Oscar Wao is a novel written by Dominican American author, Junot Diaz The novel follows the lives of two generations of a Dominican family living in America, beginning with the family patriarch and matriarch, Oscar and Beli. The narrative follows the family and their son, Oscar, a ghetto nerd, who pursues the American dream while suffering through a lifelong struggle with the ‘fukú’, an ancient curse that has been passed down through the generations of Dominican people.
The story of Oscar Wao is a complex one, touching on themes such as family, struggle, identity, and the power of love. With these topics in mind, here are five engaging essay topic ideas for a paper about Oscar Wao:
1. The Power of Love: How does love affect the characters in Oscar Wao? Are there specific relationships in the novel that demonstrate the power of love?
2. Exploring Identity: How does Oscar’s identity as a Dominican American shape his life and the story of Oscar Wao?
3. Themes of Family: In what ways does the story of Oscar Wao bring out the themes of family and its importance in our lives?
4. Struggles of the Immigrant Experience: How does Oscar’s family struggle in a new country, and how does this connect to the narrative of Oscar Wao?
5. Transcending the Curse of Fukú: How does the idea of ‘fukú’ as a generational curse affect the characters in Oscar Wao? How do they attempt to break free of it?