Aria - Richard Rodriguez

“ Aria," written by Richard Rodriguez, tells a deeply personal story about language, identity, and the challenges of fitting into a new culture. Rodriguez shares his experiences growing up as a Mexican-American boy and how learning English changed his life and his family. Throughout the essay, Rodriguez emphasizes the emotional weight of his bilingual upbringing. He expresses both nostalgia for the warmth and intimacy of Spanish and a sense of loss as he gradually moved away from it. I personally connected to him in a way when he stated how when his family began speaking more English, he felt a growing distance from his parents. For Rodriguez, the lively and heartfelt conversations in Spanish were replaced by awkward and limited exchanges in English. This change not only made communication harder but also made Rodriguez feel less connected to his family's culture and traditions. He describes how their home became quieter, symbolizing the loss of their close bond and cultur...