An Analysis Of Caramelo From The Perspective Of Chicana Feminism

Caramelo is the novel written by Sandra Cisneros, a Chicana feminist. It takes the protagonist Lala’s experiences as the main line to explore Mexican-Americans’ living conditions and Chicana women’s miserable life in American society. And it also expresses Chicana women’s strong desire for freedom.This thesis analyzes Lala’s pursuit of gender identity, ethnic identity and cultural identity from the perspective of Chicana feminism. Her pursuit apparently is a reflection of Chicana feminists’ voices. The awakening of Chicana consciousness urges them to establish their own gender identity, ethnic identity and cultural identity. This thesis is divided into four main chapters. The first chapter briefly analyzes the main concepts of Chicana feminism. As Mexican-American women, Chicanas have a dual identity females as well as ethnic minorities. So, Chicana feminism certainly has a close link with “Double Consciousness”. Unlike White feminism, Chicana feminists’ focus is to get rid of patriarchal suppression and eliminate ethnic discrimination in American society, and then to establish their own identity. In the second chapter, it analyses Lala’s search for gender identity. Lala’s growth is a process filled with struggle and resistance in the male dominated society. She dares to seek for her own living space and free love. She supposes that Chicanas should have private space and freedom for love. Chicana women should have characters of self-esteem and tenacity, and they should learn to cherish family and life. In Chapter Three, it analyzes the recognition of Lala’s ethnic identity. The degeneration of Mexican ethnic identity makes Lala fall into ethnic confusion and she still bears the discrimination and exclusion everywhere in American society. Due to this condition, she begins to strengthen Mexican identity and seek for ethnic equality in mainstream society. Finally, she establishes her ethnic identity as a “New America” with Mexican tradition. The fourth chapter studies the exploration of Lala’s cultural identity. Through the accumulation of Mexican culture from her family and suspicion to American mainstream culture, Lala establishes her cultural identity,on the one hand, she appreciates and recognizes her Mexican culture. On the other hand, she is eager for national cultural space.In a word, this thesis explores Chicanas’ struggle and search for their identities in American environment from an individual perspective. As a member of Chicana, Lala’s pursuit of identities reflects most of Chicanas’ voices at that time.