Analysis Of Gloria Anzaldua s Poem, The And English, A...

Southwestern America is home to numerous cultures, all of which intermingle and interact on a daily basis. This creates a wealth of literature and art from the perspective of those who live with such a variation of experiences. Authors and artists experiencing the culture associated with being a part of many communities show the culture as they see it through their work. One such author is Gloria Anzaldua. In her poem, To Live in the Borderlands Means You, Gloria Anzaldua reveals her identity as a multicultural woman and the struggles that she faces in doing so. She relates this through the use of Spanish and English, first person perspective, and gender. Acculturation was first defined by Redfield and colleagues as â€Å"a phenomenon which†¦show more content†¦Initially, the sight of Spanish within a work that is primarily English is unexpected, forcing readers to take a moment to fully comprehend the text. Anzaldua’s use of Spanish utilizes this quality, but it also demonstrates her flexibility in language and the way that both Spanish and English play important roles in how she identifies herself. Both languages are a part of Anzaldua, and applying them acknowledges her refusal to conform into one simple stereotype or idea. The poem is written from the second person perspective, placing the reader into Anzaldua’s viewpoint. Anzaldua could easily employ first person perspective, using the pronouns I or â€Å"me† to describe her experiences, yet she did not. Instead, she uses the pronoun you. This is a bold choice that forces readers to see Anzaldua s experience from her viewpoint. Second person perspective is evident before the poem is even read. To Live in the Borderlands Means You is both the title and the phrase repeated in some form at the beginning of each stanza. Such a strong statement acts almost as a call to action that captures readers and tells them of the experience of living in the borderlands. Each stanza frames the reader as the person experiencing life as Anzaldua experiences it, creating a more intimate relationship with the text. First or third person perspective creates a narrative setup in which the poem is directed at the world around the reader, giving them a view into the poem