Capitalism Vs Socialism

Capitalism Vs Communism 

            In our society, there are many forms of government but the most prevalent are Capitalism and Socialism. I’m a lucky man because I was living in a communism regime, (
Cuba), and now destiny has taken me out of that erratic system, and I’m enjoying Capitalism. My experiences enable me to talk about both lifestyles under different forms of government. Now, when I feel a breeze in my nose, my conscience knows that democracy floats in my heart and the ideals of democracy are like waves of “liberty perfume.”

            In the obsolete country where I lived for 23 years, my mind was stamped forever with thoughts of the oppression and resignation I felt. Each day of my life was horrible because I was scared that I might die and never know liberty.

By the way, let me get reflection; what is socialist? The dictionary said, “It is a system based on shared or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” The concept looks wonderful but when it is put into practice, it doesn’t work. However, socialist governments never want their brutal systems to change, and they do not want to abdicate their economic or political methods. Life in a socialist society is barbarous, cruel, detestable, and it greatly limits your freedom.

To be “Free” is impossible in
Cuba. Fidel Castro took power in January of 1959 and he has never let democratic institutions such as free elections occur. There is one party only, the Communist party. Cuban people do not have free speech and citizens cannot criticize the government’s economic plans, political rule, or laws because if they do, the system puts you in jail. In a socialist country, you don’t have pluralism because these methods affect the regime. It is the reason, if you are not in agreement with the ideology of the Communist party, you are in trouble. You are labeled a “contra-revolutionary” which means to “oppose, or you are an enemy of the state” and your destiny is jail. Socialist government does not allow private property. Everything has one owner and that person is the president, who in
Cuba is Fidel Castro.

Everything is different in Capitalism. It is an economic system in which resources and means of production are privately owned and prices, production and the distribution of goods are determined mainly by competition in a free market. This concept has a name, “
Liberty.” I came to the
United States of America in October 1995. The U.S government gave me political asylum because I wrote a book against the Cuban government. Until that time, I never felt what it was like to live in a democracy. In my mind, I could never begin to imagine the benefits of a democratic society. My life began to be free; my pen didn’t cry again because no one told it what it needed to write. Freedom is the most important thing a human can have.

Here in
America, the people are able to elect their president, senator, house representative, and state governors. Here, there are separate parties, but the first amendment guarantees you free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to petition.

Socialism and Capitalism are two major forms of government that we find on our planet. Both are ideas of the human brain and both have effected the development of humanity. Everyday, capitalism is fought as our society struggles with problems like food, health, and economic, but the most important thing about capitalism is that it tries to improve on a democratic system which guarantees a life of freedom. Socialism is becoming obsolete because this system of government denies individual citizens the right to liberty and freedom, and oppresses them for eternity.

Vargas Llosa

Adolescents in the Cubs

Mario Vargas Llosa in his book “The Cubs” tells us the faithful reproduction of the life of a group of young people that grew up in Peruvian society. The author was describing how difficult it is living in macho society. Vargas Llosa exposes and criticizes the agony of the castration of that boy. The readers have an idea of how the adolescents think at that moment and how his medical condition affected him, and how this boy deals with his problem.

Latin American culture is too restricted and the taboo is always in the conscience of the people, then, it is very difficult for the adolescent to stop criticizing and reprimanding the people around them. “The Cubs” is the book that gives the readers many outside and inside examples of the Peruvian society; and the author presents his idea with a group of adolescents that try to help but at the same time oppressed and putting down the boy that is castrated. Vargas Llosa describes the world of these teenagers how it is and how human feelings are affected when society pressures them to be different, and do not accept them the way they are.

However, in his book, the author has not created something that he cannot perceive in the Latin American world because the cruelty of the human being is noticeable in every part of our lives. The author does not create a fancy picture; he gives us the reality of the group of teenagers that grew up together, and they discovered their world at the same time. Also, their experiences of their development and the way they think too. Their different ages give them a different perspective and idea of life and in addition their future and behaviors are changing day by day.

Aime Cesaire

When our eyes start to read this poem, those can feel the nostalgia of the author. Also his words give us what Aimé Césaire considered one of the founders of the Negritude literary movement because he anticipated the Civil rights movement in the decade of the 1950’s. “Nor with the liberator fixed in his whitewashed stone liberation. Nor with the conquistador. Nor with this contempt, with freedom, with this audacity” (3), for example this phrase gives us an idea of how the African people felt about slavery and not living in their own country. Also, the oppression and violation of their human rights puts them in the path of forgetting their culture and idiosyncrasy because they become someone else, something that they do not want. At this time white society restrains their freedom and imposes their way of thinking. Then, the readers can figure out that the black people want their own life, they do not want anybody telling them what they need to do.

“I have assassinated God with my laziness with my words with my gesture with my obscene songs.”(19), this ironical phrase tells us of how black people feel about themselves because society has always put in their minds that they are nothing that they are the social plague. But this ironic phrase “I have assassinated God with my laziness” is killing the logical thought, the truth, and history because it tells us different things. For example, Black people were sacrificing their life everyday in the cane camp, working very hard without any kind of job protection. Also, they were working as hard as the animals because they were working for 14 hours a day, and living in inhuman and infrahuman conditions. Black people lost everything that they had, when they were brought to
Latin America because they lost their culture and their idiosyncrasy. 

Césaire explains us the truth about how humans are looking for their own identity, and the place they come from. These aspects and melancholy never leaves their mind. In his prose Césaire criticized society, looking for the identity, and condemning his words that it is a violation of the human rights act.

           

Magic Realism

Magic Realism

 

            The story of Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo show us the period in
Mexico between the Mexican Revolution in 1919-1920, and after the Cristero Revolt of 1926 through 1926. Juan Rulfo is a magical realist author because his story could be played as fiction, but his realism opposes the fantasy because he never explains the fiction world to us. Rulfo leaves the readers to determine whether the plot is magical or the plot is more truthful according to the world as
Mexico in this period. At this time Mexico had many economical, social and political problems because after the dictatorship of Porfilio Díaz, the traditional rural
Mexico had been ruined. Juan Rulfo wants to tell us about many things, but in my analysis I want to explain, the dramatic exodus from the countryside to the city, the real event (Cristero War), and the memories (yellow color).

            Pedro Paramo wrote a book that gives the readers many ideas about thousands of rural people going to the cities during the Mexican Revolution because the economic and insecurity situation were an important issue at this time. Also, the countryside was abandoned by the government and the country areas did not have rules or organization by law. Then, Rulfo in his story tells us about the Comala town. When Juan Preciado, son of Pedro Paramo arrived there, Comala was deserted; only in this town there are ghosts. For example, the exodus, Pedro Paramo, “Recuerdo días en que Comala se llenó de adioses, y hasta nos parecía cosa alegre ir a despedir a los que se iban, es que se iban con intenciones de volver.” (103); the author expressed his feeling in the way the readers can see the crises of rural Mexico, and how the people have to move to the cities because they cannot support their families economically and protect them from the war and necessities, as well, the readers perceives the melancholy and the agony of the Mexican people at this period of time.

            Death to Mexican people is not something that they cannot understand because it is part of Mexican tradition. Then, Juan Rulfo gives his short story of Pedro Paramo a way of magical realism. But the author has created ghosts to describe something he was perceived because he rejected any imaginative way the readers have to doubts and vacillation the world that he is describing; but this world is real. For example, Cristero Revolt of 1926 through 1929 was a real event. Pedro Paramo, “Y ya cuando le faltaba poco para morir vinieron las guerras esas de los ‘cristeros’…Fue cuando comencé a morirme de hambre…” (104), the ghost tells us the truth because Cristero Revolt was a real event. Rulfo wants that his fictional story to show to the readers a historical real event and he wants to share the relationship between fictional characters, the events, and memories.

            It is important to know that the memories of magical realist work distorts time and collapses with the order. Then, the short story of Pedro Paramo explores Mexican social history of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But the narration is not chronological because this is an important part of the memories reconstruction. “¿Te acuerdas? Aquí cambio no se sentirá sino ese olor
Amarillo y acedo que parece destilar por todas partes. Y es que éste pueblo desdichado; untado todo de desdicha…” (107), strong phrase about what happened in Comala. The past and present of this town are horrible. The people leave and never come in back. The only way to return is when they are dead. Yellow color means, melancholy, agony, sadness, and nostalgia. The memories want us to forget the past because these memories brought to them loneliness and solitude.

            In conclusion, Juan Rulfo in Pedro Paramo shows us the reality of
Mexico and explores Mexican social history of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He illustrated to us the exodus from the rural areas to the cities, the realism of
Mexico at this period of time as Cristero War, and the memories.    

 

Endgame by Beckett

Endgame by Beckett

“I love order. It’s my dream…” (57), this phrase gives us the idea that Samuel Beckett’s character of Clov (he is blind) wants order around the world because it is important that the man finds himself trusting in the human condition. This play shows us the necessity of the human being finding the answers to many questions as a constant reference to the end of the world. For example this phrase shows us that Beckett is talking the tragedies of life, no matter how rational is, it is still not worth living for that reason we need order.

Hamm, who is blind, cannot stand up, and maybe this way he cannot see the world as it is but he can understand it. Also, sometimes he is so pessimistic, and does not believe in the order of the human. But it is important to know that Beckett is a moral realist, because he believes in good people. The argument between
Hamm and Clov shows us the idea that Beckett is a realist and believes that the God that made our planet is brutal and does not guide the human in the correcting way. But the human can conduct his own step in the correct way.

Hamm; “What in God’s name do you think you are doing?” Clov; “I’m doing my best to create a little order” (57).The importance of Beckett in this play is his power through his words and his ability to make us think a little more compassionate and willing to share, because to be good companions to others less fortunate than ourselves make us a better human being. These two characters are mutually dependent, but they have been fighting for years and continue to do so as the play progresses. In this way we can see the reality of life because the master has a different perception of the world than his servant. 

Our America by Jose Marti

Our America 

Our America, “…Estos tiempos no son para acostarse con el pañuelo en la cabeza, sino con las armas en la almohada,…trincheras de ideas valen más que trincheras de piedra…”, Martí calls us to wake up and start fighting for our values and identity. He knows that if Latin American does not fight for its values, then nobody can do for us what we can do for ourselves. This phrase give us the opportunity to know how important it is to be together at this time because Latin America was the ignorant continent, slavery was permitted, and our governments were not working for the people, they were working for our oppressor, or they fought each other to get power. Also, the symbolism of this phrase gives us the idea that Martí thought that education was important, because the idea of education and the rock is just the oppressor. But if Latin American has its own education and it has a lot people believing in its values then,
Latin America can defeat any enemy.

            “Éramos una visión…Éramos una mascara, con calzones de Inglaterra, el chaleco parisiense, el chaquetón de Norteamérica y la montera de España…”, our integration and independence are important parts of Our America. Martí wants to inspire our young people to fight together, and not follow our colonist culture. Be independent means, that we should have our own universities because our professors can teach about our history and culture. Also, our governments need to know about Hispanic-America, our necessities and not follow the European books, or the
U.S. books. Latin Americans need to be together because Latin American have one thing that any continent has because most of the Latin American countries speak Spanish, and we know about oppression and tyranny because for three centuries we the colonies are of the same country (
Spain). Also, Marti trying to prevent the
United States this kind of leadership so we cannot be sold to the imperialist; but it is important, that we do not fight each other because in this way we can open the door for the stranger. 

Realism

Realism

 

Realism is the movement that was dated in
France between 1850 and 1880, and the authors of this movement want to tell us about the world around them. But it is important to know that Realism could play with fiction, but realism opposes idealism. Gustave Flaubert in Sentimental Education shows
France to the readers at this period of time and also, he describe in his book, how French society was like at that time.

Realism is the faithful reproduction of life and the way people think at this period of time. Sentimental Education is the book that gives the readers many outside and inside examples of realism, Flaubert describes the world how it is, and how human feelings without representation are in abstract form. However, in his book, the author has not created something that he cannot perceive. The author does not create a fancy picture; he gives us the reality, for example, how the people dressed at that time and who the sailors are or who the passengers are.

Sentimental Education, for example, “The hill was crowned with trees, which surrounded low-built houses, covered with roofs in the Italian style”… (6), here we have real life, and describing to the readers, how
France looks like at this time. Also, Flaubert, describe a commonplace, and the everyday life of the habitants. Then, when the author tells us, that the hill was crowned with trees, the readers can figure out how this place looks like, and also in this scene, the readers know about the physical objects existing without the abstract form.

Flaubert illustrated to us the way the people thought, and the concern they have about society.  Realism is real life, then, Flaubert in his book gives exact examples of realism because he describes the outside and inside of
France’s a world.

Romanticism

Romanticism was Create by Sab’s Sacrifice

 

            …¡Mi libertad!…sin duda es caso dulce la libertad…pero yo nací esclavo; era esclavo desde el vientre de mi madre, y ya… (12), the psychology of Sab tells the readers who he is, and what role Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda plays in her novel between nature and emotion through condemned slavery. As well, this phrase told to Sab gives us the idea that the author is trying to enlighten the readers of the interior of humans. 

However, Sab grew up in slavery so he knows what the condition of the Cuban society over the XIX century. First, the Sab does not accept any other way to live respecting his white owner, no matter what he looks like as a Creole or confused by his different appearance, his historical condition of seclusion, and segregation do not permit him to thinks any other way. But the most important is that his nature and creation put his psychology ideas in that he is a slave, and he could not do other thing because the society does not create a life to the free slave.

Romanticism is created by Sab in a different way but one of these examples is when the author said, “Crujieron sus dientes y con brazo vigoroso levantó en el aire, como a una ligera paja, el cuerpo esbelto y delicado
del joven ingles… (25), Gómez de Avellaneda gives the readers, the relationship between human emotion and nature because nature is the (wind), “get up on the wind”, and the individual emotion is his (upset) “rustle his tooth”. She tries to give us the idea that Enrique is an insignificant figure with the power of nature, because he is defenseless a straw that can fly in the air.

Furthermore, Romanticism in Sab is when the author describes the connection between nature and humans, and the human creature is insignificant against the power of nature. But the human emotion feels rebellious against nature and vise verse, because nature impacts the human emotion as thunder, torment, light, forest, and the description of the country. Finally, the romanticism in Sab explains nature in the condition of human passion. 

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment

 

            The Enlightenment movement had the reason to believe in, the philosophy of the movement believes that reasoning is the best way to fight the tyranny of the kings, the oppression of the Catholic Church and the ignorance, but also the Enlightenment believed in building a better world.

            The history of the world argued that the Enlightenment movement had its role at the end of 17^th century through the 18^th century, but if we read the history about René Descartes, he was the philosopher that tried to knowledge his own existence, and he said in the 17^th century that “I think, therefore I am”. If we analyze this thought, then we can see that Descartes tried to use his reasoning to analyze who we are, and where we came, and he tried to use his reasoning to know about his own existence.

            By the way, the Enlightenment grew up in the period of society focusing on fanaticism and a strong belief in God. Then, the dogma of religion obstructed the logic of thought. This was the reason that the Enlightenment thinker tried to use reasoning, because reasoning is the powerful way to use common sense. For example, in class we read Candide by Voltaire, in his book, he critiques 18^th century society because Candide tried to use his reasoning to understand the world and he also makes fun of the cause it effects on human behavior. He is compared to the rich and the poor, trying to look for many answers about the misery of the world, that is the reason that he has opened many questions to society but he never tell us his answer, also, we can find in Candide’s different philosophy that there are pessimist and optimist. In his book Voltaire uses satire and parody to be critical about the European monarchy because Voltaire believed in the constitutional monarchy, and its shared powers.

            The Enlightenment is the movement of reason, and everything could be rebated because no one has the truth in their hands. Most of the Enlightenment thinkers have their principal target in their own religious beliefs. The idea was that they do not believe in any kind of religion because they know that it is man made.

HUMANISM

Humanism

 

Francesco Petrarca was born in
Arezzo, Italy 1304 and died in 1374. He was interested in classical writing, and wrote different kinds of work in Latin.  One of his works is, the poem that he wrote to Laura. This poem shows a lot of humanism because the author has connection with nature and looks most of the time for the perfect form of a woman, but this piece of art did not have a real person.

First, the time period is XVI century and this poem has connection to the Roman heritage and the human being, also the poem has love and beauty.  For example, in this stanza Francesco is expressing his emotions for this unreal woman, “calling out the name of my lady.” The readers can figure out that Laura is not a real person, but he looked for her no matter what. This kind of romanticism has connection with the creation of an unnatural person. The higher admiration of the author is looking for the impossible, and for the perfect love.

Moreover, when he said, “Bless be the day, and the month, and the year”, Francesco gives in this stanza traditional humanism because he show his poetry and philosophy, and he continues to have connection with nature, he compared his idyllic love with nature and connected himself with creation (God). In this stanza “where I acquire fame, and my thought, that are only of her”, this verse shows to the readers that the author had celebrated himself, and gives us his natural philosophy about nature and the readers can see that the author had individual emotion, and in addition, he talked about himself because we do not see any other person.

Finally, Francesco Patrarca made emphasis on the human body, and describes the woman’s body as perfect love, “as it did the angelic breast: serene, and sacred air, where Love pierced my heart with eyes of beauty”, here, the human body can see as classical resources, beauty and love. Also, the body perfection shows us in this description because the author wants to give us the perfect idea of a woman’s body.