"No Face" is one of my favorite stories in Drown. For one thing, I enjoy its comic book style, but my favorite part of this story is Ysrael, the main character.
I find Ysrael an admirable character because even though he has been through a lot, he is able to live without feeling self-pity. Ysrael definitely has a difficult life. Diaz writes that "So many wish [Ysrael] to fall. So many wish him gone" (p. 155), but Ysrael handles it well. In "No Face" Ysrael pretends that he is a superhero named No Face and that he uses his superpowers to deal with the people who try to harass him. He's like a superhero who saves himself from name calling, rock throwing, and fist fighting.
One of Ysrael's admirable characteristics is that even though many people don't treat him well, he faces them (get it?) without bitterness. In "Ysrael" when Rafa is teasing Ysrael and trying to make him take off his mask, Ysrael doesn't act aggressively. On the contrary, he seems pretty friendly and leads Rafa and Yunior to the grocery store. Even when Rafa is beating him up, Ysrael doesn't become violent; he simply tries to pick himself up. When a group of boys is trying to beat him up in "Ysrael" he doesn't fight back. He just gets up and runs away. Ysrael takes No Face, the name that people call him to annoy him, and uses it as his superhero name.
Another admirable quality about Ysrael is that he is mentally strong. In "Ysrael" Rafa discourages Ysrael by saying that the doctors probably won't know how to fix his face. Ysrael is able to ignore Rafa and refrain from hurting him. At the end of "No Face" Ysrael runs towards town "never slipping or stumbling" and "nobody's faster" (p. 160). While it's a bit ambiguous what this means, I thought it shows Ysrael's determination and patience while he is waiting to get his surgery.
I agree completely. I was just about to say that when I think of Ysrael, the first word that comes to mind is "strong". He's been through some of the most traumatizing things, physically and mentally. He's found a way to live through them without taking it out on other people. That takes real strength.
ReplyDeleteYsreal definitely is a strong character. People mentioned in class their worries toward Ysreal when he gets older and grows out his superhero faze and doesn't have that mask (of being a superhero) to hide behind. But I don't think that this is something that we have to worry about. If he's able to find the strengthen so young as a child, I have faith that Ysrael will continue to find that inner strengthen and press on, even with the world against him.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the first story about Ysrael, he is built up by the neighborhood kids as some sort of mythical figure who seems a lot like a superhero. His strength and speed are noted, although he is still taunted and bullied for his appearance. In "No Face," it seems to me as Ysrael has fully embraced his otherworldly reputation and used it to his strength, finding comfort in his superhero world.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that, as you point out, Ysrael maintains his superhero personage in the face of surgery particularly stood out to me. The prospect of surgery is a serious one, probably even more so for Ysrael, whose ability to deal with unpopularity in society is anchored in the mask he pulls over himself, his superpowers, and his confidence.
ReplyDeleteI think it's particularly interesting, that Ysrael seems to take his strength directly from the mask. I know (though not much) that in traditional lucha libre, masks are the identity of the wrestlers, and for Ysrael, knowing that he enjoys wrestling AND wears a mask, perhaps wrestling in his way of coping with his current state, and may explain why he imagines himself as a superhero.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing, in response to Monica's pun on Ysrael "facing" his tormentors. The mask seems to give him a kind of confidence or power--concealing his disfigurement while still calling attention to it (the mask doesn't become a "face," but signifies the absence of a face), but giving it an identity ("No Face", like an alter-ego). Likewise, he takes the taunt "No Face" and turns it into a pose of empowerment, the source of his power.
Delete"No Face" ended up being one of my favorites as well, if not topping the list. I was curious about Ysrael from the very first story in the collection, and found him admirable even then, so being able to (nearly) close the book with this story was pretty satisfying. I think what you said about his lack of bitterness is really important—he could so easily lash out at the people who bully him, especially since we know of his strength (or STRENGTH). But he doesn't; like you said, he even turns the names people call him into part of his identity.
ReplyDeleteI feel like it could be interesting to think about what might happen to Ysrael should the surgery be successful. There's the obvious question—will he be able to integrate back into society when he's been ostracized for so long? But then there are others: how would this superhero persona live on, if it does at all? Would he still use his "powers" of STRENGTH and FLIGHT and INVISIBILITY? Would he still wear a mask?
I agree, Monica! Ysreal is a fascinating and admirable character. He has so much inner strength and perseverance. He has been through so much and continues to put up with so much, but he stands tall through it all. I found Ysrael a very inspirational character.
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