Beautiful & Cruel by Abigail Flores

Beautiful & Cruel 

     In the chapter Beautiful and Cruel, Cisneros makes a connection between beauty and cruelty. She starts by putting herself into a specific category referring to her feelings about her own beauty. She also makes a comparison from Nenny's point of view. It describes how Nenny wants things her way. Not waiting around and not like Minerva’s sister. (Cisneros 88). Cisneros shows what her own goals and expectations are when it comes to finding a man in the future. She explains that there is always that one that drives men crazy and they have a power worth keeping. (Cisneros 89). 

Best Long Passage

     In this chapter, Cisneros really grabbed my attention when she says, 

 “In the movies there is always one with red red lips who is beautiful and cruel. She is the one who drives the men crazy and laughs them all away. Her power is her own. She will not give it away.” (Cisneros 89).

     This is where she shows what she wants to be as a woman. She wants to be bold and powerful. She is not going to be fooled or played by anyone.

Comparison 

     I can relate to this chapter with almost every sentence. I did not grow up in the most loving environment and so as I got older, I started to feel the way Cisneros describes in the first couple sentences of this chapter. 

“I am an ugly daughter. I am the one nobody comes for.” (88)

     This is just a mindset from things that happen or the way people make you feel. You have to get over it and realize what you are really worth. Having thoughts like this bring you down, but they can also help you better yourself and prove that you are not what others say. People say I would never make it in the military and look at me now. As Cisneros goes on, she observes how other people use their beauty and she ends up realizing that she has power. 

“I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate.” (89)

     Live up to what you are worth. Be hard to get because you deserve the best. This chapter is not just about women and their beauty. It is everyone. Everybody is different and everybody is worth the power to get what they want in life. Reach your goals and set your expectations. You can do anything!