Cultural encounters Literature & Language Essay Paper (Essay Sample)

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How is cultural encounter theme treated similarly in “The Distant Past” and “In Cuba I was a German”
Literary works have the power to carry its readers to other cultures, people and place. Ana Menendez and William Trevor are aware that literary work is particularly powerful in providing its audience new cultural encounters. The concept of cultural encounter is intended to cover the contact of cultures, their interactions and dialogue, collision, conflict, the survival and the inheritance relations. The literary texts I have selected to examine how the cultural encounter theme has been treated are I have chosen “In Cuba I Was Shepherd” (2001) by Ana Menendez and The Distant Past” by William Trevor to depict how the concept of cultural encounter has been treated in literary texts. The paper also attempts to explain the awareness of the authors and the main characters to cultural encounter in the chosen texts.
Concept of Cultural Encounter
In Menendez’s “In Cuba I was Shepherd” tells the struggles of Maximo who wants to go back to Cuba but feels trapped. “In Cuba I Was a German shepherd” is set in Domino Park, in the heart of Little Havana in Miami. Herein the Cuban migrants have created niches of their own and in one such communal location, adult men meet regularly to challenge each other to domino games. Maximo finds the reminders of home to be endearing and he longs for such reminders. Domino is an old tradition from Cuba now institutionalized by the migrants in Miami. Domino Park is appropriate space, and because of its use it serves as a place of encounters. The men meet each morning to reminisce their past which reminds them of home. Maximo, the main character in the story, seems to suffer greatly since he has intentions to go back to Cuba. Yet he is struck in exile where he endlessly suffers from headaches and daydreams caused the struggles of exile. As he lives reflecting and fantasizing in his old age, his place of birth (Cuba) gains more importance (Menendez 2001).