Rodriguez' argument offers really only two options: break one's family ties or become an academic failure. This is an either or fallacy that does not take into account all of the existing possibilities; for example, a student can have close intimate family ties and still graduate from college to receive a prestigious career. Making its logic questionable, Rodriguez' argument neglects that possibility. Rodriguez cannot argue that argument based on a very narrow viewpoint like his. Afterwards, Rodriguez argues that people unable to express their feelings by writing are dangerously suppressed people. For example, his mother and father rarely write, but when they do write it is out of obligation not by choice; in contrast, because of his prior education, Rodriguez is able to write well. In his writings, he creates decoys to which he can direct and express all his intrinsic problems. Even though his mother kindly requested him not to, Rodriguez writes this autobiography revealing the family's personal opinions and struggles. As a result, he has angered, disappointing, and hurt several people. Although he argues that reporting the truth is his duty as a writer, he should take into account the feelings of those he is writing about.
Name, when Rodriguez received a written letter from his mother it requested, "Please write about something else in the future" (193). Painting his parents in a bad picture, he feels the obligation to write a detailed autobiography about his family. This indeed seems to be a very selfish thing to do; also, the argument is a fallacy as well. Because both did not receive a complete education, his parents may not understand Rodriguez' interest in literature. Similarly, all three of them share this unalienable pain; however, Rodriguez is the only one who uses the means of writing to acknowledge it. Although Rodriguez argues it is, writing is not the only way the parents are able to express themselves. There are other means of expressing one's feelings and thoughts: art, music, storytelling, and so on. His argument says that writing is the only way to express one's self, but that is clearly not the case.
Finally, the author realizes that he has achieved a great deal from his education; however, after reading the story it leaves one with several questions: What will Rodriguez' parents feel after reading Hunger of Memory? Will Rodriguez ever return to his roots? As the saying goes, one must never forget where we come from. "It is a lonely adventure" for Rodriguez since he has peaked in one world but sunk in another (202).

Labels: