Hunger Memory Reading Response

Rodriguez is constantly exotified because of his ethnic origins. He finds it hard to assimilate into a culture that constantly seeks to exploit him , as demonstrated by having been suggested to become a model. Not only to his looks play a role in this difficulty, but also his language. He presents that American assimilation is measured by a person's conformity to one cultural identity and abandonment of all others. For example, he points out his Spanish-yet-English-pronunciated name and refers to his story as an "American story". The author compares his identity to that of a Shakespeare's character, Caliban, who transcends his limitations by stealing Prospero's language. In the same way, Rodriguez exceeds the limitations hurled upon him by his language and uses that as a platform to launch his message regarding the importance of education and its vitality in bridging the gap between two different cultures. His success as a writer and speaker also validates this message.