When I first read this piece, I was unsure of the topic and the purpose of this piece. The more I read, I became more enveloped in this story; seeing Estaban and what he meant to the village.
In my previous English course, my professor focused on gender and its role in society. Although this annoyed me, as I thought “this is an English course not psychology or sociology”, it did open my eyes to subject matters outside of what I envisioned “English” and literature encompassed.
In my opinion, perhaps this piece was assigned as a first reading, to broaden what we (I) envision as literature or english. The writing style itself caused me to reread a few times, but it also drew me into the story. Perhaps this piece was assigned in order to dip our toes into the waters of imaginative pieces; to open our view of different styles of writing.
I personally enjoyed this piece. This writing provided me a different perspective, in the same way the people of the village gained a different perspective on life after “meeting” Estaban.
One thought on “Tracey Mainer Discussion 2”
Hello, Tracey! I completely agree with your perspective on the purpose of assigning this piece. I have observed that one of the goals of literature and English courses is to broaden students’ perspectives and expose them to diverse styles of writing, themes, and subject matters. Reading this story about Esteban and the impact he had on the village can definitely help us as a student to develop our critical thinking skills, empathy, and understanding of different cultures and societies.