America and literature, realism and naturalism, and the concept of race

Read María Amparo Ruiz de Burton, biographical entry (246-248); from The Squatter and the Don (248-255). Re-read the following passage from The Squatter and the Don: At five minutes to two, Señor Alamar, accompanied by Mr. Mechlin, arrived in a buggy; his two sons followed on horseback. Clarence had time to look at them leisurely while they dismounted and tied their horses to a hitching post. “They are gentlemen, no doubt,” observed Clarence. “You bet they are,” Romeo coincided. Evidently he admired and liked them. “How much the boys look like the old man,” Tom said. “They look like Englishmen,” was Clarence’s next observation. “Yes, particularly Victoriano; he is so light he looks more like a German, I think,” said Romeo. “I think Gabriel is very handsome,” Tom said, “only of late he seems always so sad or thoughtful.” (249). In a paper of 800 to 1000 words, discuss how the novel represents the interactions between men in this passage. You may consider how the act of looking works in the passage, how the Latino Don Mariano Alamar and his sons are likened to Europeans, and how the matter of a “light” complexion relates to all this. Open up your observations on these interactions to consider how they connect with the Don’s argument in the rest of the selection about the proper use of the land and his rights as a landowner. Finally, in your conclusion, reflect on what kind of account of America Ruiz de Burton is offering here. Be sure to quote and analyze words, phrases, or sentences from the text (just as you did in the close reading assignment). You may use prior blog posts and blog responses to build your paper. (You can even quote classmates.)