After reading Deep Rivers, this book taught me how deeply culture, language, and environment can shape an individual’s sense of identity, as through Ernesto’s experiences, growing up is not only simply about age, but about becoming aware of social hierarchies, and cultural conflict. Ernesto’s connection to Indigenous traditions and the natural world made me realize how knowledge and belonging can exist outside formal institutions like school. Moreover, it also made me realize that power can somehow exist in schools through education and language as the boarding school uses cultural dominance by silencing the voices and values of the Indigenous people. It shows how systems that “claim” to educate all students can also lessen how people feel about their identities, and at the same time, Ernesto being shown as emotional sensitive made me realize that empathy and memory can somehow be forms of resistance. Most importantly, this book taught me that understanding identity is deeper than I thought as its simply not something you can just figure out. Ernesto is constantly pulled between Indigenous Andean culture, which he feels connect to, and the Spanish Institutions that make him act in a different way. Because he technically belongs to these two different environments, he experiences confusion and loneliness which sometimes is relatable as a Filipino-Chinese individual. But its also this discomfort that shapes who he is, and question the world around him rather than just accept it for what it is. Furthermore, after watching the lecture video, it emphasizes conflict and convergence without end as Argueda’s point of view of how he refuses to present cultural conflict that can never be resolved fully shows this. Andean and Western cultures in the novel present this in a constant state of tension instead of moving towards something better, which reflects why Ernestos identity never seems to be settled throughout the novel. The lecture video shows this not as weakness but as something that is present in real life which is realistic as there will always be tension with cultures from different environments. It also made me realize further that this unfinished or constant tension is exhausting but can be productive at the same time. It does create pain and confusion for Ernesto, but at the same time it allows him to be reflective, as I believe Argueda suggests that living with tension rather than escaping it can help people become more aware and learn how to become better individuals with empathy. My question after reading this book is how does this idea of that cultures should not have an end, challenge the expectation whether cultural conflict should be resolved or harmonized?
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Deep Rivers
4 replies on “Deep Rivers”
Interesting Blog Tyler!
It shows an in-depth analysis of the novel.
“Ernesto being shown as emotional sensitive made me realize that empathy and memory can somehow be forms of resistance”. This approach is quite important! Please bring it up in the class.
See you tomorrow
Julián.
wow you nailed this blog, really impressive. I loved what you wrote about where knowledge exists, destruction caused by colonial residential schools, and how living with tension is advantageous. For your question, I think we need to resolve cultural differences, its pretty clear these days that the first 8,000 years of indigenous harmonious way of living is far superior to the last 3,000 years of capitalist competitive culture.
I really liked how you connected Ernesto’s identity struggle to your own experiences. In response to your question, I think Arguedas challenges the idea that cultural conflict needs to be resolved or harmonized.That ongoing tension may be exhausting, as you said, but it also prevents cultures from being simplified into something artificial or lost.
Really enjoyed your post, Tyler! I especially liked your point that identity isn’t something you can just ‘figure out.’ I totally agree since there are so many cultural and personal factors shaping it. To answer your question, I don’t think the book presents cultural conflict as neatly resolved. Instead, the cultures somewhat coexist, sometimes clashing and sometimes overlapping, but not fully blending into one. Sort of challenges the idea that everything has to end or will end with a solution or in harmony.