In the first or second week of each semester, I share Sandra Cisneros’s “Only Daughter,” with my composition classes. My students often connect with Sandra’s background. She beat the obstacles of racism, sexism, and poverty in her world to become both an influential writer and activist.
Sandra’s childhood experience of being “the only daughter” proved to be a great training ground for a writing career. In fact, it was her feelings of isolation and abandonment from her fathers and brothers that pushed her towards reading and writing. When she grew older, her skill for transferring her plight to the page enabled her to enter UC Berkeley and later become a powerful voice in American literature. Her House on Mango Street, for example, reflects many of the same childhood frustrations she describes in her essay.
One story after another boasts the voice of a poor young girl struggling to make sense of her loneliness. When she writes in “Only Daughter” that she values her mistreatment from being an only daughter, I believe her. She learned how to convert her pain and confusion into beautiful, meaningful stories. In my opinion, her anger is her juice.
I bring “Only Daughter” into the classroom to provide a nice change from what my students are used to in their
English courses. I want to give them material they can relate to. I mean diversity speaks, but you don’t have to be a Mexican or a woman to enjoy Sandra’s stories. At the end this narrative when Sandra returns home to her family home in Chicago, something special happens between father and daughter, and everyone recognizes and responds to the dynamic. Before the father dies, he is able to communicate his deep sense of pride for what the daughter has become. We break it down in matters of culture or tradition, but it’s not black or white or brown. It’s all about the struggle to be loved. It’s solid gold.
Who needs writing prompts when you read something like that?
It's been three days since the accident and I still can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I can hear the sound of the train approaching us, getting closer and louder, the wheels scraping on the metal train tracks, the pessimistic look of despair on their faces, and worst of all, the piercing scream that still haunts my ears
My mother, the only parent I know, is both a mom and a dad to me. Both of my parents would work, but even then my father would demand for my mothers paychecks. He'd use that money to get totally wasted, and it went on for a while like this....
In the book “Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility” the most valuable part is when Chuy offered a ride to Yoli on his motorcycle through many places of the San Diego city. no. Yoli thought she hadn’t heard him right...
On November, 1993 both my father and brother started the Richard McGee Correctional Basic Correctional Academy....
For America in the novel The Tortilla Curtain, Being married to Candido is like carrying a backpack full of bricks all day long....
My mother had struggled her whole life to make us happy. Being a single mother of two with two jobs was almost impossible yet it was her daily routine....
My father's addiction has had significant effects in my life. My father's alcohol abuse has made me realize what I want in my life and what I don’t want....
After the bell had rung, I quickly got to my seat, of course being tardy was probably a bad first impression because as soon as I picked a desk to sit at my teacher was glaring at me. He then began to yell at me saying how it was an essential to be on time to his class. This was my first encounter with my economics teacher and I already knew it was going to be a long year. Little did I know that Jack had a specific purpose in my life and although he was scary to me at first, he soon became my strongest adult in my life. As the years went by, I got to know Mr. Little and we became the greatest of friends. Once Jack Little passed away, I had a different perspective on the little amount of time we all have to live...
After living three years in this country, it was important for me to realize that I needed to go to school to learn English. I was feeling like I was illiterate and deaf. When my husband was in work I was afraid to answer the phone, or afraid to go outside. I remember the day when I had my first daughter, I was in pain in the hospital and my new born daughter was crying; the hospital was cold, with a pale color on the walls, and its smell was like alcohol. There were nurses walking on the long and bright hallway. You can hear the nurses talking morning and night. I couldn’t express myself and talk for my daughter that was crying...
(Anthony)In Mexican culture, parents tend to pass their beliefs on to the next generation. The belief is that men work and provide money while the woman stays home, taking care of the kids and planning the next meal. Sandra Cisneros has shown how that tradition is still ongoing to this day in a world where women now have more independence and are capable of doing the same as a man. (Melina)Through Cisnero’s storytelling, readers witness her perception of her household and the Mexican norms placed upon her. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity by sharing moments when she felt she was never accepted by her family, despite all her accomplishments. As she continues to speak on the impact this had on her, her craving for independence never faltered. (Alessandra)Although this story was mainly frustrating because of the thematic concept, readers can agree that the ending was somewhat positive. Most Mexican daughters would find it discriminatory to read how Cisnero’s father mistreated her because of the societal values implemented in his cultural background. However, she states, “When he was finally finished, after what seemed like hours, my father looked up and asked: “Where can we get more copies of this for the relatives?” Cisnero’s father potentially breaking the cycle of traditional issues rooted in sexism is hopeful and insightful. The family dynamic transformation gives Cisneros’ outcome meaning. It’s beautiful to see her determination for feminism reach her father’s perspective after all the family hardships she battled. Not only is her father becoming more open-minded, but he wants to spread awareness to the other family relatives to ultimately eradicate all forms of male chauvinism. (Abi)Furthermore, Cisnero and her father had a tense relationship, but she never stopped trying to make her father proud, even if she was trying to do so in ways that weren’t traditional for women. By continuing to stick to her values and continuing to seek validation through her success rather than following her father's values, Cisnero is advocating for herself and telling an empowering story. Her story shows that people's values are not set in stone and that love for your family can allow people to change their views on modern values and gender roles within the culture. In summary, her father shows his pride in his daughter's accomplishments despite his earlier disinterest and disappointment in her choices.
Posted by: Anthony Frlix | 06/19/2025 at 11:42 AM