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| I Was My Own Route by Julia de Burgos | Summary and Question Answer |
Summary
A precursor to the contemporary Latina / writers, de Burgos, in her poem, “I Was Own My Route”, depicts how the women are burdened with the patriarchal ideologies from the past. Therefore, de Burgos urges the women to detach themselves from the past so as to locate their identity within. As a feminist poet, Julia encourages women to seek freedom. As a path finder, she struggles hard to make a new way that is branched out from the old route. The prevailing gender discrimination was pushing women backward. Even she was a victim of male dominated society however she dared to pursue equally rights. Women should not be like puppets in the hand of males. They must move ahead being courageous and powerful breaking the chains of male ideologies. They are equally born on this earth.
Being a feminist writer and woman rights activist, Julia has advocated for the freedom of women in her writing. Her poems deal with the theme of women’s liberation and social justice. This poem depicts how women are burdened with the patriarchal ideologies from the past. She urges the women to separate themselves from the chains of male domination and locate their identity within the same society. She urges women to branch their route to seek freedom and liberation. In the traditional society, the role of the women is neglected. They have to be as the men want them to. In the attempt of living their life, they are tired of playing a customary game of hide and seek.
The poem “I Was Own My Route” deals with the liberation and freedom of women in the patriarchal society. The poet says that refused her roles of dominated/oppressed character defined by the men. However, she revolted against the domination of men and traditionalists and set forward her goals of liberation. Similarly, the speaker talks about the problems that she had to encounter when she surged for the freedom and liberty in male patriarchal society. The traditionalists were creating obstacles on her way. The poet states that she detached herself from the society and found her separate identity / looks. She walked along many paths of her life for the intimate liberation. The speaker has achieved her goal but still feels insecure. The speaker had many difficulties and obstacles created by patriarchal society. The poet realized that she lived her own life of freedom and dignity as she raised voice against the domination and inequality. At last, the speaker says that though she developed the rebellious feeling, her life was still under the oppression of the patriarchal society. The poet is still waiting for dignity and reputation in her society.
Understanding the text
a.Why did the speaker try to be the way men wanted her to be?
Ans: The society where the speaker was living was patriarchal society where the presence of women was considered normal. The speaker tried to be the way men wanted her to be because she was a member of the male dominated society where the females were anticipated to be like what the men wanted them to be.
b. What do you understand by her feet ‘would not accept walking backwards’?
Ans: the expression ‘Her feet wouldn’t accept walking backwards’ means that she had no any intention of following the path that the males wanted the females to walk on. She rather wanted women on an equal footing with males in the race with a hope of self-liberation. She was against the male dominated view that the women were weaker than the men.
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c. Who are the old guards? Why did they grow desperate?
Ans: the old guards are the old fashioned and traditional-minded people of the society who are the followers of male superiority ideology. The old guards grew desperate because the speaker was on the progress towards improving the lives of the dominated women and fighting for their liberation.
d. How did the speaker have ‘a feeling of intimate liberation’?
Ans: Since the speaker crossed the barriers of the male-dominated society and she loved to be on the way she liberally preferred and the pre-established pattern of rules set by the males, she had ‘a feeling of intimate liberation’.
e. Why did the speaker’s desire to follow men warp in her?
Ans: The speaker’s desire to follow men warp (twist) in her because she was faded by the pre-established patriarchal society and its male-favoured rules in the society. What she most desired was freedom and pleasure, but she was forced to follow traditional concepts and ideology determined by the males.
Reference to the context.
a. What does the speaker mean when she says she was playing a game of hide and seek with her being’?
Ans: The speaker says she was playing a game of hide and seek with herself. She blames that her identity was minimized under patriarchal ideology. Her presence in the society was completely unknown on what she was, what she had to do and how she should behave with the males. She had to obey what men wanted her to be. The meaning of playing a game of hide and seek is that she always had to follow the path that the males wanted her to step on. She was more aggressive on the gender biasness she faced being a female and wanted to break all the predetermined traditional rules of the patriarchal society.
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b. Why, in your view, was her back ripped by the old guards as she was advancing forward?
Ans: The speaker’s back was ripped out by the old guards as she was advancing forward because the old guards posed great problems and obstacles on her way forward as she rebelled against the traditional rules and ideology patterned by the traditionalists. In my opinion, where there is brutal pressure on something, there is equally a chance of burst. She was violently biased on being a woman and her liberation was tried to be seized. As a result of the limits, barriers, and blockades established by the old guards of the society, her back was ripped and she suffered massively.
c. What, according to the speaker, did it feel like to be free?
Ans: Being free means pursuing the work with unlimited liberation. The speaker is more determined to achieve what she prefers her feminine role to do in the society regardless of masculine restrictions. Being free to her means pursuing the dreams and feeling like a man, participating in every situation as a male and achieving the liberation she desired for. She wants to walk on her own route challenging the patriarchal ideology imposed by the old guards of the society.
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d. Why does the speaker prefer the present to the past?
Ans: The speaker prefers her present to the past because her past was unpleasant, difficult and troublesome. She was severely biased on being a female and restricted her freedom on the patriarchal society. She lived a very painful life as she was limited within the four walls. She was deprived of her fundamental rights of liberation. She was subjected to be as a commodity which one could consume and throw over. Her present is optimistic as she has dared to challenge over the norms and rules of the patriarchal society. Because of her rebellious character and deeds, the male-dominated ideologies are gradually declining. She has progressed a lot to get freedom of work, decision and desire. So, she prefers the present to the past.
e. John Donne, in his poem “No Man is an Island”, says, “No man is an island entire of itself.” Would Burgos agree with Donne? Do you agree with Donne or Burgos?
Ans: Certainly, as John Donne says, “No man is an island entire of itself”, humans are social animals and they love to remain in the society. When the humans are isolated from others, they function least and suffer a lot. No one is fully self-dependent and self- sufficient so that they can live a meaningful and productive life. Everyone must depend on the support of others to flourish maintaining equality and equity for the practice of rights, freedom and liberation. Each society builds up with an equal responsibility between male and female. Between them, they should have the concept of interdependence for the progress of the society. I do agree with both Donne and Burgos for the development of society where there is equality, no gender-based biasness, but co-existence mutual understanding among males and females.
