How to Tame a Wild Tongue Analysis Example

Chicanos as well as other immigrants who have fled their countries have by some means or another experienced racism and injustice. Discussing thoroughly regarding the social and cultural differences between one another can become a contentious topic. In 1987, Gloria Anzaldua, wrote an essay How to Tame a Wild Tongue in which she argues that about how Chicano people should persevere and stand up for their language and culture, to not allow it to lessen. Through stylistic choices, Anzaldua  had the ability to conveyed her message through her utilizing tone and use of metaphors.

Anzaldua took advantage of her writing skills by using a sharp and passionate tone in order to analyze the social and cultural differences between Chicanos and white people. She argued about the suppression and prejudice that these people have experienced. According to How to Tame a Wild Tongue, Anzaldua says that in order to hurt her, one can “talk badly about [her] language” (81). Through this literary device the audience is able to empathize her anger and bitterness towards the people who have disrespected their Chicano Spanish. The serious and energized tone that Anzaldua uses is able to bring awareness to the injustice ethnic groups have to face due to their form of expression. Anzaldua also illustrates the hope she has for her people by vindicating that “...the mestizas and mestizos, will remain”(86). Anzaldua’s stance explains that even after all the oppression Chicanos endure they will prevail with their language, sense of self and culture. This choice impacts her goal by guiding Chicano people to stand up for themselves by not allowing people to confine their freedom of speech. As other Chicanos become engaged they help to come closer to the goal of a just life and a society that accepts every fragment of them.

In essence to the condescending manner that American people look upon Chicanos due to the difference in language, Anzaldua uses a metaphor to re-enforce that the struggle to maintain Chicano culture has to prevail . Referencing how others look at Chicanos in a disdainful form due to their heritage, Anzaldua speaks through a comparison by mentioning that the doctor will need to figure out a solution for “[her] tongue” (75). Anzaldua makes the choice to use this figure of speech for the first page to help her explain the problems Chicanos face in a fictional way. She is stating that society is forcing Chicanos to hold back their customs. This is to also help her audience understand her objective and perspective of what being Chicano meant when being looked down upon. Another example of Anzaldua’s is when she illustrates the way that Chicanos abandon their ancestry to live in America and how Americans push them to do so by trying to know “how do you tame a wild tongue”(75). Juxtaposing these images to reality help the readers depict the aim of Anzaldua which is for her audience to respect their Chicano Spanish and feel like they can embrace and respect their birthright without being ashamed.

Anzaldua’s writing was created in order to persuade people with other backgrounds and heritages who are building their life to refuse regret for expressing themselves. There will always be racist people who will attempt to make one feel ashamed for their cultural and social differences. We all must educate ourselves with other cultures in order to end prejudice, stereotypes and oppression so that everyone can be successful in their own life.