In Cuba I was a German Shepherd

 "In Cuba I was a German Shepherd," by Ana Menendez, talks about the sorrow of powerlessness that two Cubans, Raul and Maximo, and two Dominicans, Carlos and Antonio, have to undergo in American society. 
        In the story, Maximo has a dream and he shares it with others. In the dream, Juanito, who just came to America from Cuba, walks down the street and talks to a white puppy that he met in America, saying, "I would like to marry you, my love, and have gorgeous puppies with you and live in a castle" (54).  Then, the white poodle says, "I am a refined breed of considerable class and you are nothing but a short, insignificant mutt" (54). When Juanito hears her, he tells her, "Here in America, I may be a short, insignificant mutt, but in Cuba I was a German shepherd" (54). 
            In the story, the white puppies and Juanito are metaphors for American people and Cuban people. The American people (white puppies) think that they are superior to Cubans; therefore, they look down on Cubans. The story of Juanito is based on Maximo's life. Even though Maximo is a short, insignificant mutt in America, he had a prestigious job, honor, and fortune in Cuba and, thus, was a German shepherd there. 
            No matter who they were and how powerful they were in their countries, in America, immigrants such as Maximo have to start a new life again from the bottom. Maximo was a professor in Cuba. In America, however, he operates a restaurant. Furthermore, he who was a German shepherd feels the sorrow of powerlessness by being ignored. The loss of one's voice is a sad result of being at the bottom of the social ranking.  A valued breed, a German Shepherd, becomes a neglected species, one without identity.  In his dream, his lack of power is represented by his inability to procreate.  Having no heir is an historical demonstration of being without power; the beautiful white poodle insults his humanity when she says he is not a worthy mate.         

          Maximo, like many modern immigrants to the US, worked very hard in his country to establish a good station in life.  On arriving to America, though, he had to start over from the bottom.  In his new country he has a few friends but no one of strong social clout.  His previous connections in Cuba cannot push him back into the upper class.  He is powerless compared with his former Cuban life.  Everything he worked for in Cuba disappeared.  

      The one thing that makes immigrants particularly sad is not their lower social position and reduced wages compared to the ones of their country, but the White people's disrespectful and negligent attitude toward them. Playing dominoes, the game which is the heritage of their countries, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and sharing their bitter and happy moments that they experienced in their own countries are their ways of dispelling the sadness that they feel in American society as immigrants.

https://ethnicamericangyeongah.weebly.com/in-cuba-i-was-a-german-shepherd.html





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"In Cuba I was a German Shepherd" by Ana Menendez is one of the most powerful pieces of the four, in my opinion. The most dynamic and complex, this short story oozed companionship, memories, and that sense of familiarity we all crave. Maximo and Raul are friends for life. Their friendship is what inspired my overall theme for the Society unit. You see their friendship runs deep, in the way they remember the past, but also remain friends in the present. 

Raul and Maximo had lived on the same El Vedado street in Havana for fifteen years before the revolution. Raul had been a government accountant and Maximo a professor at the University, two blocks from his home on L Street. They weren't close friends, but friendly still in that way of people who come from the same place and think they already know the important things about one another. (17)

Raul and Maximo's companionship was based mostly on the fact, as the quote suggests, that they came from the same place. That they both, would be alone without the other. It is always nice to have that sense of familiarity when far from home, or what you consider your home. Cuba was that for Raul and Maximo. In America, things are different, they don't touch the senses in the same way they did back in their home land of Cuba. 

In Cuba, the stories always began, life was good and pure. But something always happened to them in the end, something withering, malignant. Maximo never understood it. The stories that opened in sun, always narrowed into a dark place. And after those nights, his head throbbing, Maximo would turn and turn in his sleep and awake unable to remember his dreams. (18)

The companionship of the two men and their friends with whom they play dominoes, is a way to stay connected to what they left behind, what they lost. They need this familiarity. Making it in a place, so different from where you are from is difficult, but with a companion, with a sense of familiarity, it can be done. Nobody wants to feel lonely. 

Here in America, I may be a short, insignificant mutt, but in Cuba I was a German shepherd. (26)

 https://krystalc.weebly.com/in-cuba-i-was-a-german-shepherd-by-ana-menendez.html

Written by Admin

We are Creative Blogger Theme Wavers which provides user friendly, effective and easy to use themes. Each support has free and providing HD support screen casting.