In her essay “Only Daughter,” Sandra Cisneros asks, “Why would anyone go to college and then choose to be poor?” from the lips of her father and other family members. They don’t understand her choice to study literature in college and then not go to work or get married and try to become a writer and live in poverty. The reaction of the Cisneros family is understandable because they are a Mexican immigrant family with seven children. The author’s father worked with his hands all his life and earned for the whole family by hard work. He wanted a better life for his children, so he believed they would be happy if they made money with their heads. When people are poor, and their life is a constant struggle for survival and work, they often begin to consider money as the source of a good, secure and peaceful life. Thus, all phenomena in life begin to be viewed through this perspective.
College or a successful marriage has many changes, consequences, and opportunities, more than just money. However, the experience of extreme poverty and insecurity creates a fear that makes it impossible to see other perspectives. Cisneros writes that he was often alone and had the opportunity to think about his life and what is happening around her (Cineros, 1995). Perhaps that is why she was able to see more options in college and dream of herself in a completely different way than just being a financially successful person. I do not think Cisneros chose to be poor on purpose, but she was willing to take risks. The author overcame her fears and traumas of poverty to reach the goals that were more important for her happiness than any obstacles.
Reference
Cineros, S. (1995). Only Daughter. In Latina: Women’s Voices from the Borderlands. Edited by Lillian Castillo-Speed. New York: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster.