Peer Review

Lim

Yeongjun Lim

English 1B

Negus

December 2 2018

The Effect of the Industrialization

A conflict between tradition and industrialization in Nilo Cruz's Anna in the Tropics is an example related to America's industrialization, reflecting the impact of new technology toward the culture, society, and economy. In the book Anna in the tropics, the author Nilo Cruz reflects how industrialization can bring various effects in terms of transnational. The readers can interpret the reading in terms of culture, citizens, and society and how those are connected and to the transnational.

In the reading Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz we can develop various creative ideas regarding society and how it reflects transnational. “JUAN JULIAN: I don’t really like cities. In the country one has freedom. When I’m in a city I feel asphyxiated. I feel constriction in my lungs. The air feels thick and dense, as if the buildings breathe and steal away the oxygen. As my father used to say, living in a city is like living inside the mouth of a crocodile, buildings all around you like teeth. The teeth of culture, the mouth and tongue of civilization. It’s a silly comparison, but it makes sense to me.” (Cruz 20). Santiago and Cheche argues about whether they have to maintain hand-making production or using new modern technology. From this quote, we can see how the city esteems their culture. However, due to the American industrialization, people demand more production of cigar and at the same time, it is an opportunity to make a lot of money using modern technology. This fact makes Santiago argue with Cheche regarding their production way and shows readers how social change influences to society.

we can develop creative ideas about how transnational is related with economy in the reading Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz. “Every time I lose, I feel that something has been taking from me. Something bigger than money. And I see a line of little ants carrying breadcrumbs on their backs. But the crumbs they are taking away are my pride and my self-respect. My dignity. (Looks at her again.) Have I lost you too, Ofelia? Have I lost you?” (Cruz 20). In part of the reading let us think about the meaning of the money. If you are in the situation that we have to give up one of things which are money and tradition, what would you give up? If we consider this reading in terms of economy, we can consider about the opportunity cost which means “the value (not a benefit) of a choice, relative to an alternative. When an option is chosen from two mutually exclusive alternatives.” In the reading, Santiago chose to maintain his culture and identity rather making more money and creating more products. In addition, all of these results are from the industrial revolution. In other words, this book shows us how society has tremendous power toward their citizens’ rights and their economy. For example, in this quote, “SANTIAGO: (To the workers.) I’ve heard that many factories are getting rid of their lectors. But is this what we want, workers? Let’s raise our hands if this is what we want. (Chechéand Palomo are the only ones who raise their hands. Conchita is shocked to see Palomo’s decision.) Two votes. Then that’s the answer. We are not getting rid of Juan Julian. And I have good news, workers. We are coming up with a new cigar brand and it will be called Anna Karenina.” (Cruz 26) we can see how working-class people are living in the poor and hard condition roaming the edge of the society. The reading Anna in the Tropics broadens our understanding about the relationship between society and working-class people in terms of economy.

How technology affects the culture and how is it related with transnational? Transnational brings numerous technology changes to our society. “No, I’m warning you. This fast mode of living with machines and moving cars affects cigar consumption. And do you want to know why, Señor Chester? Because people prefer a quick smoke, the kind you get from a cigarette. The truth is that machine, cars, are keeping us from taking walks and sitting on park benches, smoking a cigar slowly and calmly. The way they should be smoked. So you see, Chester, you want modernity, and modernity is actually destroying our very own industry. The very act of smoking a cigar. (All the workers applaud except for Cheché and Palomo.)” (Cruz 26). Human being is a greedy creature. Therefore, as new technology develops, we want more better things. Like this quote, one of the factors that make Santiago and Cheche argue is human’s desire for new things and better things. In other words, human being’s desire let Santiago think about reforming his factory and the amount of production of a cigar. In addition, it causes conflict between him and his half brother, Cheche.

We can develop various creative ideas regarding the reading Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz's. Relating Anna’s relating to the transnational in terms of culture, society, and economy we can see Those elements are highly related each others. For example, industrial revolution let Santiago consider about reforming his cigar factory which have to give up making a lot of money but can maintain his tradition. Reading a book relating to transnational can dramatically increase our understand about transnational and help us to get the meaning of transnational more broadly and creatively.

Reference

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/opportunitycost.asp

Anna in the Tropics, by Nilo Cruz, Theatre Communications Group; 1st Ed., 2003