Why is "Para Teresa" written in English and Spanish? Ines
Hernandez Avila begins “Para Teresa” by addressing it to Teresa in Spanish, but
most of her poem is written in English. The poem implies that both Teresa and
Avila are of Latina decent. By writing sentences in Spanish, Avila gives a more
direct connection to Teresa. The direct, Spanish tone also shows genuine care
about the connection to Teresa. Rather than only have the poem written in
English, the Spanish provides a more authentic tone. The Spanish reveals the
narrator’s Latina ethnicity, which helps describe the narrator’s cultural
setting. The narrator’s Latina roots suggest that Spanish is her primary
language, so the poem’s Spanish writing gives a deeper element than if it was
simply written in English. Also, because the poem is written in a combination
of both English and Spanish, it applies to a much broader audience. The
narrator implies that because she is Latina, she is inferior to the Americans. She then states that she wants to prove that
she is not inferior to Americans. Whereas the poem could have been written in
either English or Spanish, the combination of English and Spanish helps to
portray a better distinction between the two cultural views.
2. According to the narrator this fight takes place when the
narrator was a child and the poem is written when the narrator is an adult.
What do you think triggers this reflection and why does the narrator now have a
greater understanding of Teresa? Teresa questioned the narrator’s status on
being a high, academic achiever, or a “teacher’s pet.” In response to Teresa’s
confrontation, the narrator describes herself by stating that her “fear salted
with confusion,” which displays that the narrator was troubled, maybe even
embarrassed, by Teresa’s comment. However, because the narrator finally
expresses her views to Teresa several years later, she implies that Teresa’s
confrontation has stuck with her throughout her life. Personally, I’ve realized
that when someone has heckled me, I make sure that it does not happen again.
I’ll act in a way that prevents me form being vulnerable to embarrassment.
Although it sounds weak, as I look back on my past experiences, I find that
it’s true. I feel that until her age of 28, narrator has frequently questioned
herself as to why she is the “teacher’s pet”. The poem goes on to describe the
narrator’s justification of why she strived academically and how her Latina
decent would not decrease her chances of being more successful than the
opposing whites. The narrator then lists reasons and ways to prove that the
undermined Latina can thrive over the white man, which expresses the narrator’s
strong, core values. I believe that these core values of responsibility,
ambition, honor, and intelligence have paved the way for the narrator’s life.
Due to the fact that the narrator finally illustrates her view to Teresa when
she is 28 years old, she must have had someone, like Teresa, question her successful
status. The narrator may have had a high position in work, possibly a promotion,
which prompted a coworker to challenge the narrator’s successful status.
The narrator first states that she did not understand Teresa.
Because of the narrator’s young age in her tension with Teresa, she must have
been very confused by Teresa’s comments. However, as several years have passed,
the narrator must have frequently asked herself why she was the “teacher’s
pet.” The narrator relates describes Teresa as rebellious, and the narrator
also justifies herself as rebellious. By overcoming the prejudiced view that
Latina’s were inferior to Whites, the narrator expresses her form of rebellion,
which allows her to understand Teresa more.
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