Aria by Richard Rodriguez

    I think Richard Rodriguez’s main goal of writing Aria was to make readers question how speaking/having a dominant public language can change personal identity and reshape intimate cultural bonds. His reflections focused on the bittersweet sacrifices that come with mastering a language that opens doors in society, even as it distances them from their family. Language isn’t just a tool for communication, it determines power and identity.

    One quote from Rodriguez is “The silence at home, however, was finally more than a literal silence” (38). This line shares the idea that learning the public language often leads to a gap in communication. Even though language can lead to success in society, it also contributes to a loss of culture and the personal ways of expressing themselves and sharing their feelings with family. Another important thing Rodriguez said was, “At last, seven years old, I came to believe what had been technically true since my birth: I was an American citizen” (36). This quote shows when his personal identity was redefined. Aria made me think critically about the process of assimilation. I didn’t realize how identity could be changed or taken away and what some people have sacrificed just to fit in.

    Rodriguez also "asked" the question, “What would they not do for their children’s well-being?” which speaks to the sacrifices made by immigrant parents. This quote reflects the reality that many families invest emotional and cultural resources into ensuring the next generation’s success. The obligation to learn and master a dominant language usually includes the cost of distancing from their original cultural identity. It reminds readers that the rewards of assimilation come at a personal, and sometimes familial, price.