Student Question
Is "Geraldo No Last Name" by Sandra Cisneros a story about love?
Quick answer:
"Geraldo No Last Name" by Sandra Cisneros is not primarily a story about romantic love. Marin, the protagonist, feels distress over Geraldo's death, but this is not due to romantic feelings. Instead, the story explores themes of community and empathy, challenging readers to develop compassion for marginalized individuals. By broadening the definition of love beyond romance, the story can be seen as partly about love in a communal sense.
One could argue that the story "Geraldo No Last Name" is a story about love; however, the definition of love must be clarified. The story is not about romantic love--Marin has only just met Geraldo at the dance. She does feel distress when he is killed, but her distress is not rooted in any romantic feelings for him. She feels sad that no one really knows who Geraldo is and that his life has ended so abruptly. In terms of theme, the story makes the reader consider his/her relationship with the greater community and challenges the reader to develop a greater "love" for people who end up on the margins of our community. By broadening the definition of "love," one could argue that the story is in part about love.
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