Drown by Junot Diaz Literary Analysis Essay Sample

Junot Diaz's novel, Drown, uncovers the complexity of finding one’s identity as a Dominican Republic immigrant. Through the perspective of Yunior, readers get a glimpse at the struggle that exists both in facing the traumatic events from an individuals’ home country and the journey itself of immigrating to America. Diaz's approach allows us to see the constant stream of struggles characters face that obstruct their identity by expressing their experiences with abandonment, disabilities, and poverty. These events shape what we identify with influencing the diversity of cultures around us, the languages we use, and the environment we end up calling home. Diaz elicits an intriguing authenticity that exists in the development of one’s identity as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic.  

Throughout the novel, we discover the pressure some immigrants face to abandon their traditions and way of life, to fit into their new society as Dominican Americans. Diaz emphasizes the importance of the immigrant experience through vivid, strident, and expressive language. The short story "No Face" is told from the perspective of Ysrael, a boy whose entire life has been defined by his physical appearance as a result of a tragic accident. Ysrael was attacked by a pig when he was young, leaving him with scars on his face. He was shunned from his community and judged for what people saw on the outside. As a result, Ysreal "pulls on his mask" to deal with the trauma that the mask hides, such as those who feel pressured to abandon their old traditions to fit in with their new society. Instead of feeling overpowered by the community, Ysreal learns to express his disability as “his power of INVISIBILITY.” Diaz expresses the human desire for acceptance through Ysrael by integrating the assumption that having a common cultural life is an overwhelming way to determine assimilation. Additionally, Diaz utilizes a variety of Spanish phrases, resulting in an authentic experience that is not limited by the stereotype that English is the only language spoken in America, as well as shedding light on the existence of hybrid identities.

As depicted in the short story "No Face," characters frequently drown in the opinions of others, resulting in the loss of one's true identity. Diaz creates a space that highlights self-doubt in forms we cannot always control. Drown has reminded me to be myself in all situations and to shape meaning with each change of life.