Drown, by Junot Diaz, is a compilation of fictional stories, all of which however are extremely life like and compelling stories which deal with the concepts of struggle and security as the reader follows a young Dominican American named Yunior and his family. These stories go throughout Yunior’s younger days which took place predominantly in 1980’s New Jersey. The short story chapter that shares its name with the book itself, Drown, has many important characters and concepts but a constant factor in the story is struggle. Accompanied by fear, struggle does a lot in helping shape the “clay ball” that is Yunior’s young malleable. Diaz’s tale expresses another concept that heavily influences this story’s direction, characters, and struggle. This heavy hitting concept comes in the form of security. The tug of war and yin and yang of these two concepts is a huge part of what makes this story very unique and interesting and is also what makes the fictional work so life like and relatable. Yunior’s struggle comes from a number of places. The lack of a present father, being a minority and one that is in a state of economic hardship, lack of employment, being in a poor community and school system, as well as Yunior having to deal with sexual assault, all contribute to his struggle. Yunior’s security and its play in the story are just as important and integral to the plot and as any other concept. Security can be seen as an attribute, as it provides a sense of independence and self-reliance. There could be a lack of security due to an unsafe situation, it could be a mentor betraying your trust, or because of where you live, maybe a particular act or object can have a large effect on someone’s feeling of being secure as well. These all encompass what the concept of security means to the story and show how Yunior goes up against these problems daily. Without adversity and security and the battling of these demons there would be no story to tell, there would not be a true ability to accomplish anything or to really grow for Yunior. Fear of the unknown and fear of what is coming as well as the feeling or lack thereof of being secure, go hand in hand in making this story truly about life. These struggles in Yunior’s life take a major toll but also help him grow and become a stronger person, which is what the story is really about. Because as we all know, life sometimes is just not fair, as Yunior experiences time and time again. 

From the onset of the short story, the odds seemed to be stacked against Yunior as he appears to be lost. He is sitting alone, no friends, nothing to do but drink, sell dope, steal and watch TV. The very apparent lack of guidance could largely be attributed to the lack of a father or any positive influence. At one point, his estranged best friend Beto, seemed to occupy this role, however to say that his presence was positive certainly isn’t true. Beto being seen as a father figure by Yunior, is shown subliminally through how Yunior describes Betos voice, “…a voice that crackled and made you think of uncles or grandfathers” (Diaz. 91). This lack of positivity coming from Beto in his role as a father figure is obvious at points. For example, a real father figure wouldn’t put a kid who looks up to him into the situations Beto put Yunior in such as their streak of shoplifting or the constant drinking and smoking. This lack of the correct guidance is a constant when Beto was part of Yunior’s life. This path Beto led Yunior down, continued even once Beto moved on and went to college. With a dad present, or just someone who could show Yunior right from wrong, the negative path may have been halted before it got out of control. However, this lack of a father figure not only hurt him in this aspect but also economically. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 41% of Latinos over 25 years old had a high school diploma and only 8% had a college degree (Census Bureau.160.) These statistics show that the Latino community struggled more in this area than any other race. Being a “poor person” in America is a hard enough task, but adding to that, Yunior is a first generation Dominican immigrant in America in the 1980’s living with a single mother, the struggle could not get a whole lot worse. The issue of race in the United States is an ongoing issue, in the 80’s the country was very tense as a result. There was also an increase in dislike toward the Hispanic community due to the huge number of them that fled for the U.S., particularly Cubans, but all Latin American nations were represented in the exodus, including the Dominican Republic. This influx of poorly educated and economically deprived Latinos in the 80’s was a far sweeping issue, as shown by Yunior’s own parents. His father, “… a sad guy who calls her and begs for money” and his mom who only has enough for “rent and groceries” (Diaz. 94, 101). This lack of education of adult Hispanics then hurts the younger generation, like Yunior, who then resort to making quick money to help give themselves and their family some cash or in this case parent, stay afloat financially. The only real way to make substantial money was by hustling. Yunior and young people like him is to put schooling and education by the wayside. The educational issues stem beyond the kids and their struggles within the system, however. The issues also come from the system itself, from the educators and a lack of support they give their students. When you seeming already have the whole world working against you and your teacher comes out and says, “A few of you are going to make it. The orbiters. But the majority of you are just going to burn out” (Diaz. 106), it just makes things that much harder on Yunior and his peers. Simply because the teacher does not care about the success of the majority of the kids because the teacher already has no faith in their abilities as students. In general, there are not a lot of positives to saying that besides maybe motivating the students to prove you wrong. However, that isn’t the best idea in a situation like this with young students already lacking confidence in their abilities and are already beat down by the system at a young age. 

Self-confidence or struggles with self-esteem can come from many places but very few can be darker and more deviant then sexual assault. Yunior is a victim of sexual assault and this issue is what ended his longtime friendship with Beto, who committed the act on Yunior. The assault occurred while the two were doing what they usually do when they hang out at Betos which is watch pornography and just chill. However, that wasn’t what happened that day, “We were an hour into the new movie, some vaina that looked like it had been filmed in the apartment next door, when he reached into my shorts. What the fuck are you doing? I asked, but he didn't stop” (Diaz. 104.) The act would be considered homosexual in today’s terms, however since they are Dominican, they are most likely Catholic. “According to a 2006 population survey by the Gallup Organization, the population was approximately 40 percent Catholic (practicing), 29 percent Catholic (nonpracticing)” (U.S. State Department.) That’s almost 70%, these characters being Catholic is very important because devote Catholics, especially back in the 1980’s, didn’t believe that Homosexuality was even a thing, which is why Yunior was so ashamed and swept the incident under the rug even though he did nothing wrong. The assault also is something that had a profound impact on his confidence and positivity. “As an abused child you developed a sense of low self-worth”, coming from the Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse (havoca. Webpage.) This abuse is likely part of the lack of motivation to change his life for the better or to do well in school because he has self-hate and a lack of conviction and confidence to do things. While Beto could move on and act like nothing had happened, it was almost impossible for Yunior as the victim to go and hang out and talk to Beto again like nothing happened, “Mostly I stayed in the basement, terrified that I would end up abnormal, a fucking pato, but he was my best friend and back then that mattered to me more than anything. This alone got me out of the apartment and over to the pool that night” (Diaz.104.) This strategy of acting like nothing happened is what Beto tried to pull off after the first assault at his house and once the second assault occurred, Yunior had finally had enough, needed to get out, and away from Beto’s lead and influence. Yunior, showing the strength to break free of Beto exemplifies his fortitude and ability to push through some pain, traits that some people, like a recruiter for the United States Military say Yunior may still be lacking.

No money, awful schools, dilapidated neighborhoods, affect most minorities. This is a large part of Yunior’s struggle, this struggle however affords the Government the perfect opportunity to find young men with nothing else really to do but fight for our country. These people like Yunior who have been through these tough times and already, like Yunior, have some ability to get through adversity are perfect for the Army. So it is certainly not a coincidence Yunior got approached by a recruiter for the U.S. military. The targeting of Yunior’s population type is shown and laid out by David and Mady Segal in their Population Bulletin on page nine of their study, which studies Americas military population states, “Enlistment is predicted by parents’ education (children of college educated parents are less likely to serve), high school grades (those with higher grades are less likely to serve), college plans (college students are less likely to enlist), race and ethnicity (African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to serve than whites)”. Going down the list it appears Yunior falls on the “more likely to serve” side every time. So it makes sense why Yunior was approached and why the Government does somewhat take advantage of their situation. At the same time, it can really better their lives so saying in general they are taking advantage of people just is not fair, they are serving and protecting our country. The Army recruiter and Yunior’s reaction towards his offer, which is him basically shutting down an opportunity without much thinking about it is a cop out and using an excuse. This excuse being “Sorry. I ain’t army material” (Diaz. 100) which is a perfect example of Yunior wanting to stay secure, relatively comfortable and in his element. Marking off just one situation of many involving the next concept of security. 

The relationship and bond between mother and son is one that should be more secure and sacred than almost any other relationship one could have. This special bond is especially exemplified in this case, as this serves as an example of how much two people, particularly Yunior and his mother, can go through life together and rely on each other in any situation. Mother and Yunior are security blankets for the other, each protecting the other one’s weaknesses. Such as when Yunior’s mother was talking on the phone to his father, “I walk in on her and hang up the phone. That’s enough, I say” (Diaz. 101). Yunior does this because of him being so protective over his mother because he knows that his father messes with her head and will make her a wreck for the next few days.  With countless other examples of things like this, it begins to become obvious that Yunior is his moms rock and is the fighter in the relationship. While on the other side of things, Yunior’s mother is symbolic of innocence, peace and sensitivity, all characteristics that are very seldom found in a place where Yunior and his mother were living. These personality traits of Mother are exemplified by things such as her childlike excitement to spend her $50 dollars that Yunior gives her every week.  The peace she provides through her passive, secluded, reserved type vibe definitely seems to tone down Yunior and slow his aggression and occasional hostility. In contrast with this loving relationship, which unites and strengthens throughout the story, the chronicles of Yunior and Beto play out a lot differently. 

Beto and Yunior were previously best friends and would basically do everything together and shared almost everything. But one reason that had a huge impact on Beto leaving college and helped seal the fate of their friendship, is Beto’s dislike towards the environment and the scene he lived in, Yunior felt the opposite. Beto “hated everything about the neighborhood…” compared to Yunior who felt at home, felt secure within this space which in turn inhibited the lack of moving on Yunior’s part (Diaz. 91). The form of security also offered by Beto was one that Yunior took shelter under hard for a while and Yunior takes note of some of these thing Beto would do and uses them to give support to his mother. It was Beto’s confidence, assertiveness and recklessness that led the two through their shenanigans and eventually to them getting in trouble for the shoplifting. Even after this, Beto and Yunior are still best friends and Yunior is still heavily reliant on Beto for guidance and support. Unfortunately for Yunior, in the short term this support provided by Beto in their relationship begins to collapse, starting with Betos personal security blanket, pornography. While the two friends are watching this Beto commits a form of sexual assault on Yunior, this assault shocks and devastates Yunior, while Beto is completely unfazed by the event, both directly after and the next day. Pornography became Beto’s security blanket due to his father.  At a very young age Beto and his dad would watch porn together for hours. The reason behind Beto’s actions and his own reaction to these actions can be pointed out by a quote from, “The Journal of Adolecent Heath”, which is a study accompanied by a summary of the data by Debra Braun. It states that, “early exposure to sexually explicit materials can lead to exaggerated beliefs of sexual activity among peers, sexually permissible attitudes, and sexual callousness.” This lack of emotion and just disregard for others fits perfectly for the description of someone who is somewhat disturbed sexually. As well as fitting the description very well for what Beto did to Yunior, particularly the callousness and casual nature of Beto after the incident and his utter lack of remorse or even understanding he did something wrong in the first place. This awful event and the problems that came with it, got compounded when the opportunity came again for assault and Beto did it again. Completely destroying all trust between the two. Yunior’s biggest role model and biggest form of protection and guidance is the one who assaulted him and completely altered his life. This sexual assault may be one of the very few problems faced by Yunior that money cannot fix all that well, however money can almost always find a way to help. 

What actually makes Yunior feel safe and secure and what the outside world perceives security to be, are two totally different things. The outside world is represented by the Army recruiter, offering up the opportunity to, “have a house, a gun and a wife” (Diaz. 100.) This really isn’t for Yunior, but on paper it really should be. The reason I say this is because these things are obtained for the most part by money, excluding the wife.  Even in that case though, money still has a large influence a lot of the time. You may not be able to buy happiness but you can definitely buy comfort. This is why money is the ultimate security blanket, money can sooth almost anyone to a certain extent and money is just not something Yunior or his mother have a lot of. Yunior only makes money from selling drugs and considering he is a small time dealer he probably doesn’t make much more then 100 bucks a week, especially back in the 80’s. Combined with his mother’s job as a maid, which in the 80’s is pretty low paying job, did not provide much of a livelihood. In fact, extremely low, as shown to us by Earl Mellor and his work “Weekly Earnings” In 1985, The number comes out to be just under $10,000 a year with $9,256. Not having any money stems from a lot of places mentioned, and is not a very fixable problem for Yunior and his mom. 

Struggling and combating adversity are two very different things, for Yunior struggling has been his whole life. These many obstacles that have been thrown his way are what gives Yunior tough circumstance. While struggle is something we all do go through, Yunior probably has more than most, but it just matters how you deal with it. Yunior’s dilemma is whether to let a particular problem sit and brew or attack it head on. At this point Yunior has done both and is at time in his life where these decisions to be proactive are life changing. Sitting in the struggle and not doing anything about it is where security comes in, at least in the negative manner. If Yunior continues to be content and feel secure about his life in its current state, he won’t grow and he’ll continue on the slowly descending spiral. This is of course unless Yunior can really get comfortable being uncomfortable, by not letting life sit there and beat you up but to fight back and fight the struggle. This is where security comes with its positive light, in order to fight Yunior needs the motivation of those who love him, who are his security because when he does get knocked down at some point he needs his security to pump him back up and keep him going even if there isn’t much to give. Once Yunior can get comfortable with being uncomfortable, he has the greatest security of all because if you make all negativity into positivity, nothing can stop you.

Yunior and his fight against negatives of not having a father, lacking money, education, being a minority and being sexually abused, will make him stronger. But it’s an ongoing battle, one Yunior continues to fight through the rest of the book as well, not just this chapter. The same goes for being secure. For Yunior, security can be found or lost in another person’s personality, a place, or even an object. This is dangerous and causes discomfort. But this discomfort from time to time, helps you grow. This balance between the two concepts and their reliance upon each other cannot be understated. Despite the book being fiction, this is the reality for many men and women not only Americans but people all around the world, all struggle, it just comes down to your willingness to fight and push through the issues or succumb to them and continue to be content with mediocrity.
