So Far from God Essay | Critical Essay #1

So Far from God Critical Essay #1

Rex discusses the development of Sofi as a human being outside of the traditional roles for Hispanic women of daughter, wife, and mother.

Ana Castillo's 1993 novel, So Far From God, explores the relationship between family members and their community in a traditional Hispanic community, making this community more accessible to non-Hispanic cultures. While critics like bell hooks and Theresa Delgadillo have argued that the home in this novel is a place where spirituality and selfhood get reworked and re-organized, the idea that Sofi rebels against the traditions of daughter, wife, and mother have generally been under-examined and have not been explored in the context of Sofi's "failed" yet successful rebellion.

Sofi's resistance to the patriarchal attitudes of her culture begins early in her life, but comes as a flashback in the novel. Sofi attends her cousin's coming-out party and meets Domingo. He is universally disliked...
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