Because the theme of my integration essay revolves around the roles women play in each of the novels we have read for this class, it was interesting for me to look at the part both Beli and her daughter Lola had in the plot of this novel which, according to the title, revolves around a male character: Oscar Wao. Beli is obviously a very strong woman, as she went through a lot of struggles growing up without a family. These struggles continue to form as she grows up, moving from conflicts with La Inca to trouble with her boyfriend relationships: Jack Pujols, the gangster, and later, her husband. Lola, too, is a strong woman who attains a college education in the United States and is popular with many friends. Despite this, though, she also has conflict with her mother growing up and also with many of the men she encounters.
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What’s interesting about Dominican culture, as portrayed in this book, is that it not only encourages men to get girls, but it also supports women in hooking up with guys. Just as in American culture, Beli dreamed about falling madly in love with some guy who would sweep her off her feet (87). This desire had no hope of coming true, though, until Beli hit the adolescent “biochemical jackpot” and quickly became a very good looking girl. Her transformation made her shy at first, until she realized it could help her attain the coveted goal she was looking for. However, in the end she falls for the wrong men, and ends up being hurt by them. Like Beli, Lola also uses her femininity to her advantage to get with Aldo, a boy who lives on the jersey shore (62). Lola runs away with him in direct defiance to her mother, as Beli is always so controlling. A few months after this lifestyle, though, Lola realizes that she doesn’t like her situation and calls Oscar, who brings Beli along to take Lola home. After her disappointing first relationship, though, Lola continues to keep dating different guys that continue to fail her. It seems to be a never ending cycle for women in this book.
Steph, I am fascinated by what you say, with the book supporting women hooking up with guys. I hadn’t thought of that before; With a masochistic society, my tendency was to think of the drive for men to get women, with women being the unwanting—or at least passive—recipients of this. To think that it also supports women in this pursuit is interesting.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I wonder from your examples about whether it’s actually supporting them to “hook up” or if it is more validating the human desire for love. Because in each case, Beli especially, it was not a hook up but rather something she wanted to last much longer.
Your point at the end about the conflicting ideas of love, though, really makes sense. A great insight into the book.