The document discusses themes in Junot Díaz's short story collection Drown, including the struggles of young Latino males pursuing the American Dream, the role of mothers and issues of masculinity and sexuality. It also provides historical context about the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961, noting his cult of personality, repression of civil liberties and political opponents, use of torture, promotion of motherhood and racism.

1. in JunotDíaz’sDrown

2.  “Drown”
 “Boyfriend”
 (“Aurora”)

4.  Is the American Dream what everyone imagines, is it
possible? : The struggles of young Latino males in the US
 School and literacy
 The mother figure
 Masculinity: machismo and homosexuality

5. “Twice. That’s it.” (103)

6.  Loneliness
 Broken relationships
 Sad but romantic

8.  The Trujillo Era: 1930-1961:
 personality cult around himself
 no civil liberties; no human rights
 persecution and assassination of opponents
 systematic use of torture
 cult of motherhood
 hyper sexuality
 racist ideology
 October, 1937: massacre of 20,000 Haitians
 November, 1960: The assassination of the Mirabal sisters