In Chapter 3, Valentino explains that,
When I first came to this country, I would tell silent stories. I would tell them to people who had wronged me... You do not understand, I would tell them. You would not add to my suffering if you knew what I had seen... The stories emanate from me all the time I am awake and breathing, and I want everyone to hear them. (29)
If Valentino wants "everyone to hear" his stories, then why doesn't he just say them out loud? Why would his stories be "silent"?
Why do you think he eventually get involved in the creation of What is the What?
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9 comments:
Maybe the reason why Valentino told "silent stories" instead of saying how he felt aloud was because he didn't feel comfortable just coming out and saying how he felt and also because he was new to the country and didn't want any problems.
Valentino wants people to read his story. His experience of how hard it was when he was a kid.
Well for one, Valentino said that at first, his stories were silent. At first meaning that when he first came to Atlanta, when he didn't speak English that well, when he didn't understand anything about the American culture and when he was probably afraid to speak up and be different. Yes, Valentino wanted to get his story out but at first, he didn't have anyone to listen to. For instance, after Valentino is robbed, he tells his silent stories to Michael, because Michael won't listen to him speak. So I think that all Valentino needed was a little time to adjust to his new world and someone to listen to and then his silent stories would be voiced. Then, when the opportunity arose and Valentino had help because he wanted to help his people and make the world more aware of what was going on, he gave his stories a voice.
He doesnot say his stories out loud because, no one is going to listen. If he just started talking to random people out on the street, it is likly that he will either get arrest or put in some kind of mental hospital. The US is not that friendly. I mean all he did was smile at Tonya and just for that she and her boyfriend robbed and beat the poor guy in his apartment.For the people who get on Septa every day like me knows that.When I get on he bus no one cares.People probably do not even notice valentino when he is walking .So keeping quiet until he is sure that when he does open his mounth that people are going to listen is a very smart idea.It sure beats getting robbed .
Why don't we speak to the people we see on the bus each day? Is it fear? Is it shyness? Is it indifference?
I can think of times I have seen somebody on a bus, or on the street, and they were clearly upset or troubled -- and I didn't say anything because I thought it would be rude, that the person probably would be left alone.
Do we know of any places in the country (or the world) where people ARE friendly in public spaces? Where they would have saved Valentino in his apartment?
I think that he told silent stories because he didn't want people to no how bad he felt inside, and people would judge him even more.People always say go back to Africa, and if they really knew what had goin on in africa they wouldn't be telling him to go back to Africa. I also think he told these silent stories because no one would really listen to him.
Well for one thing, the people of Philadelphia are not the friendliest this is clear from our ever rising murder rate. If the people of this city walked around speaking to everyone on the bus, there would probably be a few less criminals. In addition, there is definitely fear in many people, the fear that whoever they speak to may make an attempt to harm them later. Then there are just the people who are stuck up or “indifferent” and think that it is beneath them to speak to people, more less the people on the bus. But I doubt that the reason people don’t speak to fellow passengers is because of shyness.
By telling "silent stories", Valentino is able to express his feelings toward someone without disrespecting him/her. It is easier to say something than to think about it first.
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