The novel, So Far From God author Ana Castillo discusses a lot about roles that Sophia and her daughters Fe, Esperanza, Caridad, y la Loca play throughout the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Sophia takes on the role of being the mother who provides support and economical well being for her daughters and herself since her husband abandon them. Despite her husband Domingo leaving her, Sofia did not give up on life and continues to go no matter the circumstances. Sofia demonstrates her masculine side by becoming the men of her house while still having to be a caring mother to her daughters. Even with the death of her daughters Sofia find a form of resistance to be a strong Chicana despite the obstacles. However, throughout the rest of the novel, the women and her daughters all go through life changing experiences that completely changes them and their ways of living. Sofia and her daughters Fe, Esperanza, Caridad, y la Loca represents the struggle that women have to face in life. The women went through a series of emotional and tragic struggles. For example, Caridad who struggles with the abandonment of her husband Memo, she is also brutally attacked which causes a tremendous impact in her life. While Esperanza, Fe, and la loca have their own experiences throughout that completely shape their lives as well. As I observed the women of the novel, I come to think that the issues that these women go through are similar to the contemporary issues that women continue to face today. What does the class think? Do the issues of the women in the novel connect to today women issues or gender roles in Chicana or Latina women today?
On the contrast, as I previously mentioned, the women in the novel come to face tragic life events. The novel illustrates other issues such as religion, psychological issues, heartbreaks, and death. Throughout the novel, the women encounter death. For example, Fe and Esperanza are both women are killed. Esperanza encounters death while working across sees while Fe dies from cancer caused by chemical exposure. However, Esperanza comes back home in spirit after her death but Fe does not. While reading the novel, the most interesting part of the novel is to see that Esperanza come back in spirit. Throughout the novel, Esperanza is seen as the good daughter that helps her mother Sofia with her sisters. Sofia looks at Esperanza as the daughter she can count on because of the mother and daughter bond (47). While Fe is the daughter is more distance from her family. Fe is portrayed as being “too ashamed of her family” because she did not want her family to meet Tom (31). I though it was interesting I got see that how both Fe and Esperanza are portrayed different but Esperanza is the sister that comes back to the family in spirit. I think that Esperanza comes back in spirit because she was helpful person to her and family while Fe was more distance had a different attitude that isolated herself from than her sisters and her mother. I believe that Esperanza spirit comes back for her family upon her death while Fe’s did not come back she was not as close to her family like her sister. Why do you believe that Esperanza spirit came back in spirit and Fe does not?
I believe that no matter how many years pass, women will still face the same issues as women from the past did and as us women in the present are facing. This is because, as long as we live in a patriarchy society, we will not be able to get away from these issues. Luckily, women are slowly exposing these issues and so, we are starting to help one another.
I found Sofia to be similar to my mother. Like I have mentioned before on this blog, my mother had to take on the role of the head of the household when my step-father got deported. Similar to Sofia, my mother had to provide my siblings and I the support and economical means that my step-father had provided before he got to deported. I can see that this was difficult for my mother, but I appreciate her sacrifices and hardship, because without her, I do not know if we would have survived as a family today.
I think that a lot of the issues presented in the book are still seen amongst Chicanas of present day. I believe the issues are still seen because they revolve around patriarchy. Many of the issues that Sofia and her daughters face are focused around patriarchy. Patriarchy is an issue that is still found in the Chicano/a community. I also believe that a lot of the gender roles presented in the book are still seen today. For example, the idea of a mother that does everything while the father does very little is still seen in this day and age. This also relates to patriarchy.
I think that Esperanza’s spirit came back because she was the one who had the strongest bond with her mother. Esperanza always seemed like the one who helped out her mother the most. I think that the strength of the bond made Esperanza’s spirit come back to her mother after death. I believe Fe didn’t come back because she didn’t have a strong enough bond to her mother. I felt that she really didn’t connect with her mother. If Fe would have had stronger bond with her mother I believe her spirit would have come back.
Yes, I do believe, the struggles that these characters are very similar to the struggles women go through today. The problems have not gone away, they have just transformed, these struggles have taken different shapes. I do believe that Esperanza’s spirit came back because of the strong connection she had with her mother, unlike Fe. Esperanza’s bond with her mother could not even be broken up by her death.
I do believe the issues of these women are similar to issues Chicanas deal with today. There are still roles us Chicanas are expected to fulfill. Some chicanas are vistims of their husbands due to abuse, drug use, and alcohalism. There are also a lot of women familes left to provide for themselves. The mothers then have to act as both mom and dad and raise multiple children.
I do believe that women will always face the same issues and have to struggle with patriarchy due to the family structure women live in. It saddens me that women have to struggle even during this time. I believe women are the pillars in the family household just like proven in the character Sofia. Sofia is an independent women and mother, who raised four of her children by herself.