Ritual Structures in Chicana Fiction (Literatures of the Americas)

This book argues for the necessary and further examination of the sacred as it is ritualized within Chicana fiction. It suggests that religious, spiritual, linguistic and political symbolisms reveal rites that structure narrative performances of coping with and healing from trauma. Helane Androne examines these rites of spirit, service, and story as they occur in Ana Castillo’s __So Far From God__, Denise Chávez’s __Face of An Angel__, and Sandra Cisneros’ __Caramelo__. Beginning with the implications of Gloria Anzaldúa’s spiritual vision of Chicana identity alongside structural principles of ritual criticism, this study extends the discourse about the impact of the sacred in Chicana fiction. an> Dedication 6 Acknowledgments 8 Contents 10 Chapter 1: Introduction 11 Locating Ritual Performance in Chicana Fiction 20 Notes 27 Works Cited 28 Chapter 2: “A Place from Where to Think”: The Application of Ritual Criticism to Chicana Fiction 30 Positing Anzaldúan Rites 36 A Spiritual Vision for Chicana Fiction 39 Mestiza Consciousness and Loca-Centric Space 42 Notes 54 Works Cited 56 Chapter 3: Loca Malinalli: Centering the Spiritual in Ana Castillo’s So Far From God 58 La Loca 61 Esperanza (Hope) 64 Fe (Faith) 72 Caridad (Charity) 79 Death of a Community Christ 81 Notes 85 Works Cited 86 Chapter 4: “An Actress in a Play”: Service as Sacred Performance in Denise Chávez’s Face of an Angel 87 Soveida’s Rite About Service 91 Death/Coatlicue and Nepantla: Gendering the Body That Serves 93 Transformation/La Faculdad: (W)Riting Service 101 Birth/Nahualismo: The Telling 107 Notes 108 Works Cited 109 Chapter 5: Reality Shifts: The Language of Nahuala in Sandra Cisneros’ Caramelo, or Puro Cuento 111 The Structure of Nahual 114 Crossing Space, Switching Code 119 Matrilineal Multivocality and the Material Implications of the Sacred 129 Notes 133 Works Cited 133 Index 134 This Book Argues For The Necessary And Further Examination Of The Sacred As It Is Ritualized Within Chicana Fiction. It Suggests That Religious, Spiritual, Linguistic And Political Symbolisms Reveal Rites That Structure Narrative Performances Of Coping With And Healing From Trauma. Helane Androne Examines These Rites Of Spirit, Service, And Story As They Occur In Ana Castillo's So Far From God, Denise Chávez's Face Of An Angel, And Sandra Cisneros' Caramelo. Beginning With The Implications Of Gloria Anzaldúa's Spiritual Vision Of Chicana Identity Alongside Structural Principles Of Ritual Criticism, This Study Extends The Discourse About The Impact Of The Sacred In Chicana Fiction. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Introduction -- 2. A Place From Where To Think: The Application Of Ritual Criticism To Chicana Fiction -- 3. Loca Malinalli: Centering The Spiritual In Ana Castillo's So Far From God -- 4. An Actress In A Play: Service As Sacred Performance In Denise Chavez's Face Of An Angel -- 5. Reality Shifts: The Language Of Nahuala In Sandra Cisneros' Caramelo, Or Puro Cuento. Helane Androne. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book argues for the necessary and further examination of the sacred as it is ritualized within Chicana fiction. It suggests that religious, spiritual, linguistic and political symbolisms reveal rites that structure narrative performances of coping with and healing from trauma. Helane Androne examines these rites of spirit, service, and story as they occur in Ana Castillo's So Far From God, Denise Chávez's Face of An Angel, and Sandra Cisneros' Caramelo. Beginning with the implications of Gloria Anzaldúa's spiritual vision of Chicana identity alongside structural principles of ritual criticism, this study extends the discourse about the impact of the sacred in Chicana fiction. Helane Androne is Professor of English and directs the Ohio Writing Project at Miami University, USA. She is the author of Multiethnic American Literatures: Essays for Teaching Context and Culture and has published in journals such as Pedagogy, MELUS, and Phoebe Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-19 “A Place from Where to Think”: The Application of Ritual Criticism to Chicana Fiction....Pages 21-48 Loca Malinalli: Centering the Spiritual in Ana Castillo’s So Far From God ....Pages 49-77 “An Actress in a Play”: Service as Sacred Performance in Denise Chávez’s Face of an Angel ....Pages 79-102 Reality Shifts: The Language of Nahuala in Sandra Cisneros’ Caramelo, or Puro Cuento ....Pages 103-125 Back Matter....Pages 127-134