Illustrations of Nepantleras: Bridge Making Potential in Ana Castillo's So Far From God and The Guardians

Chicana literature to date has extensively illustrated the process of identity construction—the development of mestiza consciousness—as the means through which Mexican American females may thwart the agents of oppressive patriarchal authority in their lives. While this highly theoretical and politicized literature has contributed greatly to discussions of identity, agency, and the subjective self, many Chicana authors and activists express concerns regarding the fate of the Chicana/o collective. Some consider the relationship between feminist Chicanas and their more traditional families and communities to be irreconcilable. Using the theories of Gloria Anzaldúa, I argue that the novels <em>So Far from God </em>and <em>The Guardians</em> by Ana Castillo address these concerns regarding the relationship between feminist Chicanas and other members of their home communities. Through unique representations of male characters, of Catholicism, and of socially/politically active Chicanas, these novels demonstrate the importance for inclusive methodologies that bridge across societally constructed divides, in order to create positive change for all.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English Literature

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Patrick, Amanda

Contributors dc:contributor

• Christine Sutphin
• Christopher Schedler
• Laila Abdalla

• Castillo
• Anzaldúa
• Chicana
• Feminist
• Post-Structuralist
• Identity
• Literature in English, North America, Ethnic and Cultural Minority

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/558

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1568