Summary Of Flavio's Home
Will Clark
English 101
02/09/2013
Flavio’s Home
By: Gordon Parks
What is absolute poverty? Here in the United States, I don’t think that we have an idea of that concept. In this country, we have what is called the “poverty line.” This is a measure of poverty by our sociological standards. In the great scheme of things, however, is that really poverty compared to other places in the world? I think not. Flavio’s Home is an essay taken from the autobiography of Gordon Parks, a photographer for Life magazine. In it, Parks illuminates the appalling poverty within Catacumbia, a favela (Brazilian Portuguese for slum) on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Parks experienced the squalid conditions and attitude of the people while interacting …show more content…
His assignment is to highlight the life of an impoverished father, but when he sees Flavio, he knows that he can learn much more about the poverty in the region from this boy. Parks uses a narrative rhetorical strategy to convey the plight of the family. He relays an account of their daily struggles, family dynamics, and the health issues caused by starvation. In this selection, their living conditions are painted in an appalling light. When he describes the scene, and how the family interacts on an interpersonal level, I can sense their desperation coming through the page. At some points, they seem to be extremely agitated with one another, as in the part where Maria dips a spoonful of beans out of the pot, and Luzia says that she’s going to tell on her for stealing. Parks uses very emotional language in this article, and I sense from his writing that he detests poverty and the issues that cause it. The apathy of Flavio’s father is another issue where I feel Parks’ anger seeping through his words in a very slight way. Though he doesn’t come right out and say it, the picture he paints of Jose da Silva is not a flattering one. Flavio’s father seems to be a detached, uncaring, and abusive …show more content…
At this point, Parks takes Flavio to the doctor, and the physician is not optimistic about the boy’s chances for survival. Near the end of the narrative, Flavio tells the writer: “Papa says El Cristo has turned his back on the favela.” He is referring to the Christ the Redeemer statue, atop Corcovado Mountain, and the fact that it faces away from the misery of the favela. Then he relates the fact that he’s not afraid of death. He says that he is more afraid for his brothers and sisters, than he is of dying. While this demonstrates the powerful love Flavio has for his family, I feel that there should have been more. After that, Parks simply tells the boy: “You’ll be alright Flavio.” Considering the negative tone of this paragraph, and the dire prognosis of the doctor, I didn’t know whether he was telling him this because he was going to help him, or simply to ease his mind in his last days. If it hadn’t been for the editor’s note, I wouldn’t have known what became of Flavio. I’m certain that many Life readers felt the same way when this article was first
English 101
02/09/2013
Flavio’s Home
By: Gordon Parks
What is absolute poverty? Here in the United States, I don’t think that we have an idea of that concept. In this country, we have what is called the “poverty line.” This is a measure of poverty by our sociological standards. In the great scheme of things, however, is that really poverty compared to other places in the world? I think not. Flavio’s Home is an essay taken from the autobiography of Gordon Parks, a photographer for Life magazine. In it, Parks illuminates the appalling poverty within Catacumbia, a favela (Brazilian Portuguese for slum) on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Parks experienced the squalid conditions and attitude of the people while interacting …show more content…
His assignment is to highlight the life of an impoverished father, but when he sees Flavio, he knows that he can learn much more about the poverty in the region from this boy. Parks uses a narrative rhetorical strategy to convey the plight of the family. He relays an account of their daily struggles, family dynamics, and the health issues caused by starvation. In this selection, their living conditions are painted in an appalling light. When he describes the scene, and how the family interacts on an interpersonal level, I can sense their desperation coming through the page. At some points, they seem to be extremely agitated with one another, as in the part where Maria dips a spoonful of beans out of the pot, and Luzia says that she’s going to tell on her for stealing. Parks uses very emotional language in this article, and I sense from his writing that he detests poverty and the issues that cause it. The apathy of Flavio’s father is another issue where I feel Parks’ anger seeping through his words in a very slight way. Though he doesn’t come right out and say it, the picture he paints of Jose da Silva is not a flattering one. Flavio’s father seems to be a detached, uncaring, and abusive …show more content…
At this point, Parks takes Flavio to the doctor, and the physician is not optimistic about the boy’s chances for survival. Near the end of the narrative, Flavio tells the writer: “Papa says El Cristo has turned his back on the favela.” He is referring to the Christ the Redeemer statue, atop Corcovado Mountain, and the fact that it faces away from the misery of the favela. Then he relates the fact that he’s not afraid of death. He says that he is more afraid for his brothers and sisters, than he is of dying. While this demonstrates the powerful love Flavio has for his family, I feel that there should have been more. After that, Parks simply tells the boy: “You’ll be alright Flavio.” Considering the negative tone of this paragraph, and the dire prognosis of the doctor, I didn’t know whether he was telling him this because he was going to help him, or simply to ease his mind in his last days. If it hadn’t been for the editor’s note, I wouldn’t have known what became of Flavio. I’m certain that many Life readers felt the same way when this article was first