Oscar Wao Analysis

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz unmasks the effects of politics, diaspora, and gender in the development of the hyphenated Dominican-American culture. Trujillo’s regime reveals the impact of militarism and dictatorship on a culture and people. Díaz represents how the violent and corrupt nature of the Trujillato shapes gender stereotypes and sexuality and the portrayal of Oscar illustrates the discriminations against hetero-normative masculinities. Díaz also represents the role of Dominican diaspora and worries migrant characters encounter when moving from their homeland in pursuit of the American dream. However, Díaz exhibits the inevitable failure migrants face when attempting to completely rid themselves of their cultural identities, admitting, “Santo Domingo will always be there. It was in the beginning and it will be there at the end,” (210).
For those of you who missed your mandatory two seconds of Dominican history: Trujillo, one of the twentieth century's most infamous dictators, ruled the Dominican Republic between 1930 and 1961 with an implacable ruthless brutality. A portly, sadistic, pig-eyed mulato who bleached his skin, wore platform shoes, and had a fondness for Napoleon-era haberdashery,
Abelard’s court case embodies how the Dominican people have no rights or control over themselves and their country. Trujillo’s anger about what Abelard writes in his book causes him to falsify a comment made by Abelard. Trujillo sends Abelard to jail for the rest of his life for an illusory crime. This lack of freedom manifests itself in the use of violence to eliminate democratic claims and freedom of speech. In Dominican Republic: Lawsuit Recalls Atrocities Under Trujillo, Dominican human rights groups and victims’ families are seeking justice for atrocities committed by the