Lit Circle Blog 2

How does sacrifice influence/impact the family?

Dona Guadalupe has been the stone of the family. By this I mean she’s been the only solid thing for the family since everything around them was falling apart. But now that Don Victor is back Dona Guadalupe can now give the responsibility of having the strength behind the family to Don Victor. This is the first time Dona Guadalupe shows her weakness towards the family. She’s been showing them nothing but strength and bravery since the whole revolution but now that Don Victor has returned he is the strength where she can show her weakness too. Don Victor leaving his family was a major sacrifice as well. He’s been gone trying to find work to support his family but being so distant he was helpless in helping them because there was no way he could reach them. When he came back Victoriano resented his father’s return. The sacrifice that Don Victor made to leave his family put a strain in the relationship he had with Victoriano, because Victoriano felt like his father’s return was too late. He thought why would it have mattered if he came now when all the hardship they went through already happened without him there. Don Victor made Victoriano sacrifice his childhood to become the “man of the house.” He was given this responsibility as a little boy when his father first left the canyon. While he could have been playing with kids in the fields he was watching over all his sisters, on top of helping his mother maintain the household, finding something to provide them with. Each sacrifice that each person made put not only a strain on themselves but with members of the family. The relationship everyone now has, has some bit of tension within it. The reunion of the family felt awkward because of this. Half of the family members were happy that everyone was together and some felt different about it. Victoriano felt that it wouldn’t have been necessary but he has too much respect to tell his father. So did Lupe, because of her father leaving she didn’t know who this stranger was and didn’t want their mother to meet with him.

What is the value of family?

The value of family depends on certain people, with the way they were brought up. For Dona Guadalupe the value of her family being together was crucial since she was the one showing no face of fear or struggle always being the “rock of nuestra casa.” The way I was brought up my family was my rock. Since birth I was surrounded by uncles and aunts, playing with cousins. There was a time where one of my friends questioned me, why I hang out with my family so much. I asked her why don’t you? She told me that she only has her immediate family here and they’re usually busy. I mind you I was seven at the time and I thought about not having family around, not having our ritual of family parties every weekend. I understood now why she questioned my love of my family, why I spent so much time with them, so I told her, why don’t you see for yourself and see why I love my family so much. She saw how we interact with each other, all the food displayed on the table, everyone enjoying one another’s company. She told me how her family weekends were never like this and we both understood each other’s value in our families. Just how Carlota screamed at Lupe for not giving their father any attention. Lupe didn’t believe she needed to because she didn’t know this man. Don Victor left when Lupe was just a child and he doesn’t blame her for holding her ground. Whereas Carlota was old enough to remember her father and adore him all the while. Don Victor gave Lupe to be familiarized with him and get comfortable, while Lupe was trying to figure out who this man was; why everyone was so excited to see him. She hasn’t experience of having her father around, she doesn’t understand why her mother is putting a white mask on and spraying sweet smell on her. She stood her ground because she was afraid, she was afraid because she doesn’t know who this man is.