Question

Write a short essay comparing how "To Roosevelt" and The Squatter and the Don develop similar themes about power. For each text, provide two pieces of textual evidence: one that shows the theme emerging and another that shows its further development. Use the evidence and commentary you developed in part A to draft your response.

Answer 1

Comparing "To Roosevelt" with The Squatter and the Don in terms of their treatment of themes related to power involves examining textual evidence and considering the social, historical, or cultural contexts. Both works explore the complexities of power from different angles, with "To Roosevelt" critiquing political and national power, while The Squatter and the Don explores power in relations of landownership and societal status.

Step-by-step explanation:

In comparing the themes concerning power as developed in "To Roosevelt" and The Squatter and the Don, it is essential to analyze the textual evidence which shows both the emergence and further development of these themes. "To Roosevelt" approaches the theme of power by challenging the powerful figure of Roosevelt directly, questioning the moral implications of his strong-armed approach to leadership and expansion. As an example,

The Squatter and the Don, on the other hand, examines power through the lens of landownership and the systemic inequalities between squatters and legitimate landowners. This can be shown by examining the characters' interactions and the plot's progression, which depict the struggles between opposing classes and the misuse of power at the expense of the disenfranchised.

Emerging Theme of Power

Textual evidence for the theme of power emerging in "To Roosevelt" can be seen where the poet refers to Roosevelt as the 'mighty hunter,' both acknowledging his strength and critiquing the aggressive nature of his dominance. In The Squatter and the Don, power initially manifests through the portrayal of the Don's authority and the respect he commands within his community, contrasted with the vulnerability of his position in the face of unscrupulous squatters.

Further Development of the Theme

As "To Roosevelt" progresses, the theme of power is further explored through the depiction of Roosevelt's influence on international politics and national pride. The poem examines not only individual power but also the power wielded by a nation under a leader's guidance. In contrast, The Squatter and the Don develops its theme through the narrative, revealing the power dynamics' shift and the eventual downfall of characters who once held control, thereby highlighting the impermanence and fragility of societal power structures.

Analyzing the literary components, the social, historical, or cultural context, and examining the themes subjectively and objectively, provides a comprehensive understanding of how the theme of power is developed in both texts.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Both "To Roosevelt" and The Squatter and the Don address the theme that with power comes a responsibility to be careful and aware.In "To Roosevelt," Darío calls out the United States for being careless with power. Using personification, he says that when the United States" shakes itself there is a deep temblor/through the enormous vertebrae of the Andes." This figure of speech shows how small actions by the United States have a big impact in Latin America. Developing the theme further, he criticizes the United States for believing it can create progress through destruction: "You think . . . that progress is eruption," he says, bringing to mind an exploding volcano.In The Squatter and the Don, the carelessness of US power is represented by William Darrell, a prosperous settler who unknowingly stakes a claim on Don Mariano's land. Although he had promised his wife he would not squat on a Californio’s land, he is tricked into doing so by unscrupulous business associates, represented by Gasbang: "’This is what I call business,’ said Gasbang,. . . ‘and all inside of the law. That is the beauty of it—all perfectly lawful.’" Gasbang’s dialogue reveals that taking the Don’s land may be legal. But the narration of subsequent plot events suggests that Darrell’s claim is not ethical:The stakes having been placed, Darrell felt satisfied. . . . All would be done "according to law," in in this easy way more land was taken from its legitimate owner.Both writers suggest that the United States and its citizens should be more responsible with the power they wield, within US borders and beyond.