Saturday, November 30, 2019
The Jacket Essay Example For Students
The Jacket Essay In ââ¬Å"The JacketGary Soto uses symbolism to reflect on the characterization and development of the narrarator. Soto seems to focus mainly on a jacket, which has several meanings throughout the story. The jacket is used as a symbol to portray poverty, the narrarators insecurity, and the narraratorââ¬â¢s form of self-destruction. Since the story uses a certain object, the Jacket, as the meaning of several issues, it primarily focuses on the narraratorââ¬â¢s poverty-stricken family. First of all, an example of the poverty is demonstrated when the narrarator complains that the jacket ââ¬Å"was so ugly and big that I knew Iââ¬â¢d have to wear it a long timeâ⬠(paragraph 3). It is clear that his lack of money was a problem in which he would have to keep the jacket because he could not afford a new one. The narrarator then feels embarrassed and upset by the jacket by stating ââ¬Å"I blame my mother for her bad taste and cheap waysâ⬠(paragraph 10). By mentioning his motherââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"cheapâ⬠ways he is conveying that he is aggravated because of his mothers option to choose bad and ugly clothes in order to save money. A final way that the jacket is used as a symbol for poverty is implicit when a dog in the story tears the jacket and the narrarator ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ Scotch taped it close but i n rain or cold weather the tape peeled off like Gonzalez 2a scab and more stuffing came outâ⬠(paragraph 10). The fact that the narrarator could not fix the torn part of the jacket can indicate that his family is struggling to afford money for themselves. These certain examples help portray the issues of poverty that the narraratorââ¬â¢s family struggles. The Jacket symbolizes poverty as well as the narraratorââ¬â¢s insecurity throughout the story. We will write a custom essay on The Jacket specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now An example of the insecurity that is demonstrated in the story is mentioned when the narraratorââ¬â¢s teachers were of ââ¬Å"no help, they looked his way and talked about how foolish he looked in his new jacketâ⬠(paragraph 7). The narrarator feels insecure because of his assumptions that his teachers are making fun of him when in fact, they are not noticing him at all. Further more, he continues to say, ââ¬Å"At lunchtime I stayed with the ugly boys leaned against the chain link fenceâ⬠¦ our mouthsâ⬠(paragraph 9). This statement proves the narrarator is having bad luck because of the jacket and is destroying his reputation at school. A third reason why the jacket symbolizes insecurity is because the fact that his classmates see him with the jacket, he feels that they ââ¬Å"â⬠¦say out loud ââ¬Å"man thatââ¬â¢s uglyâ⬠, I heard the buzz-buzz of gossip and even laughterâ⬠Gonzalez 3(paragraph 7). Just as he felt the same as he did in the teacher si tuation, he feels the jacket is something that makes himself like a joke and increases his insecurity. Self- Destruction is a final meaning for the symbolism of the jacket which helps the character develop himself in the story. When the narrarator felt that the jacket was ruining his life, he claimed ââ¬Å"I ran outside, ready to cry, and climbed the tree by the alley to think bad thoughtsâ⬠(paragraph 10). His bad thoughts were of embarrassment and shame all brought on by the idea of having this certain jacket. Another example was when he had gotten upset and he had thrown the jacket down and he later ââ¬Å"â⬠¦swiped the jacket off the ground and went inside to drape it across his leg and started to mopeâ⬠(paragraph 11). Showing aggravation towards an object shows his frustration towards himself, realizing that he cannot accept the person he has become with the jacket. Finally, when the narrarator states ââ¬Å"I spent my sixth-grade year in a tree waiting for something good to happen to me in that jacketâ⬠(paragraph 10). The narraratorââ¬â¢s expectation to feel useful in the jacket is what makes him happy. .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 , .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .postImageUrl , .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 , .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8:hover , .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8:visited , .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8:active { border:0!important; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8:active , .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8 .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u65622d0caa651824070aed0e50ddaeb8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Tolstoy's Three Hermits EssayIn conclusion, Gary Soto realizes that without the symbolism of the jacket, there really would be no meaning Gonzalez 4to the story. His use of poverty, insecurity, and self-destruction of the narrarator is what makes the story complete. English Essays
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