Assignment #2

    Love is a topic with many different meanings. What exactly is love? Is it something physical? Does it change people? Oscar Wao teaches the audience what love essentially is.
     Juniot Díaz's lavishing novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, gives an understanding of what love is through Yunior and Oscar's demise. In his most vulnerable state, "He told her that he was in love with her...he loved her more than the Universe...Love was a rear thing...and if anybody knew this to be true it was him...it was the little intimacies that he'd never in his whole life anticipated" (316, 321, 334). Even after getting beat up almost to death, Oscar brings himself to declare his love for Ybón. Through this, Oscar starts defining what love really is. Love is fighting until the very last day for that person, to preserve and better everything. The intimacies he speaks of are what keeps love strong. The little moments many take as irrelevant and for granted, these are the intimate moments that keeps the fire alive. Oscar being Yunior's inspiration, "I don't run around after girls anymore...I'm a new man, you see, a new man, a new man" (326). Seeing first hand how Oscar struggled, Yunior takes it to the heart. He finally starts to settle down, transforming into a "new man." Oscar's will and determination to fall in love mutually with someone inspired Yuior to change for the better. Oscar's way of loving was so pure and honest that Yunior ends up craving that same feeling. When Oscar's niece hears the word "fukú" for the first time, Yunior has a plan to explain its meaning, "I'll take her down to my basement...where I store her Tio's books, his games, his manuscript, his comic books, his papers..." (330). Waiting for this day, Yunior preserves Oscar's belonging in hopes to teach his niece about fukú, and unconsciously about how precious love can be. Yunior will proudly be able to teach her everything Oscar has taught him through these detailed preservatives. Love ends up changing people. The distracted become focused. The weak become strong. The shy become outgoing. Although Oscar was not able to live long enough to teach this meaning to more people, it will be taught by Yunior.
     Through this experience, one learns that love is not about the physicality or even sexuality. Love is about the intimate moments between a couple. Intimacy no longer meaning sex, but something much greater.