For Anzaldua identity goes beyond a border. The history provided by Anzaldua is essential to understanding the different types of beliefs and people within Mexico. The border division is not only something that is physical but also internal. Because of all he conflict that has been going on between the US and Mexico there has been the creation of a “sock culture, a border culture, a third country, a closed country” (33). Because of the poor situations in Mexico, Mexican cross the border and come into the United States, and once they come in they are teated badly. Anzaldua has pointed out that although it’s bad, it’s even worse for women.
This has lead me to believe that she has some sexual issues. She claims, she “made the choice to be queer” (41) as opposed to it being something inherent. Perhaps this could all be part of her rebelliousness but it’s still not clear why she made that choice. It seems that she deliberately put herself in that position. After reading chapter 2, she made a great point about contradictions within her own culture. While a mother may tell her daughter that she needs to have self-respect and the same time she tells her daughter that she needs to do what her husband says. Perhaps she sees the flaws of her own culture, such as this contradiction and is trying to rebel against it and come up with a new culture.
What I’m not completely clear about is the serpent. Anzaldua goes into much detail to talk about the serpent and what it represents within the Chicano/Mexican culture. What is the significance of the serpent and why does she compare herself to the serpent?
La Virgen de Guadalupe I see as the new culture’s, Mexican and American culture fusing together, way of creating a new religion of its own. I think that the author compares herself to the serpent because the serpent is represented in la Virgen de Guadalupe. Also the Coatlicue was a variation of a fertility goddess but was represented as a “serpent skirt.” Anzaldua mentions that this goddess was the mother of the celestial deities. Perhaps by identifying with the serpent Anzaldua wants to create something of her own; taking some from her Mexican-Indian heritage and some from her education to fashion something completely new and different.
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