I will choose to discuss essay 2: Setting and mood in the stories. One story that stands out to me is "The Youngest Doll" by Rosario Ferré. The story takes place in a wealthy family's home in Puerto Rico, where the sisters are confined to the home and expected to fulfill traditional gender roles.
The mood is one of claustrophobia and oppression, as the sisters are constantly under the watchful eye of their controlling father. The stifling heat of the tropical setting adds to the feeling of suffocation, as the characters are trapped both physically and emotionally. The time period, set in the mid-20th century, also contributes to the sense of restriction placed on the women in the story.
The setting of the story helps to convey the theme of patriarchy and gender roles. The confined space of the home mirrors the limited opportunities available to the women, and the oppressive atmosphere serves as a metaphor for the constraints placed on them by society. The setting effectively reinforces the theme of women struggling against societal expectations and striving for independence.