The New Mestiza Consciousness In Sandra Cisneros' Works

The House on Mango Street and Caramelo the Mexican American writer Sandra Cisneros' master pieces,tell about the growing-up stories of two Mexican girls living in America and describe their pursuit of individual identity and social status in cultural conflicts.Those two Mexican American girls,Esperanza Cordero and Lala,are so-called the new mestizas.This thesis applies the theory of the New Mestiza Consciousness to analyze the new mestizas' different views about love,living space,family,Mexican culture,American culture and gender.By analyzing these new mestizas' views,this thesis will focus on the exploration of the features of the New Mestiza Consciousness in Sandra Cisneros' works.First,the new mestizas' simple and pure view of love.The new mestizas hold the view that love can override everything.It should not be stained by money,race,religion and other factors.Love should be simple,pure and free.Second,the new mestizas' independent view of living space.The new mestizas all wish to have an independent living space.Lala and Esperanza Cordero in Caramelo and The House on Mango Street are eager to have their own growing space and work hard for it.Third,Family First view.Family is the most important thing to the new mestizas.Only family members can protect them without anything in return.Forth,different attitudes toward American culture and Mexican culture.There are two types of the new mestiza: the older generation of the new mestiza represented by Lala's and Esperanza's grandmothers,and the younger generation of the new mestiza like Lala and Esperanza.The older generation of the new mestizas remains loyal to Mexican culture and is sick of the typical American life and pop culture,while the younger generation of the new mestizas inherit part of the Mexican culture,study the American culture and try to become a part of American society.Finally,their gender concept.The new mestizas acknowledge their female identity and strive for their own rights.They deny the “Female Mythology” and denounce the male-dominated society in which women are oppressed.Besides,this thesis probes into the forming reasons for the features of the New Mestiza Consciousness.First,the influence of Mexican culture and American culture.The new mestizas live in the crakes of Mexican traditional culture and American modern culture.The cross-cultural environment affects every aspect of the New Mestiza Consciousness.Then,the influence of other people.The new mestizas learn experiences from observing women around them who have succeeded or failed at striving for their own rights and women liberation.Next,racial discrimination makes them acknowledge their Mexican identity.To a certain extent,it also makes a difference in the new mestizas' love view.At last,due to their bewilderment about cultural identities,the new mestizas look for their new cultural identity and desire for an independent living space.The study finds that the core of the New Mestiza Consciousness is cultural tolerance.On one hand,the new mestizas should inherit their own special ethnic cultures and maintain their special identity.On the other hand,they need to understand American people's thinking mode and living habits,and try to integrate into the American society.By analyzing the New Mestiza Consciousness,the new mestizas will have a clearer understanding of their special cultural identity to live a better life.