Answer:
In "Volar" by Judith Ortiz Cofer, the environment plays a crucial role in shaping the characters and their experiences. Set in a working-class Puerto Rican neighborhood in New Jersey, the story depicts the characters' deep connection to their cultural heritage and the impact of their environment on their identity.
The protagonist, the narrator's mother, is portrayed as a proud Puerto Rican with a strong attachment to her community and traditional gender roles. Her use of Spanish words and phrases reflects her cultural identity, which has been reinforced by the environment she grew up in and currently resides in.
In contrast, the narrator's sister represents a newer generation of Puerto Ricans growing up in the United States. She is depicted as being more assimilated into American culture and less connected to her Puerto Rican roots. The environment she has grown up in, including American schools and media, has shaped her identity and worldview.
Despite their different backgrounds, both characters have complex and sometimes conflicting feelings about their environment. The narrator's mother is proud of her heritage but faces discrimination as a Puerto Rican immigrant, which limits her opportunities. The narrator's sister, on the other hand, struggles with the pressure to conform to American norms while feeling torn about her Puerto Rican identity.
Overall, the story highlights how the environment shapes the characters in "Volar" and the impact of cultural values and expectations on their identity and experiences. The characters' complex and nuanced feelings about their environment reflect the challenges and opportunities they face as members of a working-class Puerto Rican community in the United States.
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