Coming of Age Theme in Stories by Nash Candelaria and Denise Chavez - Essay Example

The short story explains how racial discrimination and prejudice dominate a transforming society.

The Last of the Menu Girls by Denise Chavez revolves around a Hispanic American young woman. The author uses the character, Rocio, to elaborate on challenges cultural transformations within a complex society. As the character mature, she seeks the aboriginal identity among a Hispanic and African American population. The story explores the “Coming of age” theme by elaborating sophisticated challenges recognizing mixed cultural identities. Rocio struggles to incorporate identities from other teenagers within her community. Rocio’s transition to womanhood elaborates the “Coming of age” theme in the story “what did it mean to be a woman? To be beautiful, complete? Was beauty a physical or a spiritual thing, was its strength of emotion, resolve, a willingness to love? What was it then that made women lovely?" (p. 53)

The Conversion of the Jews by Philip Roth uses the character, Ozzie, to demonstrate the transitional effect in the story. The character illustrates the connection between two religions, which include Judaism and elements of Christianity. Philip uses the character, Ozzie, to explain the religious conflicts of practice. Ozzie displays internal religious misconception as to the story’s center of focus. Philip states, “I asked Binder if He could make all that in six days, and He could pick the six days he wanted right out of nowhere, why couldn't He let a woman have a baby without having intercourse.” Read More