"Never Marry a Mexican" - Shannon Walsh (Week 9)

The narrator tends to goe back and forth with her audience. In the beginning, it seems as if she is speaking to a general audience, the readers. Then her narration shifts as she addresses a new character not previously mentioned: “Drew, remember when you used to call me your Malinalli? (113). After 11 paragraphs of addressing Drew, the narrator then abruptly shifts to speak to the son, as indicated when she says, “Because your father wanted to leave your mother with me … This happened, a long time ago, before you were born” (114).  The narrator continues to switch her audience without warning throughout the story, which contributes to the characterization of the narrator as a delusional, chaotic person. Additionally, the narration is often conversational. In the beginning she speaks casually: “…it’s not the same, you know” (109), and “But that’s- how do you say it?- water under the dam?” (112). She also poses questions directed at her audience, or to whom she is speaking at the time in the story. When speaking to Drew, she asks, “Your son. Does he know how much I had to do with his birth?” (113).  This conversational tone allows the reader a more personal view into the narrator’s mind, as if they are either having a conversation with the narrator, or listening to a conversation that she is having with another person.