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The Money by Junot Diaz: Summary and Literary Devices

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The money by junot diaz: summary, the money by junot diaz: analysis of literary devices.

• Diaz, J. (2012). The money. The New Yorker, 88(16), 52-61.
• Chavarria, J. (2017). Reading Junot Diaz's "The Money" as a commentary on race and class. Journal of American Culture, 40(2), 182-189.
• Singh, S. (2016). Capitalism, masculinity, and diasporic longing in Junot Diaz's "The Money." Ariel: A Review of International English Literature, 47(3), 1-22.
• Benitez-Rojo, A. (2005). The reordering of reality in Junot Diaz's "The Money." Callaloo, 28(2), 605-617.
• Lopez, T. (2014). The legacy of capitalism in Junot Diaz's "The Money." Journal of Narrative Theory, 44(3), 303-321.

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Rhetorical Analysis of "The Money"

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Published: Nov 26, 2019

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Analysis of the Essay “The money” by Junot Diaz

“The money” by Junot Diaz is based on an account of the writer’s experience of a time when his house was broken into when his family had gone on vacation. He begins by explaining the situation of his family. They did not have a steady supply of income, but his mother used to send some money to their grandparents. Their state of nutrition was not sufficient because their family was broke.

When the writer was 12, his family went on vacation because his father wanted family members to know more about their country. Upon coming back, they realized that their house had been broken into. Some of their belongings had been stolen and author’s mother’s money had disappeared. According to Diaz, the robbery was not a surprise because in their neighborhood, it was a common occurrence and it was their turn.

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Diaz hatched up a plan to discover whether his postulation was true. He cleverly broke into his friend’s home and there he found the belongings stolen from his house. The author also found his mother’s stolen money beneath his friend’s mattress. It took him two days to return the money to his mother, though he had contemplated keeping it. The joy he expected his mother to have after he got her money back never happened. She was indifferent to his well-intentioned gesture. That was how the writer solved his one and only case.

Analysis of Text’s Successes and Shortcomings

“The money” is a well-written essay in many aspects. However, any work done by a human being cannot be devoid of flaws. I would like to first focus on the aspects in which the writer has done well concurrently with areas where he has some weaknesses. Junot Diaz has written the essay in the first person since it is a description of his experiences. He gives a detailed account of the story that gives the reader a good mental picture of the happenings. However, the writer has made some assertions and generalizations about the community in which he lived. Apart from the writer’s word, we do not have any other evidence to that effect. He should at least have put some references to those things that are not a first-hand account.

The type of publication is a blog that appeared in the New Yorker on June 13, 2011. The story is a good one for this kind of publication. The writer has done well to avoid the use of technical jargon because everyone can read this blog irrespective of his or her academic background. The language he uses is easily understandable by the readers.

As for the issue of accuracy and intelligibility of the author’s statements, it can be stated that while most meet this criterion, some do not. For example, the writer talks about people in his neighborhood being robbed in turns. The accuracy of this information cannot be determined. In terms of language, some of the statements do not use plain or pure English. Some statements in the text use language that in different quarters may be interpreted as obscene. For example, the word “assholes” is not reader-friendly to everyone. Despite these shortcomings in terms of language use, the rest of the text is written in plain understandable language.

Another thing to consider is the overall structure of the text. Junot Diaz begins with a very informative title that at least gives the reader a gist of the story. The title is written in italics to differentiate it from the rest of the essay. The advantage of it is that it enables the writer to avoid the confusion of this as part of the body. It also informs of the date of publication so that whoever is reading the essay may be able to put it into context. The essay has a well-written introduction that gives the reader a good background of the writer. In this way, the reader is made to understand the direction from which the author has approached his essay.

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The body of the text is quite informative and well arranged. The writer demonstrates a flow of thought that is not only admirable but also charismatic. The author’s use of imagery makes the understanding easier. The moment when he says, “300 smackers was the difference between … electricity and stone age” can serve an example (Diaz, 2011). He is actually trying to show how big the difference was. In the body, the writer uses hyperbole to prove some of his points. For instance, he says that any kid who leaves his bicycle unattended for one second is the one who is never going to see it again. One second is such a short time that it almost appears as an exaggeration, but the point is to show the level to which theft had reached in their community.

The length of paragraphs in the body is of the right quality. The writer has been able to mix both long and short paragraphs, therefore, making the flow very smooth. Some paragraphs are as short as one sentence while others are quite long. The sentence structure also follows the contemporary rules. A mixture of both long and short sentences is normally recommended. The writer has been able to do this with immense success. Some sentences are as short as two words. An example of this is “I knew” (Diaz, 2011). The strategy the author has adopted is good for reduction of reader fatigue. It keeps the reader interested throughout the story.

The writer has a clearly stated purpose from the very beginning of the story. He does not get lost during the essay but follows the plot to the very end. Junot Diaz has made good use of suspense as a tool of a good story telling. The writer poses the rhetorical question, “So what happened?” to create suspense and ensure that the readers remain interested in the rest of the story (Diaz, 2011). The essay also makes good use of vivid description, for instances, the writer depicts vividly the condition of his family’s financial status. The author does not need to describe his emotions in the story. He has achieved this by making the reader feel them without the need to state them.

The writer makes use of logical fallacies. For example, he says, “Everybody got hit; no matter who you were eventually it was your turn” (Diaz, 2011). This statement can be considered a fallacy since it may not necessarily be true.

The personal traits of the writer are well illustrated by the clear use of anecdotes. The reader can see the author as scheming. He is not the one to suffer without getting a remedy. His ability to hatch up a plan to break into his friend’s room and recover his mother’s stolen money reveals this trait. Therefore, it can be said that the writer is successful in his use of anecdotes.

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There is a problem regarding the background of the author. The reader is not aware of the profession of the writer. For this reason, it is not easy to know what to expect from this particular author. It is difficult to tell whether Junot Diaz has the qualifications to do that kind of writing. It is also not easy to tell whether the writer has done this kind of writing before. In addition, the writer has not cited any relevant literature in his work. It poses questions about the credibility of the information presented. The ideas of theft in the community and the financial difficulties of his family have been over-emphasized. In the beginning, the writer almost begins to wonder whether the essay is based on the brokenness of the writer’s family or the theft that occurred in his family.

The author appears to have some underlying assumptions about the use of language by different people. For example, the use of such word as bullshit in the article in a newspaper is insensitive. He should not assume that all people are open to the use of any kind of language. This essay is not an academic one, hence there is no thesis statement stated at the beginning. For this reason, there is no affirmation of thesis expected in the end. However, the author has tried to organize the essay in the common format.

In conclusion, this essay is well-written because it has followed most of the laid down guidelines regarding the writing of essays. However, just like any work done by humans it cannot lack some flaws. This critical analysis has served to summarize and analyze the essay in terms of drawbacks and successes of the writer.

Author Website

“The Money”

May 19, 2012 By junotdiaz

An essay on the one time my family apartment was broken into while we were away on vacation and how I solved the Mystery of the Stupid Morons. Appeared in The New Yorker, June 13, 2011

All the Dominicans I knew in those days sent money home.  My mother certainly did.  She didn’t have a regular job outside of caring for us five kids so she scrimped the loot together from whatever came her way.  My father was always losing his forklift job so it wasn’t like she had a steady flow ever.  But my mother would rather have died than not send money back home to my grandparents in Santo Domingo.  They were alone down there and those remittance, beyond material support, were a way, I suspect, for Mami to negotiate the absence, the distance caused by our diaspora.  Hard times or not she made it happen.  She chipped dollars off from the cash Papi gave her for our daily expenses, forced our already broke family to live even broker.  In those times when nobody gave a damn about nutrition we alone among our friends never had juice, soda, snacks in our apartment. Not ever.  And you can forget about eating at McDonald’s or having clothes with real labels.  The family lived tight and that was how she built the nut that she sent home every six months or so to the grandparents

We’re not talking about a huge amount either.  Two, maybe three hundred dollars.  But in Santo Domingo of those years, in the neighborhood in which my abuelos lived, that 300 smackers was the difference between life with meat and life without, between electricity and stone age.  All of us kids knew where that money was hidden too—our apartment wasn’t huge—but we all also knew that to touch it would have meant a violence approaching death.  I, who could take the change out of my mother’s purse without even thinking, couldn’t have brought myself to even look at that forbidden stash.

So what happened?  Exactly what you would think.  The summer I was 12 my family went away on a ‘vacation’—one of my father’s half-baked get-to-know-our-country-better sleep-in-the-van extravaganzas—and when we returned to Jersey, exhausted, battered, we found that our front door unlocked.  Stuff was knocked over, including the empty Presidente can my mother considered a decoration.  My parents’ room which was where the thieves had concentrated their search looked like it had been tornado tossed.  The thieves had kept it simple; they’d snatched a portable radio, some of my Dungeon and Dragon hardcovers and of course: the remittances my mother had kept hidden back in a drawer.

It’s not like the robbery came as some huge surprise.  In our neighborhood cars and apartments were always getting jacked and the kid stupid enough to leave a bike unattended for more than .1 seconds was the kid who was never going to see that bike again.  There was no respect.  Everybody got hit; no matter who you were eventually it was your turn.

And that summer it was ours.

Still we took the burglary pretty hard.  When you’re a recent immigrant and you’ve put up with a lot of bullshit because of it, it’s easy to feel targeted. Like it wasn’t just a couple of assholes that had it in for you but the whole neighborhood—hell, maybe the whole country.

I felt that for certain and shame too, wondered if it was something we’d done, but I was also pissed.  I was at the stage in my nerdery when I thought Dungeons and Dragons was gong to be my life so the loss of those books was akin to having my kidney nicked while I slept.

No one took the robbery as hard as my mom, though.  My father for his part shrugged it off, wasn’t his money or his parents after all; went right back to running the streets but my mother stayed angry in a Hulkish way none of us seen before.  You would have thought the thieves had run off with 10 million dollars, how she was carrying on.  It was bad.  She cursed the neighborhood, she cursed the country, she cursed my father and of course she cursed us kids, swore that the only reason that the robbery happened was because we had run our gums to our idiot friends and they had done it.  Something we all denied of course.  And at least once a day usually while we were eating she’d say: I guess your abuelos are going to starve now.

Just in case we kids didn’t feel impotent and responsible enough.

Anyway this is where the tale should end, right?  Wasn’t as if there was going to be any CSI style investigation or anything.  Should have been bye-bye money, bye-bye Dungeon Masters Guide.  Except that a couple of days later I was moaning about the robbery to these guys I was hanging with at that time and they were cursing sympathetically and out of nowhere it struck me.  You know when you get one of those moments of almost mentat clarity?  When the nictitating membrane obscuring the world suddenly lifts?  That’s what happened.  For no reason whatsoever I realized that these two dopes that I called my friends had done it.  They’d broken into the apartment while we were away and taken our shit.  I couldn’t have been any more sure if you’d shown me a video of them doing it.  They were shaking their heads, mouthing all the right words but I could see the way they looked at each other, those Raskalnikov glances.  I knew .

Now it wasn’t like I could publicly denounce these dolts or go to the police.  That would have been about as useless as crying.  Here’s what I did: I asked the main dope to let me use his bathroom (we were in front of his apartment) and while I pretended to piss I unlatched the window and then we all headed down to the community pool as usual.  But while they dove in I pretended to forget something back home.  Ran back to the dope’s apartment, slid open the bathroom window and in broad daylight wriggled my skinny ass into his apartment; his mom was of course at work.

Where the hell did I get these ideas?  I have not a clue.  I guess I was reading way too much Encyclopedia Brown and the Three Investigators in those days.  What can I tell you—that’s just the kind of moron I was.

Because if mine had been the normal neighborhood this is when the cops would have been called and my ass would have been caught burglarizing —oh the irony—imagine me trying to explain that one to my mother.  But no matter: mine wasn’t a normal neighborhood and so no one called anybody.  The dolt’s family had been in the US all their lives and they had a ton of stuff in their apartment, a TV in every room but I didn’t have to do a great amount of searching.  I popped up the dolt’s mattress and underneath I found my AD&D books and also most of my mother’s money.  The dolt had thoughtfully kept it in the same envelope.  Walked out the front door and on the run back to my apartment I kept waiting for the SWAT team to zoom up but it never happened.

And that was how I solved the Case of the Stupid Morons.  My one and only case.

The next day at the pool the dolt announced that someone had broken into his apartment and stolen all of his savings.  This place is full of thieves, he complained bitterly and I was like: No kidding.

Took me two days to return the money to my mother.  Truth was I was seriously considering keeping it.  I’d never had that much money hand and who in those days didn’t want a Colecovision?  But in the end the guilt got to me and I gave it to her and told her what had happened.  I guess I was expecting my mother to run around in joy, to crown me her favorite son, to at least cook me my favorite meal.  Nada.  She just looked at the money and then at me and went back to her bedroom and put it back in its place.  I’d wanted a party or at least to see her happy but there was nothing.  Just 200 and some odd dollars and fifteen hundred or so miles — that’s all there was.

Lit. Summaries

• Biographies

The Money (2012): A Comprehensive Summary by Junot Diaz

In “The Money (2012): A Comprehensive Summary by Junot Diaz,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning author provides an insightful analysis of the economic crisis that rocked the United States in 2008. Diaz delves into the root causes of the crisis, the actions taken by the government and financial institutions to address it, and the lasting impact it had on individuals and communities. Through his writing, Diaz offers a thought-provoking commentary on the intersection of money, power, and politics in modern society.

Main Characters

The Money (2012) by Junot Diaz features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique struggles and motivations. At the center of the story is Yunior, a young man from the Dominican Republic who is trying to make a life for himself in the United States. He is joined by his girlfriend Magda, who is also from the Dominican Republic, and his friend Rafa, who is struggling with drug addiction. Other key characters include Yunior’s mother, who is trying to keep her family together despite financial difficulties, and his boss, who is involved in shady business dealings. Together, these characters navigate the complexities of life in America, grappling with issues of identity, love, and money.

Plot Summary

The Money (2012) by Junot Diaz is a gripping tale of a young man’s journey to find his place in the world. The story follows Yunior, a Dominican-American who is struggling to make ends meet in New Jersey. He is constantly searching for ways to make money and improve his life, but his efforts are often thwarted by his own insecurities and the harsh realities of the world around him. Despite these challenges, Yunior remains determined to succeed and eventually finds himself embroiled in a dangerous world of drug dealing and violence. As the story unfolds, Yunior must navigate this treacherous landscape while also grappling with his own identity and the complex relationships he has with those around him. Ultimately, The Money is a powerful exploration of the American Dream and the lengths that people will go to in order to achieve it.

One of the central themes in “The Money” by Junot Diaz is the pursuit of wealth and its impact on relationships. The protagonist, Yunior, is constantly striving for financial success, but his obsession with money ultimately leads to the deterioration of his marriage and his relationships with his family and friends. Diaz explores the idea that money cannot buy happiness and that the pursuit of wealth can often come at a great cost. Another theme in the story is the immigrant experience and the challenges faced by those who come to America in search of a better life. Diaz portrays the struggles and sacrifices made by Yunior’s family as they navigate a new culture and try to make a life for themselves in the United States. Overall, “The Money” is a thought-provoking exploration of the American Dream and the price that must be paid to achieve it.

Socioeconomic Commentary

In “The Money (2012): A Comprehensive Summary by Junot Diaz,” the author delves into the complex and often fraught relationship between money and identity. Diaz explores how socioeconomic status can shape a person’s sense of self, and how the pursuit of wealth can lead to both success and moral compromise. Through his vivid characters and sharp observations, Diaz offers a nuanced commentary on the ways in which money impacts our lives and our society as a whole. Whether you’re interested in economics, psychology, or simply the human experience, “The Money” is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the role of wealth in our world.

Symbolism plays a significant role in Junot Diaz’s “The Money.” One of the most prominent symbols in the story is the money itself. The money represents power, greed, and the corrupting influence of wealth. It is the driving force behind the characters’ actions and decisions. The money also symbolizes the American Dream, as the characters believe that it will bring them happiness and success. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the pursuit of money only leads to destruction and despair. Another symbol in the story is the car. The car represents freedom and mobility, but it also symbolizes the characters’ inability to escape their problems. The car becomes a prison, trapping the characters in their own destructive behavior. Overall, the use of symbolism in “The Money” adds depth and complexity to the story, highlighting the themes of greed, corruption, and the American Dream.

Writing Style

Junot Diaz’s writing style in “The Money (2012)” is characterized by his use of vivid imagery and colloquial language. Diaz’s descriptions of the characters and their surroundings are rich and detailed, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story. Additionally, Diaz’s use of slang and informal language adds a sense of authenticity to the dialogue and helps to establish the characters’ personalities. Overall, Diaz’s writing style in “The Money (2012)” is engaging and effective in bringing the story to life.

Critiques and Reviews

Junot Diaz’s “The Money” has received mixed reviews from critics and readers alike. While some praise the author’s ability to weave together complex themes of race, class, and identity, others criticize the book for its lack of character development and slow pacing.

One reviewer from The New York Times writes, “Diaz’s prose is as sharp as ever, but the story feels disjointed and the characters never fully come to life.” However, another reviewer from The Guardian praises the book, stating, “Diaz’s exploration of the immigrant experience is both timely and necessary, and his writing is as powerful as ever.”

Overall, “The Money” is a thought-provoking read that challenges readers to confront their own biases and assumptions about race and class. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate Diaz’s unique voice and perspective will find much to enjoy in this novel.

Author Background

Junot Diaz is a Dominican-American writer who was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1968. He moved to the United States with his family when he was six years old and grew up in New Jersey. Diaz is known for his unique writing style, which blends elements of Spanish and English, as well as his exploration of themes such as identity, immigration, and the immigrant experience. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2008 for his novel “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” Diaz is also a professor of writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Historical Context

The Money, a novel by Junot Diaz, was published in 2012, during a time of economic uncertainty and financial crisis. The novel explores the themes of money, power, and corruption, which were particularly relevant in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Diaz’s work reflects the anxieties and concerns of a society grappling with the consequences of unchecked greed and the widening gap between the rich and poor. The novel’s setting in the Dominican Republic, a country with a history of political instability and economic inequality, adds another layer of complexity to its exploration of these themes. Diaz’s work is a timely reminder of the importance of examining the historical context in which literature is produced, and how it can shed light on the social and political issues of the time.

Relevance Today

The themes explored in “The Money” by Junot Diaz are still relevant today. The story delves into the complexities of the American Dream, the struggles of immigrants, and the impact of money on relationships. These issues continue to be relevant in today’s society, especially with the ongoing debates surrounding immigration and income inequality. Diaz’s work serves as a reminder that these issues are not new and require ongoing attention and discussion. Additionally, the story’s exploration of the impact of money on relationships is particularly relevant in today’s society, where financial stress can often strain even the strongest of bonds. Overall, “The Money” remains a thought-provoking and relevant piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

Comparisons to Other Works

When comparing “The Money” to other works by Junot Diaz, it becomes clear that this story is unique in its exploration of the immigrant experience and the pursuit of the American Dream. While Diaz’s previous works, such as “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” and “Drown,” also touch on these themes, “The Money” delves deeper into the complexities and challenges faced by immigrants trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.

In comparison to other works in the genre of immigrant literature, “The Money” stands out for its raw and honest portrayal of the struggles faced by those who come to America seeking a better life. Diaz’s use of vivid imagery and powerful language allows readers to truly feel the emotions and experiences of the characters, making this story a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the immigrant experience.

Overall, “The Money” is a powerful and thought-provoking work that stands out among Diaz’s other works and other works in the genre of immigrant literature. Its unique perspective and honest portrayal of the challenges faced by immigrants make it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the American Dream.

Impact on Literature

The Money, a short story by Junot Diaz, has had a significant impact on literature since its publication in 2012. The story explores themes of immigration, family, and the American Dream, all of which are central to the experiences of many people in the United States. Diaz’s writing style is unique and engaging, drawing readers in with his use of colloquial language and vivid descriptions. The Money has been praised for its authenticity and its ability to capture the complexities of the immigrant experience. It has also been recognized for its contribution to the ongoing conversation about the role of literature in shaping our understanding of the world around us. Overall, The Money is a powerful work of fiction that has left a lasting impression on readers and writers alike.

Analysis of Title

The title of Junot Diaz’s short story, “The Money,” is a straightforward and simple one. However, upon closer analysis, it becomes clear that the title is not just a reference to the physical currency that is central to the plot. Instead, it also alludes to the various ways in which money impacts the lives of the characters in the story. From the desperation that drives the protagonist to steal the money, to the power dynamics that are at play between the different characters, money is a constant presence that shapes the events of the story. Additionally, the title can also be interpreted as a commentary on the broader societal obsession with money and the ways in which it can corrupt individuals and relationships. Overall, the title of “The Money” is deceptively simple, but it carries a significant amount of meaning and symbolism that enriches the story.

The setting of “The Money” by Junot Diaz is primarily in the Dominican Republic and the United States. The story begins in Santo Domingo, where the protagonist, Yunior, and his family live in poverty. The vivid descriptions of the city and its people provide a clear picture of the harsh living conditions and the struggles faced by the characters. As the story progresses, Yunior and his family move to the United States in search of a better life. The contrast between the two settings is stark, with the United States offering more opportunities but also presenting its own challenges. Diaz’s use of setting effectively highlights the themes of immigration, poverty, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

In “The Money,” Junot Diaz explores the theme of conflict through the lens of family dynamics and financial struggles. The story follows Yunior, a young man who is forced to confront his own values and priorities when his mother falls ill and he must decide whether to use his savings to help her or to pursue his own dreams of financial success. This conflict is further complicated by the strained relationship between Yunior and his father, who has always prioritized money over family. Diaz’s nuanced portrayal of these characters and their struggles highlights the complex ways in which money can both bring people together and tear them apart. Ultimately, “The Money” is a powerful exploration of the human cost of financial instability and the difficult choices that individuals must make in order to survive in an unequal world.

In the resolution of “The Money,” Junot Diaz brings closure to the story of Yunior and his family’s struggles with money. After years of financial hardship, Yunior’s mother finally receives a settlement from a lawsuit, providing them with the means to start anew. However, Diaz doesn’t tie everything up in a neat bow. Yunior’s father is still absent, and the family’s emotional wounds are far from healed. The resolution serves as a reminder that money can’t solve all problems and that true healing takes time and effort.

Irony is a prevalent theme throughout Junot Diaz’s “The Money.” The story follows Yunior, a young man who is struggling to make ends meet while living in poverty. Despite his financial struggles, Yunior is determined to make a better life for himself and his family. However, his efforts are constantly thwarted by the very system that is supposed to help him.

One of the most ironic moments in the story occurs when Yunior finally gets a job at a local factory. He is thrilled to have a steady income and is eager to start saving money. However, his excitement is short-lived when he realizes that the factory is exploiting its workers and paying them far less than they deserve. Yunior is forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions for very little pay, all while the factory owners reap the benefits of his labor.

Another example of irony in the story is the way that Yunior’s dreams of success are constantly undermined by the reality of his situation. He dreams of owning his own business and becoming a successful entrepreneur, but he is constantly held back by his lack of resources and opportunities. Despite his best efforts, he is unable to break free from the cycle of poverty that has defined his life.

Overall, the irony in “The Money” serves to highlight the harsh realities of life for those living in poverty. Despite their best efforts, they are often held back by a system that is rigged against them. Diaz’s powerful storytelling and vivid imagery make this a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of poverty and inequality.

Character Development

In “The Money (2012),” Junot Diaz masterfully crafts a story that not only explores the complexities of the immigrant experience but also delves into the intricacies of character development. The protagonist, Yunior, is a flawed and complex character who undergoes significant growth throughout the story. At the beginning of the story, Yunior is a young man who is struggling to make ends meet and is willing to do whatever it takes to make some quick cash. However, as the story progresses, Yunior begins to realize the consequences of his actions and the impact they have on those around him. Through his experiences, Yunior learns the importance of empathy, compassion, and responsibility. Diaz’s portrayal of Yunior’s character development is both realistic and relatable, making “The Money (2012)” a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human nature.

Symbolism of the Dollar Bill

The dollar bill is more than just a piece of paper with a number on it. It is a symbol of the United States and its values. The eagle on the seal represents strength and freedom, while the arrows and olive branch in its talons symbolize the country’s ability to defend itself and its desire for peace. The pyramid on the back of the bill is also significant, with its unfinished top representing the country’s ongoing growth and progress. The Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” on the bill translates to “Out of many, one,” emphasizing the importance of unity in the country. Overall, the dollar bill serves as a reminder of the values and ideals that the United States was founded upon.

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By Junot Díaz

All the Dominicans I knew in those days sent money home. My mother didn’t have a regular job besides caring for us five kids, so she scrimped the loot together from whatever came her way. My father was always losing his forklift jobs, so it wasn’t like she ever had a steady flow. But my grandparents were alone in Santo Domingo, and those remittances, beyond material support, were a way, I suspect, for Mami to negotiate the absence, the distance, caused by our diaspora. She chipped dollars off the cash Papi gave her for our daily expenses, forced our already broke family to live even broker. That was how she built the nut—two, maybe three hundred dollars—that she sent home every six months or so.

We kids knew where the money was hidden, but we also knew that to touch it would have meant a violent punishment approaching death. I, who could take the change out of my mother’s purse without thinking, couldn’t have brought myself even to look at that forbidden stash.

So what happened? Exactly what you’d think. The summer I was twelve, my family went away on a “vacation”—one of my father’s half-baked get-to-know-our-country-better-by-sleeping-in-the-van extravaganzas—and when we returned to Jersey, exhausted, battered, we found our front door unlocked. My parents’ room, which was where the thieves had concentrated their search, looked as if it had been tornado-tossed. The thieves had kept it simple; they’d snatched a portable radio, some of my Dungeons & Dragons hardcovers, and, of course, Mami’s remittances.

It’s not as if the robbery came as a huge surprise. In our neighborhood, cars and apartments were always getting jacked, and the kid stupid enough to leave a bike unattended for more than a tenth of a second was the kid who was never going to see that bike again. Everybody got hit; no matter who you were, eventually it would be your turn.

And that summer it was ours.

Still, we took the burglary pretty hard. When you’re a recent immigrant, it’s easy to feel targeted. Like it wasn’t just a couple of assholes that had it in for you but the whole neighborhood—hell, maybe the whole country.

No one took the robbery as hard as my mom, though. She cursed the neighborhood, she cursed the country, she cursed my father, and of course she cursed us kids, swore that we had run our gums to our idiot friends and they had done it.

And this is where the tale should end, right? Wasn’t as if there was going to be any “C.S.I.”-style investigation or anything. Except that a couple of days later I was moaning about the robbery to these guys I was hanging with at that time and they were cursing sympathetically, and out of nowhere it struck me. You know when you get one of those moments of mental clarity? When the nictitating membrane obscuring the world suddenly lifts? That’s what happened. I realized that these two dopes I called my friends had done it. They were shaking their heads, mouthing all the right words, but I could see the way they looked at each other, the Raskolnikov glances. I knew .

Now, it wasn’t like I could publicly denounce these dolts or go to the police. That would have been about as useless as crying. Here’s what I did: I asked the main dope to let me use his bathroom (we were in front of his apartment) and while I pretended to piss I unlatched the window. Then we all headed to the park as usual, but I pretended that I’d forgotten something back home. Ran to the dope’s apartment, slid open the bathroom window, and in broad daylight wriggled my skinny ass in.

Where the hell did I get these ideas? I have not a clue. I guess I was reading way too much Encyclopedia Brown and the Three Investigators in those days. And if mine had been a normal neighborhood this is when the cops would have been called and my ass would have been caught burglarizing .

The dolt and his family had been in the U.S. all their lives and they had a ton of stuff, a TV in every room, but I didn’t have to do much searching. I popped up the dolt’s mattress and underneath I found my D. & D. books and most of my mother’s money. He had thoughtfully kept it in the same envelope.

And that was how I solved the Case of the Stupid Morons. My one and only case.

The next day at the park, the dolt announced that someone had broken into his apartment and stolen all his savings. This place is full of thieves, he complained bitterly, and I was, like, No kidding.

It took me two days to return the money to my mother. The truth was I was seriously considering keeping it. But in the end the guilt got to me. I guess I was expecting my mother to run around with joy, to crown me her favorite son, to cook me my favorite meal. Nada. I’d wanted a party or at least to see her happy, but there was nothing. Just two hundred and some dollars and fifteen hundred or so miles—that’s all there was. ♦

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Summary of the essay “The Money” by Junot Diaz

Giomara Castillo

September 27,2015

Class 1101-D323

     “The money” by Junot Diaz is an essay about a life event that happened when he was 12 years old. He starts his essay by describing his family’s economic situation, his mother didn’t have a stable job and his father was always losing his job. They lived in a small apartment, they never had any snacks, sodas or any good food that would contribute to their nutrition. Despite the fact that they didn’t have enough money to sustain themselves, his mother managed to save $200 to 300$ to send it to Dominican republic for her parents, One day they went to a family vacation and they came back they saw that their house was a mess it was obvious that somebody broke into their house to steal. They thieves took all the money that his mother was saving to send it to her parents but instead of his mother being mad at the thieves she was mad at him and the rest of her kids, she was blaming them for the robbery.

     Days after the robbery he was telling some of the stories to his friends and he noticed something suspicious. He saw that they weren’t taking him serious so immediately he knew it was them the ones that stole the money. So he decided to do the same thing and break into the thieves house to get the money back and fortunately he did. It took him two days to return the money to his mother he wanted to keep it, but he was feeling guilty on his conscience so he decided to give it back to her. He expected her to be happy or, at least, excited to get the money back, but he thought wrong she was acting like the rest of the days.

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The Money by Junot Diaz

Autor: Ashley Castañeda   •  September 30, 2016  •  Essay  •  614 Words (3 Pages)  •  8,637 Views

Comprehension

Diaz communicates to his readers that he grew up poor in the first paragraph. “She chipped dollars off the cash Papi gave her for daily expenses, forced our already broke family to live even more broker.”

The money in the “forbidden stash” is being referred to the money Diaz’s mom is saving up to send to her parents back in Santo Domingo. I think this distinction does make sense, because it gives the reader a notice that the “forbidden stash” is very important to his mom since it takes them a while to collect the money.

Diaz solved “the Case of the Stupid Morons”, by unlatching the window from the main dope’s apartment restroom. As they left to the park Diaz pretended to have forgotten something in his house and left, but instead of heading to his house he headed back to the main dope’s and went inside the apartment through the unlatched window. He looked for his stolen belongings, and left the apartment with what was his.

What Diaz means in the last sentence of the last paragraph, is that all the trouble he went through to get the money back when the people who are going to receive the money won’t know what happened.

Purpose and Audience

From Diaz’s expressions I can tell he is a really smart boy. He uses these expressions to give us a visual of what is really happening.

Diaz’s main idea is how his is struggling in the states; yet they have to send money to his grandparents back home. His thesis statement could’ve started like this; “Who knew being in the states was going to be difficult, when everyone back home would say it was a door opener for us.” This sentence could be added after the last sentence in the first paragraph.

I think Diaz is just sharing his memories from how hard times were when he was a kid, and when his family first

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